Latest news with #Thomas-Symonds
New Statesman
20-05-2025
- Business
- New Statesman
The brain behind Labour's EU deal
Photo byThe long journey to this week's EU-British reset of relations began with a phone call from the opposition leader Keir Starmer to his old friend Nick Thomas-Symonds on 4 September, 2023. Sitting in his London flat, he was told that if there was to be a Labour government, Starmer saw healing battered relations with the EU as a top priority. The result was the up-ending of Thomas-Symonds' life as he began a relentless shuttle between his family home, which he shares with his sixth-form sweetheart and their three children; London; and the capitals of Europe. Each week over the next year he left Abersychan – once the hometown of that celebrated European Roy Jenkins – for Paris, Berlin, Brussels, Rome, Warsaw, Helsinki, Tallinn and even the Vatican. It was an exhausting Eurostar odyssey, building the personal relationships which culminated in this week's 'turning the page' love-in and – equally important – the prospect of annual EU-UK summits in the years to come. Standing in the Downing Street garden on Monday (19 May) the European Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič told assembled dignitaries that he had been in such close contact with Thomas-Symonds that his wife had suspiciously challenged him on the identity of the 'Nikki' appearing so relentlessly on his phone log. (Welsh Penderyn whisky was also presented. Šefčovič is trying to convert the Welshman to Slovakian red wine.) From those first days in opposition, Thomas-Symonds had constructed a three-pillar strategy. Because of Starmer's public commitment not to restore the single market, customs union or free movement – which he thinks cannot be revised in this Parliament – he would concentrate on new relationships in, first, security and defence; second the safety of citizens, covering both crime and migration; and third, trade and growth. Some economists have expressed disappointment at the relatively small numerical impact of all this; the Prime Minister has spoken of an additional £9 billion annually for the economy, very little measured against the £100 billion economists say has been lost because of the Brexit deal. But Thomas-Symonds says that is a deliberately low, cautious estimate. It only refers to the food and agriculture deal and the emissions scheme, not to any future access to the gigantic new €150 billion European defence investment fund. About this, he is bullish. 'The principle is that to access the fund you have to have a security and defence partnership, which we now have. There are further negotiations around important details such as protecting intellectual property but there is very wide acceptance that we must not fragment the European defence industry.' The share prices for BAE Systems, Babcock, and Rolls-Royce tend to support his optimism. Thomas-Symonds also emphasises the importance of the emissions trading deal which will save the UK £800m annually in European taxes, and of energy cooperation more generally: 'We have undersea cables between the EU and the UK already and we are not taking full advantage of the interconnectors and the offshore wind.' Subscribe to The New Statesman today from only £8.99 per month Subscribe On the e-gates issue, so important to tourists and business travellers, he has been negotiating separately with the Port of Dover and Eurostar. The further EU biometric checks ahead, he points out, will be useful in tackling illegal immigration. But on airport queues, he accepts the next stage is for individual European countries: like Starmer, he hopes summer tourists will notice a big difference. Thomas-Symonds is rare in the current cabinet in having a deep interest in Labour history. The recent biographer of Harold Wilson, he tells me that he drew inspiration from the former leader: 'I have talked about ruthless pragmatism, and I took a lot from Harold Wilson's renegotiation of terms with the Common Market in the mid-1970s. Wilson was determined to keep Britain in. After Brexit, things are different for Labour, however much many in the party wish they were not. 'Our mandate is clear,' said Thomas-Symonds, 'it is not to return to the single market, or customs union or free movement. But I do believe that closer cooperation with this huge partner, worth £800 billion in trade, is strongly in our national interest.' When I ask him why the principle of dynamic alignment on standards cannot be extended from food and agriculture to other areas, he sternly reminds me that as with the US and Indian trade deals, 'these are all sovereign decisions by the government'. He does not envisage a further lurch towards the EU before the next general election and, amid the current hullabaloo about 'betrayal' and 'surrender', he is keen for a robust political fight with the Tories and Reform over a deal which business has greeted so enthusiastically. If there is a certain wily mistiness about the longer-term future then – well – both Harold and Roy would approve. [See also: The EU-UK reset exposes the limits of a 'geopolitical Europe'] Related
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
UK, Europe strike post-Brexit deal on defense, trade issues
The United Kingdom and the European Union reached a landmark agreement centered on fishing rights and defense cooperation Monday, five years after Brexit. British Cabinet Office minister Nick Thomas-Symonds announced the deal as officials from both sides met in London for their first major summit since the U.K. formally left the 27-nation trade bloc in 2020. That followed a slim-margin 2016 referendum vote calling for the U.K.'s departure. The government of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who met with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and other senior EU officials, billed the summit as a major milestone in resetting relations. "Historic day," Thomas-Symonds wrote on X on Monday. "After months of negotiations, I can announce that the Labour Government has secured a new agreement with the EU." Starmer's chief negotiator said the agreement was good for jobs, bills, borders and more. Rubio Teases Details Of Potential Trump, Putin In-person Meeting After Russia-ukraine Ceasefire Talks Stall "Britain back on the world stage, with a Government in the service of working people," Thomas-Symonds added, without further elaborating on the details of the deal. Read On The Fox News App Starmer has stressed that the U.K. will not rejoin the EU's frictionless single market and customs union, nor agree to the free movement of people between the U.K. and the EU. The prime minister has faced growing challenges from the Reform U.K. party, which supported Brexit and opposes mass migration policies upending the powerful island nation. Reform, which recently won big in local elections, and the opposition Conservative Party have already called the deal a "surrender" of U.K. sovereignty to EU leadership in Brussels. "The white flag has been waved outside Downing Street. The great EU surrender by the UK is taking place as we speak," Reform UK's Richard Tice told British media, billing the deal as a betrayal of the terms of Brexit on fishing in particular. Talks on strengthening ties focused largely on security and defense, and on a youth mobility plan that would allow young Britons and Europeans to live and work temporarily in each other's territory. That remains a politically touchy issue in the U.K., seen by some Brexiteers as inching back toward free movement, according to the Associated Press. The U.K. already has youth mobility arrangements with countries including Australia and Canada. Johnson Pushes 'Aggressive' Timetable For House To Pass Trump's Budget Bill After Gop Mutiny: 'We Cannot Fail' Another issue that has long been a sticking point in U.K.-EU relations is fishing — a symbolically important issue for the U.K. and EU member states such as France. Disputes over the issue nearly derailed a Brexit deal back in 2020. The summit is also expected to cover aligning standards on the sale of agricultural products, which could eliminate costly checks on food products exported across the English Channel. Thomas-Symonds told the BBC he was confident that trade could be improved for food imports and exports. "We know we've had lorries waiting for 16 hours, fresh food in the back not able to be exported, because frankly it's just going off, red tape, all the certifications that are required, we absolutely want to reduce that," he reportedly said. The New York Times cited an unnamed European diplomat as saying the agreement will allow European boats access to U.K. fishing waters until June 30, 2038. The agreement comes as the return of President Donald Trump brings a greater sense of urgency for cooperation between the U.K. and the bloc, as the incoming U.S. administration takes a new approach to European trade and security, as well as the Ukraine-Russia war. It's unclear how Trump, who backed Brexit, will react to Starmer's new deal with the EU. "The reset could still be blown off course by disagreements over how to consolidate existing areas of cooperation like fisheries and/or external factors, such as a negative reaction from the U.S. to the U.K. seeking closer ties with the EU," Jannike Wachowiak, a research associate at the UK in a Changing Europe think tank, told the AP. The Associated Press contributed to this article source: UK, Europe strike post-Brexit deal on defense, trade issues
Fox News
19-05-2025
- Business
- Fox News
UK, Europe strike post-Brexit deal on defense, trade issues
The United Kingdom and the European Union reached a landmark agreement centered on fishing rights and defense cooperation Monday, five years after Brexit. British Cabinet Office minister Nick Thomas-Symonds announced the deal as officials from both sides met in London for their first major summit since the U.K. formally left the 27-nation trade bloc in 2020. That followed a slim-margin 2016 referendum vote calling for the U.K.'s departure. The government of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who met with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and other senior EU officials, billed the summit as a major milestone in resetting relations. "Historic day," Thomas-Symonds wrote on X on Monday. "After months of negotiations, I can announce that the Labour Government has secured a new agreement with the EU." Starmer's chief negotiator said the agreement was good for jobs, bills, borders and more. "Britain back on the world stage, with a Government in the service of working people," Thomas-Symonds added, without further elaborating on the details of the deal. Starmer has stressed that the U.K. will not rejoin the EU's frictionless single market and customs union, nor agree to the free movement of people between the U.K. and the EU. The prime minister has faced growing challenges from the Reform U.K. party, which supported Brexit and opposes mass migration policies upending the powerful island nation. Reform, which recently won big in local elections, and the opposition Conservative Party have already called the deal a "surrender" of U.K. sovereignty to EU leadership in Brussels. "The white flag has been waved outside Downing Street. The great EU surrender by the UK is taking place as we speak," Reform UK's Richard Tice told British media, billing the deal as a betrayal of the terms of Brexit on fishing in particular. Talks on strengthening ties focused largely on security and defense, and on a youth mobility plan that would allow young Britons and Europeans to live and work temporarily in each other's territory. That remains a politically touchy issue in the U.K., seen by some Brexiteers as inching back toward free movement, according to the Associated Press. The U.K. already has youth mobility arrangements with countries including Australia and Canada. Another issue that has long been a sticking point in U.K.-EU relations is fishing — a symbolically important issue for the U.K. and EU member states such as France. Disputes over the issue nearly derailed a Brexit deal back in 2020. The summit is also expected to cover aligning standards on the sale of agricultural products, which could eliminate costly checks on food products exported across the English Channel. Thomas-Symonds told the BBC he was confident that trade could be improved for food imports and exports. "We know we've had lorries waiting for 16 hours, fresh food in the back not able to be exported, because frankly it's just going off, red tape, all the certifications that are required, we absolutely want to reduce that," he reportedly said. The New York Times cited an unnamed European diplomat as saying the agreement will allow European boats access to U.K. fishing waters until June 30, 2038. The agreement comes as the return of President Donald Trump brings a greater sense of urgency for cooperation between the U.K. and the bloc, as the incoming U.S. administration takes a new approach to European trade and security, as well as the Ukraine-Russia war. It's unclear how Trump, who backed Brexit, will react to Starmer's new deal with the EU. "The reset could still be blown off course by disagreements over how to consolidate existing areas of cooperation like fisheries and/or external factors, such as a negative reaction from the U.S. to the U.K. seeking closer ties with the EU," Jannike Wachowiak, a research associate at the UK in a Changing Europe think tank, told the AP.
Business Mayor
18-05-2025
- Business
- Business Mayor
Minister 'pushing' for deal over use of EU passport e-gates
BBC The government is pushing for a deal that would allow UK passport holders to use EU airport e-gates, a minister has confirmed. Nick Thomas-Symonds, who said negotiations were in the 'very final hours' ahead of a UK-EU summit in London, described stopping people being stuck in border queues as a 'very sensible objective'. Asked whether the UK would have to follow more EU rules in some areas as part of any deals, the European relations minister told the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg 'it will mean taking a sovereign choice as to… the common standards we wish to align'. Conservative MP Alex Burghart claimed the government's proposed deal with the EU could mean the UK becoming a 'rule taker'. The UK and EU will hold their first bilateral summit since Brexit on Monday, described by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer as a 'really significant moment'. Sir Keir is expected to announce a deal when he meets European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa. Announcements around trade and security have been expected to include British access to a 150 billion euro (£125 billion) EU defence fund, in what could be a boost for UK defence companies. But reports suggest there could also be agreements on allowing British travellers to use e-gates at European airports, cutting red tape on food exports and imports, and setting up a youth mobility scheme with the EU. Thomas-Symonds, who is leading the negotiations, said he was driven by 'ruthless pragmatism' and focused on jobs, lower household bills and stronger borders. The minister also said the government would assess whether to contribute money to EU projects on a case-by-case basis, saying it would 'consider each one on its merits'. Asked whether he was confident British travellers would be able to use EU e-gates at European airports, Thomas-Symonds said: 'I'm certainly pushing for people to be able to go through far more quickly. 'I think we can all agree that not being stuck in queues and having more time to spend, whether it's on holiday or work trips, having more time to do what you want … would be a very sensible objective.' The minister said he was confident about a deal on food, but added 'nothing is agreed until everything is agreed'. He added: 'We know we've had lorries waiting for 16 hours, fresh food in the back not able to be exported because frankly it's just going off, red tape, all the certifications that are required, we absolutely want to reduce that.' Burghart told the programme his main concern was the government signing up to EU standards and becoming 'a rule taker – one of the things we specifically left behind when we left the EU'. He said the government had not ruled out 'dynamic alignment', which would see the UK and EU maintain equivalent regulatory standards on food and trade, despite the UK not being 'in the room' when future decisions are taken. He added: 'As the government hasn't ruled that out we have to assume it's very firmly on the table and is about to happen. Read More Mostbet, Mostbet Giriş, Mostbet Güncel Giriş Adres 'And if it is about to happen, then that is a surrender of some of Britain's sovereignty and we won't stand for it'. On a deal around whether young people from the EU can come to live and work in the UK and vice versa, Thomas-Symonds insisted he was negotiating around 'a smart and controlled scheme', adding 'nobody is remotely suggesting that's freedom of movement. That's a red line for us'. The minister did not respond directly to questioning on whether there would be a cap on numbers or time-limited visas, such as in existing schemes with Australia and Canada, but did stress 'that control element is hugely important'. He also denied there were plans to exempt student numbers from overall migration figures and added 'anything agreed – and I stress this is in sensitive final hours – will be consistent with reducing the level of net migration as we've promised'. Appearing on the same programme, Liberal Democrat MP Calum Miller said he was 'troubled by the sense the government isn't seizing this moment, in the context of a changed environment, to really go further' on EU relations. The party's spokesperson for foreign affairs said 'setting ourselves on an ambitious path towards a customs union is the best way to give some certainty to British businesses'. Miller also claimed removing red tape between the UK and EU could be worth £25bn, and a customs union could increase the revenue further. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage claimed an EU deal that included a youth mobility scheme and extending fishing rights for the EU in British waters would mean that 'to a large extent, Starmer will be betraying Brexit' and he would 'get rid of it' if he was prime minister. Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Broadcasting House, Farage said a youth mobility scheme would be 'free movement of people to the under 30s' and 'we know that'll be a one-way street – way more people will come here than will go in the other direction'. Farage suggested a deal on defence would mean 'we're going to see by the looks of it British soldiers under an EU flag' before adding 'EU cooperation absolutely, under an EU flag, no'. READ SOURCE
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
An unnecessary and costly EU ‘reset'
On the eve of the 'reset' summit with Brussels, Nick Thomas-Symonds has let the cat out of the bag. In a BBC interview, the Europe minister admitted that the Government is about to accede to one of the EU's cardinal principles: 'dynamic alignment'. This sinister doctrine implies that Britain will once again be obliged to accept 'common standards' on food and be subject to the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg. It is hard to exaggerate the significance of this concession. At a stroke, Labour will have sacrificed one of the biggest benefits of Brexit: taking back control of our own rules. Once national sovereignty is given away on food standards, we will find ourselves on a slippery slope. Over time, other areas of the economy will inexorably be drawn back into the EU's orbit. This is the true meaning of 'dynamic alignment': a one-way ticket to Brussels. So what will we get in return for selling our birthright for a mess of EU pottage? Mr Thomas-Symonds claims that cross-Channel trade will become 'far easier'. Yet the promised reductions in red tape are specious. Not only will they be conditional on the UK renouncing regulatory independence, but they will put at risk deals already negotiated with other trading partners – including, crucially, the United States. We risk becoming a mere EU satellite. Indeed, the so-called reset appears to be almost entirely one-sided. We must accept EU food standards and ECJ jurisdiction; join a defence pact on the EU's terms; grant free movement for young EU citizens, many of whom we will subsidise at our universities; and let the EU fish in our waters. If all this seems too much of a giveaway in exchange for shorter passport queues, that's because it is. This EU deal looks less like a reset than a capitulation. Over the coming days, ministers will doubtless try to reassure the British public that none of their concessions amounts to abandoning Brexit. But beware of doublespeak. When Mr Thomas-Symonds tells us that the Government's perspective is not 'ideological' but 'practical', he means that we will be giving away fundamental freedoms, such as the right to make and apply our own laws, in return for technicalities, such as the right to use e-gates at passport control. Labour's slow-motion unravelling of Brexit is quite unnecessary. By the time the party is punished at the ballot box, however, it may already be too late. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
