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| UK-EU deal moves on from Brexit rows, Starmer says | UK-EU deal moves on from Brexit rows, Starmer says |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said it is time to move on from "political fights" about Brexit, as the UK and the European Union agreed to a major reset of relations. | Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said it is time to move on from "political fights" about Brexit, as the UK and the European Union agreed to a major reset of relations. |
| The UK and the EU have struck a deal that covers fishing, trade, defence, energy and strengthening ties in a number of policy areas still up for negotiation. | The UK and the EU have struck a deal that covers fishing, trade, defence, energy and strengthening ties in a number of policy areas still up for negotiation. |
| A key part of the deal involves giving European fishing boats a further 12 years of access to British waters in exchange for easing some trade frictions. | A key part of the deal involves giving European fishing boats a further 12 years of access to British waters in exchange for easing some trade frictions. |
| It marks the biggest reboot since the UK officially left the EU in 2020 and comes after years of disagreements over Brexit. | It marks the biggest reboot since the UK officially left the EU in 2020 and comes after years of disagreements over Brexit. |
| The Conservatives and Reform UK have described the deal as a "surrender" to the EU, while the Liberal Democrats said the government had taken some "positive first steps" to rebuilding ties with Europe. | The Conservatives and Reform UK have described the deal as a "surrender" to the EU, while the Liberal Democrats said the government had taken some "positive first steps" to rebuilding ties with Europe. |
| The agreement was finalised late on Sunday, ahead of a summit involving EU chiefs Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa in London on Monday. | The agreement was finalised late on Sunday, ahead of a summit involving EU chiefs Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa in London on Monday. |
| "It's time to look forward," Sir Keir, who backed remaining in the EU, said at the summit. | "It's time to look forward," Sir Keir, who backed remaining in the EU, said at the summit. |
| "To move on from the stale old debates and political fights to find common sense, practical solutions which get the best for the British people. | "To move on from the stale old debates and political fights to find common sense, practical solutions which get the best for the British people. |
| "We're ready to work with partners if it means we can improve people's lives here at home." | "We're ready to work with partners if it means we can improve people's lives here at home." |
| Fishing rights | Fishing rights |
| The government said the deal would make it easier for food and drink to be imported and exported by reducing paperwork and checks that led to lengthy lorry queues at borders with the EU. | The government said the deal would make it easier for food and drink to be imported and exported by reducing paperwork and checks that led to lengthy lorry queues at borders with the EU. |
| Some routine checks on animal and plant products will be removed completely, the government said. | Some routine checks on animal and plant products will be removed completely, the government said. |
| In return, the UK will give the EU access to its fishing waters until 2038 - a 12-year extension of arrangements already in place. | In return, the UK will give the EU access to its fishing waters until 2038 - a 12-year extension of arrangements already in place. |
| One diplomatic source said it amounted to a rollover of the existing terms agreed as part of the revised withdrawal agreement negotiated by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government in 2019. | One diplomatic source said it amounted to a rollover of the existing terms agreed as part of the revised withdrawal agreement negotiated by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government in 2019. |
| The text of the deal says: "We note the political agreements leading to full reciprocal access to waters to fish until 30 June 2038 and extending energy cooperation on a continuous basis." | The text of the deal says: "We note the political agreements leading to full reciprocal access to waters to fish until 30 June 2038 and extending energy cooperation on a continuous basis." |
| The post-Brexit deal on fishing rights, which gave EU boats continued access to UK waters, was set to expire at the end of June 2026. | The post-Brexit deal on fishing rights, which gave EU boats continued access to UK waters, was set to expire at the end of June 2026. |
| The UK government will also unveil a £360m investment fund in coastal communities and the fishing industry. | The UK government will also unveil a £360m investment fund in coastal communities and the fishing industry. |
| Fishing only accounts for an estimated 0.4% of UK GDP, but British control over its fishing waters was a big issue in the Brexit campaign. | Fishing only accounts for an estimated 0.4% of UK GDP, but British control over its fishing waters was a big issue in the Brexit campaign. |
| Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said giving the EU access to British waters for 12 years "was three times longer than the government wanted". | Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said giving the EU access to British waters for 12 years "was three times longer than the government wanted". |
| "We're becoming a rule-taker from Brussels once again," she posted. | |
| Reform UK MP Richard Tice said Sir Keir had sold out British fishing and promised his party would repeal this deal if it won the next general election. | Reform UK MP Richard Tice said Sir Keir had sold out British fishing and promised his party would repeal this deal if it won the next general election. |
| Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said 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". | Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said 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". |
| More co-operation | More co-operation |
| The deal also includes co-operation on reducing emissions. | The deal also includes co-operation on reducing emissions. |
| The government said British businesses will not be hit by an EU carbon tax due to come in next year. | The government said British businesses will not be hit by an EU carbon tax due to come in next year. |
| The agreements on trade and energy would add nearly £9bn to the UK economy by 2040, the government estimated. | The agreements on trade and energy would add nearly £9bn to the UK economy by 2040, the government estimated. |
| A defence and security pact is also central to the agreement. | A defence and security pact is also central to the agreement. |
| It "will pave the way" for the UK defence industry to participate in the EU's proposed new £150bn EU defence fund, the government said. | It "will pave the way" for the UK defence industry to participate in the EU's proposed new £150bn EU defence fund, the government said. |
| Other announcements include: | Other announcements include: |
| Further co-operation on a youth mobility scheme. The scheme, which would be capped and time-limited, would mirror existing schemes the UK has with countries such as Australia and New Zealand | Further co-operation on a youth mobility scheme. The scheme, which would be capped and time-limited, would mirror existing schemes the UK has with countries such as Australia and New Zealand |
| Allowing British travellers to use more passport e-gates - automated self-service barriers at European airports | Allowing British travellers to use more passport e-gates - automated self-service barriers at European airports |
| The reset comes after years of ill-tempered relations between the UK and the EU over Brexit, which triggered one of the most tumultuous periods in British political history. | The reset comes after years of ill-tempered relations between the UK and the EU over Brexit, which triggered one of the most tumultuous periods in British political history. |
| Since Labour took office last year, governments worldwide have been forced to rethink their relationships on trade and defence, in response to US President Donald Trump's policies and Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. | Since Labour took office last year, governments worldwide have been forced to rethink their relationships on trade and defence, in response to US President Donald Trump's policies and Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. |
| Ministers believe there is no public clamour to reopen the biggest questions of Brexit – membership of the single market and customs union. | Ministers believe there is no public clamour to reopen the biggest questions of Brexit – membership of the single market and customs union. |
| Polling by YouGov suggests a majority of Britons now regret the Brexit vote and favour closer ties with the EU. | Polling by YouGov suggests a majority of Britons now regret the Brexit vote and favour closer ties with the EU. |
| But the Labour government's reset of EU relations comes at a time when Reform UK - a Eurosceptic party led by Nigel Farage - is leading in the polls. | But the Labour government's reset of EU relations comes at a time when Reform UK - a Eurosceptic party led by Nigel Farage - is leading in the polls. |
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