SIR Keir Starmer’s Brexit ‘surrender summit’ deal has been agreed this morning with the PM understood to have already made a huge concession.
The UK has been locked in late-night negotiations with Europe to nail down the terms of a UK-EU reset.
Critics have dubbed negotiations a “surrender summit” – dragging Britain back into the shackles of Europe which Brexit freed us from.
This morning, it was disclosed that Starmer has extended European fishermen’s permission to fish in British waters to 12 years, which is substantially longer than the present five-year agreement.
Bending the knee to Brussels, the arrangement is also expected to once more and concede to the bloc on food standards.
In exchange, Brussels has consented to a lasting Swiss-style veterinary agreement aimed at reducing border inspections and enhancing trade. Consequently, Britain has agreed to adhere to EU regulations concerning plant and animal health standards.
As a result, UK food exporters will experience reduced delays at borders, although this benefit comes with the requirement to align with EU standards and to accept the European Court of Justice’s oversight on these specific regulations.
The “fish for food” agreement was signed off by all 27 EU member states in Brussels ahead of a UK-EU summit in London today, where Sir Keir will unveil the pact alongside European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen.
By tying Britain back up in EU red tape, the UK would be placed under the jurisdiction of European courts — a major reversal of the Brexit promise.
The UK has also struck a defence pact with the EU, and both sides have agreed to continue talks on a youth mobility scheme – which the Tories and Reform UK have blasted as “freedom of movement by the backdoor”.
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Defence pact agreed
The UK has also struck a defence pact with the EU, and both sides have agreed to continue talks on a youth mobility scheme.
But the Tories and Reform UK have blasted this as “freedom of movement by the backdoor”.
Trade Secretary Johnathan Reynolds suggested earlier this morning any scheme would be capped and come with time-limits.
Speaking about existing schemes, he told Times Radio: “They’re limited. They’re targeted. It’s a sort of smart system.
“It’s not the kind of access people had when we were members of the European Union.”
He said: “I think last year, we issued, as a country about 24,000 visas for the various youth mobility schemes. So this is not immigration, it’s not freedom of movement. It’s something very different.
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‘Fish for food’ signed
The “fish for food” agreement was signed off by all 27 EU member states in Brussels ahead of a UK-EU summit in London today.
Sir Keir will unveil the pact alongside European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen.
British negotiators initially offered just four years, having previously pushed for annual talks, but relented in late-night wrangling.
The original post-Brexit deal signed in 2020 granted EU fleets access for five years.
But that time limit has now more than doubled under the new terms.
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Starmer “reset” deal with EU
The Prime Minister has handed EU fishermen access to UK waters until 2038 in a dramatic last-minute Brexit “reset” deal, it is understood.
British boats face being pushed aside for more than a decade after the PM caved to EU demands for a 12-year fishing rights pact – more than double the current five-year arrangement.
In return, Brussels agreed to a permanent Swiss-style veterinary deal to cut border checks and boost trade – with Britain signing up to follow EU rules on plant and animal health.
This means UK food exporters will face fewer delays at borders, but at the cost of aligning with EU standards and accepting European Court of Justice oversight on those specific rules.
Credit: Reuters
