Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has been accused of betraying British sovereignty after finalising a Brexit reset deal with the European Union. The agreement, hailed by Starmer as a 'win-win' and a sign that Britain is 'back on the world stage', includes a 12-year extension of EU access to UK fishing waters, a move that has outraged Brexiteers and the fishing industry.
The deal, described by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen as a 'historic moment', aims to boost the UK economy by £9bn by 2040 through reduced red tape and border checks. However, critics argue that the concessions on fishing and the lack of a youth mobility scheme represent a surrender of key British interests. The government has announced a £360m support package for the fishing sector to mitigate the impact.
Starmer insisted the agreement is 'good for jobs, good for bills, and good for our borders', but opponents see it as a failure to secure meaningful gains in defence cooperation or youth mobility. The deal also opens the door to future agreements on a capped youth mobility scheme and EU defence procurement, though details remain to be negotiated.
While the Prime Minister called for an end to 'stale old arguments', the deal has reignited debates over Brexit, with both Rejoiners and Brexiteers expressing discontent. The agreement marks Starmer's third major international deal this month, following trade pacts with India and the United States.
