LONDON, 20 May 2025 — Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has defended the Government’s latest trade deal with the European Union, insisting it marks a fresh start in UK-EU relations and not a return to past Brexit disputes.
Speaking in the Downing Street garden on Monday evening as he welcomed UK and EU business leaders, Sir Keir hailed the agreement as a “win-win” outcome that signals a “new era” of cooperation between Britain and the bloc.
“The EU and the UK want to work together. All of us are prepared to say let yesterday be yesterday – we are looking forward to tomorrow,” the Prime Minister declared. “We are not going to litigate old arguments. We are going to go forward in the spirit that what we do together, we do better.”
The wide-reaching agreement, finalised at a summit in London, includes a raft of measures aimed at reducing friction for travellers, businesses, and students. British tourists will benefit from easier access to passport e-gates at European airports, and British farmers will see a significant easing of trade restrictions through an agreement on animal and plant product standards.
A new “youth experience scheme” will allow young Britons to study, live, and work in Europe, while both sides have committed to a new defence and security partnership, reinforcing cooperation in an increasingly volatile global landscape.
Downing Street claimed the “post-Brexit reset” could deliver an economic boost of £9 billion by 2040 by cutting red tape and increasing market access for British firms.
However, not everyone is celebrating. The agreement includes a contentious extension of European fishing trawlers’ access to British waters for a further 12 years — a decision that has sparked sharp backlash from Brexiteers and coastal communities.
Speaking to reporters, Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch said: “This deal will mean Britain becoming a rule-taker, accepting dynamic alignment, giving up fishing rights, and paying new money to the EU. Nobody has lost more than the fishermen.”
Reform UK’s Nigel Farage went further, warning that the 12-year extension could mean “the end of the fishing industry”.
Sir Keir rejected that narrative outright, dismissing what he called “the myth that next year everybody was free to do what they like” in British waters. He argued the deal preserves vital industries and brings balance across sectors, benefiting jobs, border security, and household bills.
“This deal is good for bills, good for jobs, good for borders,” the Prime Minister told attendees. “It puts Britain at the heart of European and global trade without compromising sovereignty or standards.”
Chancellor Rachel Reeves also praised the deal, telling the BBC that Britain is now in a uniquely advantageous global position. “The first deal and the best deal so far with the US, we’ve got the best deal with the EU for any country outside the EU, and we’ve got the best trade agreement with India,” she said. “It shows that Britain is the place for investment and business.”
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Other key elements of the UK-EU agreement include:
– British burgers and sausages will once again be allowed into the EU, with some routine checks on meat and plant products removed entirely.
– UK and EU emissions trading schemes will be linked, sparing British firms from the EU carbon border tax.
– A commitment to explore UK participation in the Erasmus+ student exchange programme.
– British steel exports will be protected from incoming EU tariffs, a move expected to save the struggling industry £25 million.
While critics decry compromises, especially on fishing, the Government is positioning the agreement as a signal of Britain’s renewed global relevance and economic pragmatism.
“This is not about going back,” Sir Keir concluded. “It’s about moving forward with confidence, purpose, and unity.”
