Sir Keir Starmer has hailed a landmark Brexit reset deal with the European Union as a 'win-win' for both sides, marking what he described as a 'new era' of cooperation. The agreement, finalised after intense negotiations, was announced alongside European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at a press conference in London. Von der Leyen called it a 'historic moment' and said the two sides were 'turning a page'.
The deal is expected to boost the UK economy by £9bn by 2040 through measures including reduced red tape and border checks. However, it has drawn criticism from some quarters, with accusations of 'surrender' on fishing rights and a lack of progress on defence and youth mobility. The agreement extends EU access to British fishing waters for 12 years, offset by a £360m support scheme for the fishing industry.
Key elements include a new border checks agreement to ease food and drink trade, and enhanced data-sharing on facial images to aid crime-fighting. A 'youth experience scheme' has been agreed in principle, but details remain to be confirmed, disappointing those hoping for a full youth mobility scheme. The UK has also secured a 'pathway' to join the EU's €150bn defence procurement scheme.
Starmer insisted it was time to 'move on from the stale old debates' and focus on practical solutions. The deal follows other recent international agreements with India and the United States, and is seen as a diplomatic triumph for the prime minister in his first ten months in office.
