Starmer Hails ‘New Era’ As UK, EU Reach Major Deal After Brexit
… Deal Is Sell-Out Of Brexit, Says Badenoch
Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday announced a major deal with the European Union (EU) that will ease trade barriers, restore defence cooperation, and give UK citizens smoother access to Europe.
The deal is the biggest reset in UK-EU ties since Brexit in 2020, marking a shift from years of friction to renewed cooperation.
“This is a win-win,” Starmer said during a press conference at Lancaster House alongside European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa.
“Britain is back on the world stage with a government that is serious, pragmatic, and committed to rebuilding partnerships,” he said.
“This deal marks the start of a new era—one where we work with our European neighbours to grow our economy, keep our country safe, and move forward,” Starmer said.
The agreement includes extended access for EU fishing boats to UK waters until 2038, relaxed border checks for British food exports, a new defence pact giving UK companies access to the EU’s €150bn SAFE fund, and the restoration of e-gate privileges for UK passport holders at European airports.
Starmer said the deal was a sign that Britain had “turned a page” on the “chaos and performative politics” of the past.
“We’ve prioritised jobs, bills, and borders. This agreement delivers on all three,” he told reporters.
“It opens doors for our food exporters, supports British defence manufacturing, and makes travel easier for millions of ordinary families,” he added.
Asked about the fisheries element of the deal, under which EU boats will continue to fish in UK waters for over a decade, Starmer said the arrangement was fair and would benefit coastal communities through increased trade access.
“It’s not just about who fishes where; it’s about making sure what we catch can be sold profitably. This deal opens up markets for Scottish salmon, Cornish crab, and Yorkshire prawns,” he said.
However, UK Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch condemned the agreement, warning that it marked a “dangerous step backwards”.
“I’m gobsmacked,” Badenoch said. “We fought hard to take back control of our waters, and now Labour has given it away until 2038. This is a betrayal of our coastal communities and a sell-out of Brexit.”
She did, however, welcome the return of pet passports and the reintroduction of e-gate access for UK citizens.
“It’s good for families and holidaymakers, but let’s be clear—this is the EU getting its way again,” she added.
As part of the deal, the new sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement will allow British producers to resume exports of items previously banned, including raw sausages and burgers.
In defence, the UK will gain access to the EU’s SAFE defence fund and participate in joint procurement and research projects. According to Starmer, the move would help Britain “stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies” at a time of global insecurity.
“There’s a war in Europe, and our allies are looking to us not for drama, but for leadership,” he said.
Von der Leyen called the agreement “historic”, praising the UK’s return to “constructive and forward-looking engagement”.
Annual summits between the UK and EU will now be reinstated, and both sides have agreed to explore a new youth mobility scheme to allow young people to live and work across borders.
“This isn’t about going back,” Starmer insisted, adding that “it’s about going forward, with a clear-eyed understanding of where we are and where Britain belongs in the world.”
Starmer Hails ‘New Era’ As UK, EU Reach Major Deal After Brexit is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
