Latest news with #customsunion
The Sun
5 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Brussels will ‘punish' Britain for not following its demands as PM's deal pushes UK into clutches of EU, economist warns
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.'
The Independent
13-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
No plans to reintroduce freedom of movement or customs union, MPs told
The Government has said it will not reintroduce freedom of movement, the customs union or single market with the European Union, despite pursuing a closer relationship with the body nearly a decade after the UK voted to leave. Cabinet Office minister Nick Thomas-Symonds was responding to Conservative Party calls not to 'row back on Brexit' ahead of a joint summit between the UK and EU in London next week. The Tories put down a motion urging the Government not to align on standards or join other EU bodies and initiatives. However, Mr Thomas-Symonds said the Government would be sticking to its manifesto pledges. He told MPs: 'Driven by our ruthlessly pragmatic approach, next Monday's UK/EU summit will be the first of annual summits between the UK and EU. It will be a day of delivery. 'Delivering on our manifesto, not returning to the customs union, single market or freedom of movement, or revisiting the arguments of 2016.' He added: 'Trade, security, defence and other areas of our relationship should never be treated as a zero-sum game. It is possible to deliver on all fronts and that is exactly what this Government is doing. 'So, I look forward to turning the page next week as we forge a new strategic partnership with our European friends, making Brexit work in the interests of the British people, we are stepping up and meeting the moment, making people safer, more secure and delivering growth. Delivering in our national interest, which is what this Government will do.' Conservative shadow Cabinet Office minister Alex Burghart said the party needed to give clarity on whether it would pursue a youth mobility scheme while the Liberal Democrats' Europe spokesman James MacCleary said the party should sign the agreement to give young people greater opportunities. Mr Burghart said: 'What we're asking today is for the Labour Party to set out what its clear position is and I'll explain in a moment why that's very important. The fact is that what we've seen up until this point is chaos in these negotiations. 'It's easy for the Labour Party to understand, because on the 24th of February we'll have heard the Home Secretary rule out a youth mobility deal. You're not going to do it, not looking into it. But then at the beginning of March, the Paymaster General (Nick Thomas-Symonds) in a Westminster Hall debate suggested that he was open to it. 'But then on the 24th of April the Paymaster General again ruled it out. But then at the beginning of May the Paymaster General, once again, ruled it in.' Meanwhile, Mr MacCleary said: 'The Government must immediately introduce a youth mobility scheme. Our young people deserve the same European opportunities previous generations, many represented in these benches, enjoyed themselves. 'The Tories' obstinately refused this approach and Labour has so far flip-flopped on the issue. We have existing schemes with Australia, Japan, New Zealand and Canada, but not with our nearest neighbours. 'Our young people don't deserve this short-sightedness, they deserve access to opportunities across Europe.'
