Latest news with #UKsummit
The Independent
19-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Breakthrough in talks with EU as Starmer seeks reset deal
Sir Keir Starmer has had a breakthrough in his bid to secure a new deal with the European Union ahead of a major summit with the bloc, the PA news agency understands. After Government sources said talks were 'down to the wire' on Sunday, it is understood there was late progress, although a deal is 'not yet done' because there are still outstanding issues on both sides. Ministers had appeared confident of securing an accord, with Number 10 saying on Saturday the Prime Minister would 'strike a deal' at the first UK-EU summit on Monday. The summit will see Sir Keir meet European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen for the second time in four days amid efforts to reach agreement with the EU on a range of issues. That includes an expected announcement on defence and security, which could feature an agreement allowing British firms access to a 150 billion euro (£125 billion) EU defence fund. Deals on allowing British travellers to use e-gates at European airports, cutting red tape on food exports, and setting up a youth mobility scheme with the EU are also thought to be on the table. But reports suggest disagreements over fishing rights and youth mobility have presented last-minute stumbling blocks. Government sources said 'huge progress' has been made in agreeing 'a mutually beneficial deal with the EU' that would 'deliver for British working people'. But they insisted the Prime Minister has been 'clear that he will only agree a deal which delivers in the national interest of the United Kingdom'. Both Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage have already described the deal as a 'surrender', despite the details not yet being known, and indicated they would tear it up if they came to power. Youth mobility could prove a major sticking point for the Opposition, and Mrs Badenoch said she fears it will involve a return to free movement 'by the back door'. The Tories have also set out a series of 'red lines' on fishing rights, including ensuring exclusive access to Britain's territorial sea and resisting 'a multi-year agreement which only benefits France'. Shadow environment minister Victoria Atkins said: 'The Conservatives have always stood up for our coastal communities, and our fishing industries. 'Labour must not throw our fishing rights overboard in their desperation to bail out their failing fiscal policies.' Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats said Britain should not to be 'dragged back' to 'the Brexit wars of the past', with leader Sir Ed Davey comparing Mrs Badenoch and Mr Farage to 'dinosaurs fighting old battles'. He said: 'Keir Starmer must be bold and ambitious for our country in today's summit. Voters were promised change by this Government, and they have to deliver. 'Being truly ambitious, including a new UK-EU customs union, would be the single biggest thing ministers could do to boost public finances. 'Anything less would be a choice to limit growth, harming living standards and hitting the NHS and other public services.'
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Breakthrough in talks with EU as Starmer seeks reset deal
Sir Keir Starmer has had a breakthrough in his bid to secure a new deal with the European Union ahead of a major summit with the bloc, the PA news agency understands. After Government sources said talks were 'down to the wire' on Sunday, it is understood there was late progress, although a deal is 'not yet done' because there are still outstanding issues on both sides. Ministers had appeared confident of securing an accord, with Number 10 saying on Saturday the Prime Minister would 'strike a deal' at the first UK-EU summit on Monday. The summit will see Sir Keir meet European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen for the second time in four days amid efforts to reach agreement with the EU on a range of issues. That includes an expected announcement on defence and security, which could feature an agreement allowing British firms access to a 150 billion euro (£125 billion) EU defence fund. Deals on allowing British travellers to use e-gates at European airports, cutting red tape on food exports, and setting up a youth mobility scheme with the EU are also thought to be on the table. But reports suggest disagreements over fishing rights and youth mobility have presented last-minute stumbling blocks. Government sources said 'huge progress' has been made in agreeing 'a mutually beneficial deal with the EU' that would 'deliver for British working people'. But they insisted the Prime Minister has been 'clear that he will only agree a deal which delivers in the national interest of the United Kingdom'. Both Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage have already described the deal as a 'surrender', despite the details not yet being known, and indicated they would tear it up if they came to power. Youth mobility could prove a major sticking point for the Opposition, and Mrs Badenoch said she fears it will involve a return to free movement 'by the back door'. The Tories have also set out a series of 'red lines' on fishing rights, including ensuring exclusive access to Britain's territorial sea and resisting 'a multi-year agreement which only benefits France'. Shadow environment minister Victoria Atkins said: 'The Conservatives have always stood up for our coastal communities, and our fishing industries. 'Labour must not throw our fishing rights overboard in their desperation to bail out their failing fiscal policies.' Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats said Britain should not to be 'dragged back' to 'the Brexit wars of the past', with leader Sir Ed Davey comparing Mrs Badenoch and Mr Farage to 'dinosaurs fighting old battles'. He said: 'Keir Starmer must be bold and ambitious for our country in today's summit. Voters were promised change by this Government, and they have to deliver. 'Being truly ambitious, including a new UK-EU customs union, would be the single biggest thing ministers could do to boost public finances. 'Anything less would be a choice to limit growth, harming living standards and hitting the NHS and other public services.'
Sky News
13-05-2025
- Business
- Sky News
Politics latest: Senior Labour figures distance themselves from PM's speech
Greens call for UK to begin talks on rejoining EU ahead of summit The Green Party says the government should begin negotiations with EU diplomats about rejoining the bloc. Officials will be meeting in London for the UK-EU summit on Monday, where the possibility of a trade deal will be high up the agenda. But the Greens have bigger aspirations. They tabled an amendment today calling on the government to take practical sets to rejoin the EU, some nine years after the country voted to leave. Carla Denyer told the Commons: "The cost of leaving the EU amounting to £1m an hour in 2022 according to ONS data. "It makes total economic sense for the UK and for the people within it to use next week's summit to start discussions with the EU on what the process of re-joining might be." The amendment also says the government should negotiate re-entry to the customs union, the Erasmus programme, and resume free movement. Package to benefit hard-working people coming soon The Starmer administration has called for a "reset" with the EU, but it is fairly safe to say the Greens' suggestions will fall on deaf ears. The PM did have a chat on the phone to his Irish counterpart today, though, where the pair mentioned the upcoming summit. We're told they agreed to try to settle "an ambitious package" that would "benefit hard-working people and businesses across Europe". The Liberal Democrats have also said the UK should also move closer to Europe - with Sir Ed Davey calling for the creation of a "bespoke" customs union with the EU. Tories: 'We will tear up any backroom deal that betrays Brexit' Unsurprisingly, the Conservatives have ruled out all of these options. Kemi Badenoch asked: "What's [Starmer] about to give away? "Look at Chagos, US tariffs and the India deal. Now Starmer's EU 'reset' risks more sellouts." She has also set out her "five tests", which include no return of free movement, no loss of UK fishing rights and no new cash to the EU. "If Labour surrenders powers to Brussels, a future Conservative government will take them back", she warned. Badenoch might need to give a bit more thought about how she's going to get back into office first, though…
