This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvg3929q3ygo

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Minister takes on Nigel Farage over Brexit deal Minister takes on Nigel Farage over Brexit deal
(about 1 hour later)
A Labour minister has warned Reform UK would "take Britain backwards" if the party ripped up the government's Brexit reset agreement with the European Union.A Labour minister has warned Reform UK would "take Britain backwards" if the party ripped up the government's Brexit reset agreement with the European Union.
Nick Thomas-Symonds, the minister for EU relations, accused Nigel Farage of wanting British businesses to fail, after the Reform UK leader said a government led by him would scrap the EU agreement.Nick Thomas-Symonds, the minister for EU relations, accused Nigel Farage of wanting British businesses to fail, after the Reform UK leader said a government led by him would scrap the EU agreement.
In a speech, the minister said British businesses trading with Europe would face "more red tape, mountains of paperwork, and a bureaucratic burden" if Farage followed through on his threat.In a speech, the minister said British businesses trading with Europe would face "more red tape, mountains of paperwork, and a bureaucratic burden" if Farage followed through on his threat.
In response to the speech, Reform UK said "no one has done more damage to British businesses than this Labour government".In response to the speech, Reform UK said "no one has done more damage to British businesses than this Labour government".
Speaking to reporters in Scotland, Farage said Labour "seem to be trying to betray Brexit" by aligning with EU rules on trade without any debate in Parliament.
"That is going back on a promise Labour made to the electorate," Farage said.
In May, the UK and the EU struck a deal that covers fishing, trade, defence, energy and strengthening ties in a number of policy areas still up for negotiation.In May, the UK and the EU struck a deal that covers fishing, trade, defence, energy and strengthening ties in a number of policy areas still up for negotiation.
It represented a big reboot in relations, and one important area for businesses was checks on food and drink imports.It represented a big reboot in relations, and one important area for businesses was checks on food and drink imports.
The government has put some planned border checks on fruit and vegetables on hold while it negotiates a sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement with the EU.The government has put some planned border checks on fruit and vegetables on hold while it negotiates a sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement with the EU.
The proposed SPS deal, which both sides committed to at an UK-EU summit in May, would remove the need for border checks on plant and animal products entirely.The proposed SPS deal, which both sides committed to at an UK-EU summit in May, would remove the need for border checks on plant and animal products entirely.
The government says it wants to get a permanent deal with the EU on food and drink agreed in the next 18 months.The government says it wants to get a permanent deal with the EU on food and drink agreed in the next 18 months.
In his speech, Thomas-Symonds said Brexit bureaucracy was weighing down businesses and reiterated the government's ambition to agree a final UK-EU food and drink deal by 2027.In his speech, Thomas-Symonds said Brexit bureaucracy was weighing down businesses and reiterated the government's ambition to agree a final UK-EU food and drink deal by 2027.
He said the deal would boost growth, protect businesses, secure jobs and bring down food prices.He said the deal would boost growth, protect businesses, secure jobs and bring down food prices.
But he said Farage had "pledged to reverse our progress".But he said Farage had "pledged to reverse our progress".
In an interview with the Telegraph in May, Farage said he would tear up the UK's Brexit treaties if he became prime minister.In an interview with the Telegraph in May, Farage said he would tear up the UK's Brexit treaties if he became prime minister.
He said Reform UK - which is leading in national opinion polls - would "undo all of this with legislation" if it won the next general election.He said Reform UK - which is leading in national opinion polls - would "undo all of this with legislation" if it won the next general election.
"We'd tell the EU that any agreements are no longer legally binding on the UK, because a general election has said so," Farage told the paper."We'd tell the EU that any agreements are no longer legally binding on the UK, because a general election has said so," Farage told the paper.
On Wednesday, a Reform spokesman added: "Cosying up to the EU and leaving us entangled in reams of retained EU law which Kemi Badenoch failed to scrap will not resuscitate Britain's struggling economy."On Wednesday, a Reform spokesman added: "Cosying up to the EU and leaving us entangled in reams of retained EU law which Kemi Badenoch failed to scrap will not resuscitate Britain's struggling economy."
Taking aim at Farage in his speech, Thomas-Symonds said: "Nigel Farage wants Britain to fail. His model of politics feeds on it.Taking aim at Farage in his speech, Thomas-Symonds said: "Nigel Farage wants Britain to fail. His model of politics feeds on it.
"He offers the easy answers, dividing communities, stoking anger. We reject that. Emphatically.""He offers the easy answers, dividing communities, stoking anger. We reject that. Emphatically."
Labour has been stepping up its political attacks on Reform UK, which only has four MPs but did well in May's local elections.Labour has been stepping up its political attacks on Reform UK, which only has four MPs but did well in May's local elections.
In May, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said Reform UK's policies would "crash the economy", comparing Farage to former Tory PM Liz Truss.In May, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said Reform UK's policies would "crash the economy", comparing Farage to former Tory PM Liz Truss.
In a BBC interview ahead of his speech on Wednesday, Thomas-Symonds was asked if Labour viewed Reform UK as the real opposition, rather than the Conservatives.In a BBC interview ahead of his speech on Wednesday, Thomas-Symonds was asked if Labour viewed Reform UK as the real opposition, rather than the Conservatives.
In reply, the Cabinet Office minister said: "At the moment that is the case."In reply, the Cabinet Office minister said: "At the moment that is the case."
The Conservatives, he added, had "nothing to say".The Conservatives, he added, had "nothing to say".
"They're not on the pitch. So this is the position that there is in British politics at the moment.""They're not on the pitch. So this is the position that there is in British politics at the moment."