Badenoch vows to reverse Starmer’s EU deal

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The Government’s new deal with the EU is the “first step in a walk of shame back to the continent”, the shadow business has said.

Andrew Griffith said that the summit in London today was a “cop-out conference that sells our hard-fought freedoms down the river. 

Writing in the Daily Mail, Mr Griffith said: “And there we have it – Keir Starmer’s capitulation to the EU laid bare. 

“As his Ministers say, it is the first step. And they are right, it is the first step in a walk of shame back to the continent.”

He added: “We should have known this was coming. Starmer is the closet Remainer who never quite got over his side losing almost 10 years ago.”

Brussels has landed a whopper of a “Brexit reset deal” on fish, securing 12 years access to British waters, our Europe Editor James Crisp writes. 

It’s a significant victory for the European Union, a humiliating surrender from Sir Keir Starmer, and yet another example of Brexit-voting British fishermen being thrown under the bus.

Britain originally pushed for a one-year deal, setting up annual negotiations on fishing rights to replace the five-year pact struck in the Brexit trade negotiations, which expires next year.

Read the analysis from The Telegraph’s Europe Editor here

Kemi Badenoch’s “posturing” on the EU would leave Britain poorer, Labour have said. 

The Tory leader said that she would look to reverse elements of the deal, including on fish. 

A Labour Party spokesman said: “Kemi Badenoch’s posturing would leave our country poorer, less safe, and cowering on the world stage.

“The Tory leader failed to land deals with the US, India and EU when she had the chance as Trade Secretary. Ripping up our EU deal would be bad for jobs, bills and borders.”

Businesses wishing to trade fish, eggs, potatoes and red meat with the EU will no longer face a “mountain of paperwork”, the shadow environment secretary has said. 

He wrote on X: “British produce banned from Europe under the Tories’ Brexit deal - such as fresh sausages, seed potatoes and some shellfish - will be sold there once more.”

He added: “With the Labour Government’s new deal, dairy, fish, eggs, potatoes and red meat will all be traded without a mountain of paperwork holding them up. That boosts profits for our food businesses, leading to more jobs and investment.”

The minister largely responsible for fisheries also defended the EU fishing rights secured in the deal, saying that it guarantees “ long-term certainty for British fishing fleets”.

Labour is “undoing some of the disastrous impacts of Brexit” with the new EU reset deal, a Sinn Féin MP has said.

Sinn Féin MP Chris Hazzard said, “I welcome the reset of relationships between the EU and British government undoing some of the disastrous impacts of Brexit.”

“The people of the north were dragged out of Europe against their wishes so any improvements in the relationship between the British government and the EU, particularly in areas such as trade, agri-food, energy, and climate are positive steps,” the South Down MP said.

“The easing of restrictions on businesses in the north is also a welcome development. It is important the all-island economy is protected and the unique circumstances of the north remain a central consideration in all decision-making.”

But he added: “We are concerned by the focus placed on funding increased militarisation rather than on the resolution of conflicts and on peace building.”

A fisherman whose livelihood could be jeopardised by Sir Keir Starmer’s EU deal has accused the Prime Minister of “robbery” and warned the “sell-out” will see others in the industry hang up their wellies, Neil Johnston and Simon Johnson report.

Tony Heinemann, 55, who has been fishing for decades, accused Sir Keir of using fishermen as “pawns” in his negotiations and hammering another “nail in the coffin” of the industry.

Read more on this story here

The chairman of the European Research Group of eurosceptic Tory MPs said that the new deal on fishing rights was a “dirty dozen over fish”.

Mark Francois told The Telegraph: “We have capitulated on fishing rights for an unbelievable twelve years - the ‘dirty dozen over fish’ - whilst accepting becoming a passive rule-taker on food standards, in return for a ‘defence pact’ with no figures which is basically a glorified talking shop.

“Starmer has betrayed Britain for a mess of pottage, without even a pot,” he added.

Kemi Badenoch has said that Boris Johnson “uses language that gets attention” when asked about his description of Sir Keir Starmer as the “orange ball-chewing manacled gimp of Brussels”.

The Tory leader refused to comment further on the remarks made by her predecessor, instead telling journalists: “Boris Johnson is Boris Johnson”. 

She added:  “I’m not interested in providing a running commentary on what he has or has not said. This is not about the language of people who are making comments about the deal. This is about what this means for our country.”

Kemi Badenoch has said that the Conservatives “love youth mobility schemes” but still said she did not support Sir Keir Starmer’s deal. 

Asked about whether there were benefits to youth mobility schemes, Mrs Badenoch said: “We love youth mobility schemes. We have a youth mobility scheme with Australia. We have one with Canada. I think we have one with South Korea. Someone was talking about Uruguay the other day. They are good ideas. We support them. 

“What we do not support is uncapped, non time limited migration.”

She added: “There is a big difference between an 18 year old from France who’s coming for their gap year and a 30 year old with several children who’s coming from a much poorer EU country like Bulgaria or Romania. 

“What we wanted to do was have youth mobility schemes with specific countries. That is not what we will get with what Keir Starmer is negotiating.”

Kemi Badenoch has said that she is “suspicious” of the Government’s claims that the new EU reset will add £9 billion to the economy.

She told journalists: “The Government says it’s going to be worth £9 billion. I think the jury is out on that. Of course, they’re going to say that because they need to try and sell this deal as hard as possible.”

She added: “We are an 80 per cent services economy. Most of what we have seen so far is not really touching services. So I would be suspicious about that figure.”

The Tory leader described Sir Keir Starmer as “somebody who will never walk away”.

She added: “He’ll just accept any deal, no matter the cost, and ask people to congratulate him for getting that deal. That is not right.”

Kemi Badenoch has confirmed that the Tories would reverse Sir Keir Starmer’s reset deal, as it represented a return to the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice (ECJ).

Asked if she would undo the new deal, the Tory leader told journalists: “We have said that if anything in the deal violated those five tests, that we would reverse them.”

She added: “Anything that brings back ECJ jurisdiction, we cannot have. I ended ECJ jurisdiction in Britain, December 31 2023. I cannot believe that 18 months later, we’re getting it back through dynamic alignment.”

Sir Keir Starmer “capitulated” to the EU over fishing rights and worked out quotas following “overnight political lobbying”, the Conservatives have said.

Victoria Atkins, the shadow environment secretary, said that Labour’s new reset deal was a “betrayal of British fishermen”.

She set out how the Conservatives would have set about negotiating fishing rights, saying that giving away rights to UK waters amounted to “a surrender of our sovereignty and a long term risk to our food security”.

“As an independent coastal state, we should have exclusive access to the UK’s zero to 12 nautical mile zone for UK fishermen, ending all access for foreign fishing vessels. 

“We would not have signed a multi-year agreement which only benefits our European competitors. We should adopt the international law and claim the regulatory autonomy of annual negotiations.”

She added:  “There must be a fair distribution of quota shares based on science and facts, not overnight political lobbying.”

Ms Atkins said: “This is what we would do. Labour instead, has capitulated, and in the words of the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation, they have delivered a horror show.”

The new deal with the EU is a “surrender deal” that has taken Britain “backwards”, Kemi Badenoch said.

“Britain is Europe’s largest defence power and has led the West in the response to the war in Ukraine, and yet, thanks to labour’s negotiating, we have ended up with a surrender deal.

“Perhaps that should have been no surprise. Anyone who watched Keir Starmer agree that we would pay Mauritius for our own territory in the Chagos Islands, or try to claim that a non-binding agreement with President Trump, which left us in a weaker position than a few months ago was historic.”
 

She added: “He said Britain shouldn’t be a rule taker. Now we will be. He said he would protect our fishermen. He hasn’t. He said he wanted to take us forward. He’s taken us backwards.”

Britain’s new deal on fishing rights with the European Union puts it in a “worse position than the Faroe Islands”, Kemi Badenoch has said.

The Tory leader slammed Sir Keir Starmer’s new deal as putting the UK in a weaker position than other nations on fishing and on agrifood.

She told journalists: “It is staggering that on fisheries, Britain is now in a worse position than the Faroe Islands, and on agri food, we’re in a weaker position than New Zealand, who got SPS (Sanitary and Phytosanitary) concessions without being a rule taker or paying money”.

She added: “This deal will mean Britain becoming a rule taker, accepting dynamic alignment, giving up fishing rights, and paying new money to the EU.”

Sir Sadiq Khan has said that he hopes today’s agreement is a “springboard for further details and closer alignment” with the EU.

The Mayor of London praised Sir Keir Starmer’s reset, particularly the intention to create a new “youth experience” scheme.

He said that it would give “young Brits and Londoners - and their European counterparts - access to exciting new opportunities” and would allow “us to fill vacancies in some of our key sectors.”

In a statement on X, Sir Sadiq said: “I hope this agreement is a springboard for further deals and closer alignment in other key sectors - such as our financial services and our major creative sectors - all vital to our capital’s prosperity”.

Sir Keir Starmer’s EU deal is an “unnecessary surrender” that will hit fishermen and farmers, countryside campaigners have said.

Victoria Vyvyan, the president of the Country Land and Business Association, said: “Is a bad deal better than no deal? It depends who pays the price.

“We sympathise with the fishing industry, as the government’s concession will have a significant impact on fishing and coastal communities, as well as the marine environment, for many years to come.

“Although the EU is a key market for UK produce, and lower export costs would help make our goods more competitive for European consumers, signing up to allow the European Court of Justice to impose decisions affecting our goods is an unnecessary surrender of control.”

Ms Vyvyan said communities needed “immediate reassurance” that the UK would still have a role in the decision-making process.

She added: “Cutting red tape on food exports and plant and animal health for trade sounds positive if unlikely, but tying us to an agreement that involves European Court of Justice oversight is deeply concerning and could hinder our ability to strike future trade deals with other countries.”

Salmon Scotland welcomed Sir Keir Starmer’s deal. 

Tavish Scott, chief executive of the trade body, said: “We congratulate the UK Government on securing this deal with the EU, which will slash red tape and speed up the delivery of our premium salmon to market. 

“This breakthrough eases the burden on our farmers, processors and the communities they support, and we welcome efforts to implement it at pace. 

“The withdrawal of physical checks is particularly welcome. It means lower costs and quicker deliveries for our customers.”

The Conservatives accused Sir Keir Starmer of betraying British fishermen “hook, line and sinker”.

Mel Stride, the shadow chancellor, said: “Keir Starmer has sold out fishing communities. He’s been reeled in by the EU, hook, line and sinker.

“Labour is folding to everyone. They’ve folded to the unions. Folded to Mauritius. Folded to President Trump. Folded to India. Now folding to Brussels. When Labour negotiates, Britain loses.”

Kevin Craven, chief executive of defence industry group ADS, said the agreement was “somewhat underwhelming in the lack of detail”.

He said: “While we are assured that this will pave the way for the UK defence industry to participate in the EU’s proposed new £150bn Security Action for Europe defence fund, and therefore support thousands of UK jobs, we are reluctant to celebrate too early when the specifics of such a deal remain to be seen.”

Sir Keir Starmer has effectively bound future governments to his 12-year fishing rights deal with Brussels, The Telegraph can disclose.

A future British government would technically be able to rip up the terms of the deal, which has been described as a surrender by Labour’s political opponents including Nigel Farage. However, any such move would allow the EU to respond with huge trade tariffs.

In a move described as the “Reform clause”, UK and EU negotiators agreed to reopen the post-Brexit Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) to include the dates of the new arrangements.

It would allow Brussels to introduce punitive measures on British exports if European fishermen access to the UK’s coastal waters is restricted before June 30 2038.

You can read the full story here.

Boris Johnson said Sir Keir Starmer’s Brexit “reset” deal with the European Union was “hopelessly one sided” as he launched a vicious attack on the Prime Minister. 

The former premier accused Sir Keir of “once again going back on his promises to the people of this country - by making us non-voting members of a two-tier European Union”. 

He said: “Under this appalling sell out of a deal the UK will have to accept EU law on a host of measures from food standards to emissions trading. We will have to accept whatever changes the EU decides to make to those laws.”

Mr Johnson described Sir Keir as the “orange ball-chewing manacled gimp of Brussels” and claimed he had “sacrificed UK fishing interests”. 

He said: “This deal is hopelessly one sided. It combines the vassalage of Chequers with the surrenderism of Chagos. Starmer promised at the election that he would not go back on Brexit. He has broken that promise as he broke his promise on tax. This deal should not be signed, should not be ratified and should never come into force and if it is the next Conservative government should kick it out forthwith.”

Kemi Badenoch claimed Sir Keir Starmer had taken the UK “back to square one” on Brexit. 

She said: “I am gobsmacked that Keir Starmer has signed this deal. This is a sell out, certainly on fishing. 

“I cannot believe that instead of getting better terms on fishing, we’ve got worse terms. I was worried that he was going to come back with three years for the next negotiation, it is 12 years, it is going to be over 1 decade that we are giving away our fishing rights.

“That sells out so many coastal communities in the UK.”

She added: “We spent 10 years on this and he has taken us back to square one.” 

James Anderson, the chairman of the Shetland Fishermen’s Association, criticised the fishing element of the “reset” deal. 

“The fact is that we are sadly not like Iceland, or Norway, or a country that still recognises the value of protecting our own fishing fleet and fishing grounds,” he said. 

“Normally, nations negotiate fishing access and quota transfers on an annual basis. Overnight, the EU has been allowed to renege on annual negotiations and instead enjoy a 12 year deal – with UK fishing crews forced to give up their grounds and fish stocks again in exchange for what?

“This, unfortunately, is how our industry – which has so much more to offer – has been treated by successive governments. Fishing communities such as Shetland will remain hopeful that, one day, the UK will find its feet as an independent coastal state and finally conduct ourselves as such – denying EU vessels access to our productive seas without first paying for the privilege.”

Sir Keir Starmer would not be drawn on how many young people from the EU could come to the UK under a new “youth experience” scheme which the two sides are working towards.

The Prime Minister said the scheme will be capped and people will have to apply for visas.

Asked what would be an acceptable number of young people coming to Britain, he said: “On the youth experience scheme, obviously this gives an opportunity for young people in the UK to work, travel, volunteer, au pair, you name it in Europe and the same the other way.

“And it doesn’t deal with university fees... so there is no change there. It is that experience, it is time-limited, the number’s to be agreed so it is not an uncapped scheme and it will be a visa scheme.

“So everything will now be done through mutual agreement as we go forward.”

Sir Keir Starmer said the “reset” deal would result in cheaper prices in supermarkets as he batted away the claim from the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation that it represented a “horror show” for the industry. 

He said: “Let me again repeat the driving principles behind this deal... which is the question does it bring down bills? 

“And I think it is really important to see the reaction of supermarkets, of Salmon Scotland, to begin to answer that question because they are celebrating this because they know it will reduce prices.”

He added: “I think it is important to remember in relation to fishing that next year under the old arrangement we didn’t cease to have any EU fishing in our waters, we simply went to a year-on-year negotiation which means there is no stability for anybody.” 

Ursula von der Leyen said today’s agreement represented a “new beginning for old friends”.

Asked what her message was to Brexit voters who may be suspicious of today’s deal, the president of the European Commission said: “We are sovereign neighbours, we are friends, we are allies and this is a new beginning for old friends.

“In this spirit we have designed the roadmap we are working on together and I think it shows that we are working towards a friendly cooperation that is of benefit for both sides of the Channel.”

Sir Keir Starmer rejected the suggestion that his deal with the EU represented the “worst of all possible worlds” because it opened him up to criticism from Brexiteers in exchange for only a relatively small economic boost. 

The Prime Minister said the deal was the result of “serious, pragmatic negotiations that are good for this country”. 

He said the deal will make a “real difference” to people in the UK and it will be “very good for our country”. 

It was suggested to Sir Keir Starmer that he had “sold out” British fishermen to get his wider deal with the EU.

The Prime Minister said that cutting red tape on exports would help UK fishermen to export more to the continent and that was “incredibly important”.

Defending the 12 year access for EU trawlers, he said: “The length of time for the agreement provides the stability because what would have happened next year is we would have come off the current arrangements but then into year-on-year negotiations where nobody knows year-on-year where they stand.

“This gives stability in relation to that. It also opens the door for shellfish and the like to be sold back into the European market which wasn’t available before this deal and of course we have announced the £360m transformation fund.”

He added: “This is good for fishing.”

Sir Keir Starmer announced a £360 million investment into the British fishing industry. 

He said the deal with the EU will protect “our access, rights and fishing areas with no increase in the amount EU vessels can catch in British waters”.

The Prime Minister also said changes to food export “red tape” would help the fishing industry to increase the amount of product that it sends to the continent.

The new funding would help the industry to take advantage of the changes, he said.

Sir Keir Starmer said deals with India, the US and the EU demonstrated that Britain was “back on the world stage”.

The Prime Minister said today’s “landmark deal” with the EU was “good for both sides”.

“This deal is a win-win,” he said.

The president of the European Commission hailed the fishing element of the Brexit “reset” deal. 

Ursula von der Leyen said that setting in place access and quota arrangements for 12 years was “so important for long term stability and predictability”. 

Ursula von der Leyen said the EU and UK will continue to “work towards a youth experience scheme” to allow young people from the two sides to live and work abroad. 

The president of the European Council said this scheme would help to “build friendships that will last a lifetime”. 

Turning to net zero, Mrs von der Leyen said the two sides will look to link their respective emissions trading systems to help crease a “level playing field”. 

On trade, she said the “reset” deal will make it easier for goods from Great Britain to go to Northern Ireland. 

Ursula von der Leyen praised Sir Keir Starmer for his “leadership in bringing the UK and the EU closer together. 

The president said the two sides were “turning a page, we are opening a new chapter in our unique relationship”. 

Mrs von der Leyen said the “reset” deal unveiled today contained “solutions that are beneficial for both our peoples”.

Antonio Costa, the president of the European Council, started the press conference at Lancaster House.

He said the deal should be welcomed because it represented “not just progress but a new chapter in the relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union”.

He said he believed there was now a “new positive energy” in the relationship between Britain and the bloc.

Mr Costa praised Sir Keir Starmer for bringing a “new tone” to the bilateral relationship and said the two sides had agreed to hold the summits annually.

Journalists are waiting patiently for the arrival of Sir Keir Starmer, Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa, the president of the European Council.

The trio are set to hold a press conference at Lancaster House to answer questions about the “reset” deal.

Some of the key players on both sides are in the audience including David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, and Kaja Kallas, the vice president of the European Commission.

Sir Keir Starmer and Ursula von der Leyen are set to hold a press conference to answer questions on the “reset” deal.

The Prime Minister and the president of the European Commission are expected to appear in front of the cameras at 12.30pm.

You will be able to watch live at the top of this page.

Brussels has landed a whopper of a “Brexit reset deal” on fish, securing 12 years access to British waters.

It’s a significant victory for the European Union, a humiliating surrender from Sir Keir Starmer, and yet another example of Brexit-voting British fishermen being thrown under the bus.

Britain originally pushed for a one-year deal, setting up annual negotiations on fishing rights to replace the five-year pact struck in the Brexit trade negotiations, which expires next year.

That was the plan when the UK conceded to EU pressure in the final hours of those painful, high stakes talks that brought a deal signed on Dec 30 2020.

But once Brussels has a concession, it never willingly surrenders it. Instead it uses it as a foothold to push for more.

You can read this piece of analysis in full here. 

Sir Keir Starmer’s deal with the EU will enable British burgers and sausages to be exported to the continent again, Downing Street said. 

The deal will see some routine checks on animal and plant products axed which No 10 said could “lower food prices and increase choice on supermarket shelves”.

Meanwhile, British holidaymakers will be able to use more e-Gates when arriving in European countries and pet passports will be introduced to eliminate the need for animal health certificates for every trip. 

Sir Keir Starmer has spoken in the past of his wish to end what he described as the “politics of performance” - people saying or doing whatever they believe to be politically expedient at the time. 

The Prime Minister is instead keen to focus on long-term, tangible wins under the tag line of “delivering for Britain”. 

His approach is neatly illustrated by his decision to wrap the EU deal in with the UK’s recent deals with India and the US: 

Ursula von der Leyen said the UK and the EU worked “shoulder-by-shoulder, hand-in-hand” together as she hailed a “big day” for the relationship between Britain and the bloc. 

The president of the European Commission she looked forward to greater economic cooperation and also improved “people-to-people contact”. 

Delivering remarks at the opening of the first UK-EU summit, Mrs von der Leyen said: “We are now turning the page and opening a new chapter, a new chapter that is so important in these times because we see the rise of geopolitical tensions but we are like-minded, we share the same values. 

“We know that we work shoulder-by-shoulder, hand-in-hand when it is really coming to crisis and difficult moments. So we should use this moment also with this first summit to develop a roadmap which is on the table, it is an amazing, comprehensive roadmap that we have, looking at security and defence together but also looking at the whole economic cooperation that we have and most importantly people-to-people contact.”

The Prime Minister said the UK and the EU had agreed a “new strategic partnership”.

Hailing his “reset” deal, Sir Keir Starmer said it was an “important moment” and the measures agreed between the two sides “represent a strong package that will benefit all of our peoples”.

Delivering his opening remarks at the start of the first UK-EU summit, he said: “We are agreeing a new strategic partnership, fit for our times, providing real tangible benefits on security, irregular migration, energy prices, agrifood, trade and more, bringing down bills, creating jobs and protecting our borders.

“We have delivered this progress through hard work together at every level.”

Sir Keir Starmer said the UK and the EU could now focus on “looking forward, not backwards” as he opened the first UK-EU summit at Lancaster Houser in central London. 

The Prime Minister said: “This is the first UK-EU summit and it marks a new era in our relationship. And it is really good that we are able to meet around this table for this summit, the first of what will be many summits as we progress through this new era. 

“We on this side are following through on what the British public voted for last year and the mission of this Government to deliver security and renewal for our country and improve the lives of working people.

“In uncertain times and a new era for defence, security and trade we will do that by strengthening our relationships with allies around the world, including of course with Europe.

“That is what today is all about, moving on from stale old debates, looking forward, not backwards, focusing on what we can do together to deliver in the national interest.” 

The deal is being closely watched by unionists in Northern Ireland, which continues to follow EU rules under the terms of its Brexit deal, the Windsor Framework.

A Swiss-style veterinary agreement will dramatically reduce the number of border checks and paperwork needed to transport agrifood, plants and animals across the Irish Sea border from Britain to Northern Ireland.

Many unionists fear the Windsor Framework has put Northern Ireland’s place in the UK at risk because it is following hundreds of European rules to prevent a hard border with EU member Ireland.

The DUP said the “reset” will not provide the “silver bullet to the whole host of problems created by the application of EU law specifically in Northern Ireland only”.

“For example, any agreement would not cover, or resolve, issues around customs and other barriers to trade, not least in relation to product standards,” a DUP spokesperson said.

It said that the Government needed to be “radical in moving on from the Windsor Framework and not tinkering around the edges of it”.

For the hardline Traditional Unionist Voice, it is an unacceptable concession and one which sabotages a Brexit that had not been honoured because Northern Ireland had been left behind.

“The purpose of Brexit was to take back control and make our own laws,” its leader Jim Allister told the Telegraph. “ Labour can try to further sabotage Brexit in this way but they will pay a high price at the next general election.”

Matthew O’Toole, of the SDLP,  is the leader of the opposition in the Northern Ireland Assembly and supports a united Ireland.

He said: “Any deal that reduces friction via a veterinary and, ideally, SPS deal between the UK and EU is entirely welcome and in the interests of Northern Ireland and its businesses.”

Sinn Fein argues that a united Ireland will mean Northern Ireland rejoining the EU, although that will create a border with Britain.

Sir Keir Starmer has not been handed a boost from the stock markets after the post-Brexit deal agreed between Britain and the EU.

The FTSE 100 fell as much as 0.8pc while the domestically-focused FTSE 250 sank as much as 1.1pc in morning trading.

Paul Dales, chief UK economist at Capital Economics, said: “Overall, over the next five to ten years the UK will probably move closer to the heart of the EU when it comes to defence, but will only edge closer on economic matters.

“While fewer trade barriers on food and a youth mobility scheme may boost the UK economy a bit without incurring a fiscal cost (it would boost the EU economy by even less), this would reverse only a fraction of the drag generated by Brexit.”

European stocks were lower across the board despite the UK-EU deal, with markets being hit by a downgrade to the US credit rating by agency Moody’s, announced on Friday.

The Cac 40 in Paris was down as much as 0.8pc while the Dax in Frankfurt slipped as much as 0.4pc.

The freshly minted deal struck in the early hours of Monday is still being kept under lock and key. 

It contains details of how Sir Keir Starmer has surrendered access to Britain’s fishing waters for 12 years and agreed to rejoin the EU’s Erasmus student exchange scheme. 

But there are also sizeable wins allowing the Home Office access to EU fingerprint, DNA and criminal records databases to help fight crime. 

In a world first, The Telegraph can publish the entire contents of the deal for you to read. 

You can find it here. 

The pound slipped against the euro as details of Britain’s “reset” deal with the EU began to emerge.

Sterling was down 0.2pc against the single currency at €1.187 as Sir Keir Starmer seeks closer alignment with the bloc on trade and defence.

Indeed, the euro has surged against major currencies around the world today.

It was up more than 1pc against the US dollar at $1.127 after Moody’s announced on Friday that it was downgrading America’s credit rating amid concerns about the ballooning debt levels in the world’s largest economy.

Nicolas Jullien of asset manager Candriam said: “Euro-denominated assets have benefitted from the rotation out of dollar assets.”

Liz Truss said Sir Keir Starmer’s Brexit “reset” deal must be reversed after the next general election. 

The Tory former prime minister posted on X in response to the deal: “No Parliament can bind its successor. 

“This ‘deal’ must be jettisoned in 2029.’ 

Elspeth Macdonald, chief executive of the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation, said Sir Keir Starmer’s deal was a “horror show for Scottish fishermen”. 

Ms Macdonald said the overall “reset” agreement had been agreed “on the backs of our fishermen and coastal communities”. 

she said: “This deal is a horror show for Scottish fishermen, far worse than Boris Johnson’s botched Brexit agreement. It is clear that Sir Keir Starmer made the whole deal on the backs of our fishermen and coastal communities, granting EU vessels 12 years of continuous access to UK waters at the last minute in order secure other objectives.

“This highlights the total indifference of the British political establishment to the interests of our fishing sector, with Sir Keir becoming the third prime minister after Edward Heath and Johnson to betray the industry.

“Any attempt by either the UK or EU to portray the new deal as a continuation of existing arrangements would be a lie, because in fact the Trade and Co-operation Agreement paved the way for annual access negotiations from 2026.

“At the weekend, Sir Keir said the deal would be measured against how much it would improve job prospects and allow our communities to flourish.

“Giving away a national asset such as our rich and healthy fishing grounds for no discernible benefit not only fails both of these tests, but is a disgrace that will ensure the enmity of this proud industry for many years to come.”

Sir Keir Starmer’s deal with the EU is a “triumph of elite concerns” over those of working class people in the UK, a former Tory Cabinet minister said. 

Sir Simon Clarke, who is now the director of the Onward think tank, said the closer ties with Europe would likely be the “thin end of the wedge to take us back” into the bloc. 

He posted on X: 

Ursula von der Leyen has just arrived at Lancaster House to attend the UK-EU summit.

The president of the European Commission and Sir Keir Starmer greeted each other with a double kiss on the cheek before heading inside.

Sir Ed Davey welcomed Sir Keir Starmer’s deal with the EU but urged the Prime Minister to go even further in rebuilding ties with Brussels. 

The leader of the Liberal Democrats said: “These seem to be some positive first steps in rebuilding our relationship with Europe after years of a Conservative Party that wrecked trust and broke our relationship with our closest allies.

“The Prime Minister must ignore the naysayers and dinosaurs in Reform and the Conservative Party and be more ambitious in getting the best deal in the national interest.”

Sir Keir Starmer’s Brexit “reset” deal with the European Union has ignited a political firestorm this morning. 

The decision to grant European fishermen access to British waters for 12 years in order to secure concessions from Brussels in other areas is likely to dominate Westminster for the days and weeks ahead. 

The Tories and Reform are absolutely furious, claiming the deal will spell the end for the British fishing industry.

Telegraph readers have been delivering their verdict in the comments section of today’s live blog: 

Nigel Farage, the Reform UK leader, said the UK will become “an island without a fishing industry” because of Sir Keir Starmer’s “reset” deal. 

He told the Telegraph: “This will be the end of the industry with no new investment. An island without a fishing industry. 

“Why would a north London lawyer care?”

Sir Keir Starmer has just arrived at Lancaster House in central London where he will welcome EU leaders to his “reset” deal summit.

David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, has also just arrived.

Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, and other key EU figures should be arriving shortly.

Conservative peer Lord Rose, the former chairman of Marks & Spencer, said the Government’s deal with the EU was a “win” and should not be described as a “surrender”.

He told Times Radio: “It has to be a win… it’s five years since we did the deal in 2020. But in reality, look what has happened in the world since then. There’s been massive global change. And the UK is finding itself increasingly stranded now. And we’ve got to find a role for ourselves.

“And then we’ve been ignoring the 250 million people across the channel, 20 miles away, who are the power base in this part of the world. And we should be attached to them. We shouldn’t be talking about surrender. And we shouldn’t be talking about what we’re giving up. We should be talking about opportunity, opportunity, opportunity.”

Asked whether the deal amounted to a “surrender”, as some opposition politicians have put it, Lord Rose said: “No, it’s nonsense. I really am quite disappointed and sad that I live in a country, you know, I am a Conservative, although I am not a politically active Conservative, I’m not a politician.

“But to hear that the Conservatives are saying we must be rule givers and not rule takers. It’s about giving a bit, taking a bit, and understanding this is a very difficult, unpleasant world we live in.

“And we’ve got to make sure that for the UK public and for the UK, we do our best. That’s what we elect our politicians to do. That’s what I expect them to do. And talking about small things like surrender is pathetic.”

Nigel Farage said granting EU fishermen access to British waters for 12 years “will be the end of the fishing industry”.

Sir Keir Starmer’s “reset” deal with Brussels will grant the rights to EU trawlers until 2038. 

Richard Tice, Mr Farage’s Reform deputy, has pledged to reverse the move if the party wins the next general election (see the post below at 08.47). 

The Business and Trade Secretary scored the Government’s “reset” deal with the EU as an 8 of 10.

Jonathan Reynolds told GB News: “Well look, this is a solid eight. I’m not the kind of man to get hyperbolic about these things.

“But look, this is a good deal for borders, for bills, for security in the UK and for jobs.”

Rachel Reeves said the UK’s post-Brexit relationship with the EU was “not good enough” as she hailed the Government’s “reset” deal with Brussels.

The Chancellor told business leaders during a breakfast reception in Downing Street this morning: “Our biggest trading partners are our friends, our allies, in the European Union and for too long it has been too difficult to export, to bring in talent, to trade with our nearest neighbours.

“That is not good enough because it has held back our growth, it has held back our exports and it has held back opportunities for Britain.

“And at a time when we are also facing war on the continent with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine it is also imperative that we work together with our friends and allies to keep Europe safe.

“The deal today is about doing all of those things.”

Victoria Atkins said the fishing deal agreed by Sir Keir Starmer was “far worse than we anticipated”.

The shadow environment, food and rural affairs secretary claimed Labour had decided to “sacrifice” the British fishing industry in order to get the overall “reset” pact with Brussels over the line.

The senior Tory posted on X: “Fishermen across our coastal communities are waking up to reports that Labour are handing the EU access to British waters for 12 years.

“That’s far worse than we anticipated. Labour have taken the view that our UK fishing industry can be sacrificed.”

It is “completely wrong” to think that by signing up to European food standards the UK will restrict its ability to do deals with other countries in the future, a Cabinet minister has said.

Jonathon Reynolds, the Business and Trade Secretary, was asked on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme if the Government securing a new deal on food standards with the EU would restrict the country’s ability to secure deals with the US.

He said: “No, I think that is completely wrong. And we have shown it (to be) absolutely wrong.

“We have been absolutely clear in all of our trade negotiations, whether it’s with India, the US, the EU, the Gulf, South Korea, Switzerland, we will not change our food production standards.”

Suella Braverman labelled Sir Keir Starmer’s “reset” deal the “beginning of the end for Brexit”.

The Tory former home secretary said it was “unforgivable” for the Government to have agreed to a “capitulation” on fishing rights. 

She posted on X: “This deal is a surrender. The government has let down our fishing community. This capitulation is unforgivable for our coastal communities and fisherman.

“The British people won’t forget this. The beginning of the end for Brexit.”

The UK and EU will “continue their exchanges on smooth border management for the benefit of their citizens, including the potential use of E-gates”, according to a leak of the deal. 

This isn’t a done deal, the EU will use E-gates as leverage in youth mobility talks. 

Kemi Badenoch said the UK was “becoming a rule-taker from Brussels once again” under Sir Keir Starmer’s “reset” deal with the EU. 

The leader of the Conservative Party criticised the terms of the fishing agreement as she said the Government had given major ground on the issue. 

She also warned that with a youth mobility scheme still to be agreed the “fears of free movement returning will only increase”. 

She posted on X: 

Nick Thomas-Symonds, the minister for EU relations, confirmed the UK’s “reset” deal with Brussels has been agreed. 

He described it as an “historic day” and argued the pact would be “good for jobs” and “good for bills”. 

He posted on X:  

Richard Tice said Reform UK would repeal Sir Keir Starmer’s fishing deal if the party wins the next general election. 

The deputy leader of Reform accused the Prime Minister of a “surrender” and of “selling out” British fishermen. 

He said Reform “will repeal this when we win the general election”.

Sir James Cleverly accused Sir Keir Starmer and the Government of sacrificing UK interests in order to improve relationships on the world stage. 

The Tory former foreign secretary said Sir Keir and David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, were “getting the aim of diplomacy back to front”. 

Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, said Sir Keir Starmer’s deal with the EU was a “surrender”. 

The shadow home secretary said: ““This so-called Brexit ‘reset’ is a farce. They talk about cooperation with Europol, but won’t lift a finger to get a returns deal. They talk about tackling smuggling gangs, but can’t even stop dinghies landing in Kent. This isn’t a reset, it is a surrender.”

He added: “The British people didn’t vote for freedom of movement by the back door or for Britain to be a rule taker to Brussels. 

“They voted for control over our borders, our laws, and our money - and to put our national interest first. Labour is handing it all away - once again, at the expense of the British public.”

Lord Frost, a Tory former Brexit minister who negotiated the previous fishing arrangements, said: “Giving away control of our own fishing grounds in this way is a shocking abandonment of British fishermen by Sellout Starmer. 

“It’s been one concession after another. When the dust settles we will find there is very little for Britain in this deal and a lot that takes us back towards EU control.”

Sir Keir Starmer claims his Brexit reset deal will be “good for our borders”.

But it won’t even let him send back Channel migrants to France, which is the one thing the public would expect from a Prime Minister cosplaying at being tough on immigration to counter the rise of Reform UK.

Britain has not been able to return illegal immigrants to an EU country since Brexit took practical effect in January 2021 and the UK left the bloc’s Dublin regulations.

The reset does not include a UK-EU migrant-returns deal, or even the promise to discuss one in the future. It was not even part of these talks with our nearest neighbours.

“I have been following these talks for the last two months and that was never on the table,” said an EU diplomat.

You can read the full piece of analysis here. 

Sir Keir Starmer granted a major concession to the EU on fishing rights to get his Brexit “reset” deal over the line.

The Prime Minister has given European fishermen access to UK waters for 12 years in a “fish for food” deal which will see Britain get a veterinary agreement to boost trade.

EU fishermen will be granted fishing rights until 2038 in a move which is likely to prompt a furious backlash from Brexiteers.

Britain has agreed to align with EU plant and animal health laws and be subject to European Court of Justice decisions over them.

A deal on defence has also been finalised but a youth mobility scheme has not been agreed. Talks on that are due to continue at a later date.

Labour rebels have turned on Sir Keir Starmer over his “reset” deal with the European Union.

They warned the agreement would drive voters into the arms of Reform UK. 

Baroness Hoey, a Brexiteer and former Labour MP, said it would push Nigel Farage’s party higher in the polls after its seismic victory at the local elections earlier this month.

She said: “[Sir Keir] will pay the penalty in Labour areas where he seems to think that Labour voters have kind of given up on Brexit, which is not in the slightest bit true, and which Reform has shown isn’t true.

“I think this will be a very big boost for Reform and another move towards the ending as soon as possible of a Labour Government.”

You can read the full story on the Labour backlash to the deal here. 

Sir Keir Starmer said it was time to “move on from the stale old political fights” of the past on Brexit as he faced down critics of his EU “reset”. 

The Prime Minister said he will “close a deal in the national interest”. 

He posted on X as he prepared to welcome EU leaders to London for a major summit: 

Mel Stride, the shadow chancellor, urged Sir Keir Starmer to respect the Brexit vote of 2016 as he warned against any attempt to “unpick” the UK’s split from Brussels. 

The senior Tory posted on X: “As Sir Keir Starmer meets EU leaders today, he faces a clear test. Will he uphold the democratic will of the British people or quietly unpick Brexit? 

“If recent history is any guide, Britain will come away weaker. From rushed trade deals to backdoor free movement, this so-called ‘reset’ doesn’t look promising.

“The UK must stand tall on the world stage - confident, and clear-eyed in defence of our national interests.”

The Government’s negotiations for a new deal with the EU have been “promising”, a Cabinet minister said.

Speaking to Times Radio this morning, Jonathan Reynolds, the Business and Trade Secretary, refused to confirm whether the deal had been finalised, but said there was a “real prize” for the country.

“The current deal has huge gaps in it, not just on areas to do with trade, but to do with security as well,” he said.

“So this is about making people better off, about making the country more secure, about making sure there are more jobs in the UK.”

There has been a breakthrough in Sir Keir Starmer’s talks to secure a new deal with the European Union.

There was a late breakthrough in talks last night but there were still steps to take to get the deal over the line, it is understood.

Sir Keir is welcoming EU leaders, including Ursula von der Leyen, to London for a major summit this morning when the deal is due to be unveiled.