Brussels will ‘punish' Britain for not following its demands as PM's deal pushes UK into clutches of EU, economist warns

The Sun

4 days ago

BRUSSELS will dole out punishments to the UK for not adhering to its demands, a top economist warns.
Eurocrats are pushing Britain into the clutches of the customs union and single market without the ability to make our own rules, Catherine McBride says.
The revelation comes after the UK and the EU agreed a new framework back in May on post-Brexit trading arrangements on areas such as farming, defence and trade.
The expert insists that new documents outlining the EU Commission's full demands from the reset will see the continent take "retribution" through our current trading relationships.
She says this will strip the UK of any ability to foster the latest farming techniques or even import food from non-EU countries.
McBride says that the EU Commission will have control all over the UK's agriculture and industrial imports - and also affecting our independent trade policy with the rest of the world.
McBride, in a Briefings for Britain article, writes: "The UK government has effectively given the EU a free pass to penalise or, more likely, fine the UK for any transgression.
"The EU will be the lawmaker, the policeman and the Judge – there will be no jury."
She even echoes comments from former Prime Minister Boris Johnson who said that Sir Keir Starmer was ready to make us the EU's "gimp".
When Britain voted to leave the EU it left the single market, customs union and also left the freedom of movement arrangements.
Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel last night said: 'The stark cost of Labour's EU surrender plan is on full display.
'Keir Starmer and his cronies have bent the knee to Brussels at every turn, and no matter the price the British public will have to pay, and now the EU is coming back for more.
'The Conservatives will always defend the democratic will of this country, and won't let Labour give up anymore of our hard earned sovereignty without a fight.'
A Labour source said: 'The report is riddled with nonsense claims.
"If the Shadow Foreign Secretary wants to talk about surrender, let's look at how she designed a post-Brexit migration system that was supposed to be controlled, but led to record levels of net migration.
"Labour is resetting our relationship with the EU - delivering a new deal that protects jobs, lowers bills, and strengthens our borders."
A Government spokesperson said: "Since 2020, British traders and shoppers have faced red tape, rising prices and delivery delays. We set out to fix this with a new partnership with the EU that will add nearly £9 billion a year to the UK economy.
'We will always act in Britain's national interest and have been clear there will be no return to freedom of movement, the customs union or the single market.'