Former Brexit negotiator Lord Frost has launched a scathing attack on the Government's new EU deal, claiming it pushes Britain back towards the single market and undermines the purpose of Brexit.
Speaking on GB News, Lord Frost described the agreement as "a much worse deal than I thought it was going to be" and expressed shock at the concessions made.
"It's astonishing, really, that he's gone down this road. Really, every possible concession has just been thrown out," Lord Frost said, questioning what the UK had received in return.
Lord Frost outlined several specific concerns about the new arrangement, particularly regarding agricultural regulations.
Lord Frost has criticised Keir Starmer's EU deal, claiming it is 'much worse' than he thought it would be
GB News / PA
"What has he done? He's put us back in the single market for agri food [with] no say in the rules, so we have to comply," he stated.
Lord Frost continued his critique by highlighting further areas where he believes the UK is surrendering autonomy.
"He's going to put us back in the single market for electricity, he's going to make us abide by the EU's Net Zero rules. He's sold away our fishing waters for 12 years, and we're going to have to pay for all of this," he said.
Lord Frost elaborated on the fishing waters issue, comparing it unfavourably to the 2020 Brexit agreement: "What we agreed back in 2020 was a transition period, and those are normal in trade deals. We agreed on a longer one than we wanted, five and a half years, but at the end of it, everything went back to normal."
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Sir Keir Starmer unveiled his new deal at Lancaster HouseGETTYLord Frost emphasised that the fundamental purpose of Brexit was to restore British sovereignty over its own affairs.
"The main reason that people voted to leave the European Union, and the polling after that shows this, is that they wanted to set rules for Britain in Britain," he stated.
He rejected claims that the Brexit referendum was won through deception, asserting: "Those who lost the Brexit referendum often do say that they lost because of lies on the other side - simply not true. They lost the argument.
"Unfortunately, today's deal, which has pushed us back towards the single market, is going to make that much more difficult."
Frost told GB News that the deal takes the UK 'back into the single market'
GB News
Lord Frost was particularly dismissive of what the UK received in exchange for these concessions.
"And what have we got back? We've got a defence agreement that basically involves showing up to a load of meetings. I mean, good, because then it doesn't challenge Nato, but why pay so much for such a deal?" he questioned.
He was equally unimpressed with the other main benefit touted in the agreement.
"And we've got an E-gates deal, which really doesn't amount to anything," Lord Frost added, suggesting the Government had secured minimal returns for significant compromises on sovereignty.
