After signing the new deal with the European Union, the British Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, had to face a fiery debate in the House of Commons. The documents stipulate new rules of EU and UK cooperation in the areas of migration, trade barriers and the fishing industry.
Even before the first EU-UK summit in years got underway on Monday, the UK government faced sharp criticism from opposition politicians over a newly signed agreement on fishing quotas.
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch claimed the deal marked a return to “Brussels rule,” arguing that the United Kingdom had once again ceded sovereignty to the European Union.
Another Tory MP, Sir Bernard Jenkin, warned that the Prime Minister will „pay a bitter political price” for the „betrayal” EU trade deal.
„Can I just point out to the Prime Minister that nothing can undo the fact that 17.5 million people voted Leave, and they voted to take back control of our laws and to stop paying money to the EU. That was a considerably larger vote than the 9.7 million who voted Labour at the last election,” Sir Bernard Jenkin said.
The British Prime Minister replied that „He knows full well that we had a red line about not rejoining the EU, no single market, no customs union, no freedom of movement. We were told it was impossible to negotiate a better deal with the EU with those red lines. We have just done it.”
Nigel Farage, head of the Reform UK party and long-time Eurosceptic, offered an even more dire assessment, declaring that the agreement signalled “the end of Britain’s fishing industry.”
The reaction from within the industry itself was equally scathing. Elspeth Macdonald, Chief Executive of the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation – which represents around 400 boat owners – told the BBC that the 12-year deal amounted to “a total surrender to the EU.” She warned that the long-term nature of the agreement strips the sector of leverage previously gained through annual negotiations, meaning “the EU continues to enjoy a significantly larger share of the catch.”
The Scottish Government also expressed its discontent, criticising the lack of consultation with authorities in Edinburgh before finalising the fisheries component of the deal.
In a significant step towards rebuilding ties with the EU, Prime Minister Keir Starmer hosted European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa in London. The three leaders signed a series of wide-ranging agreements. The occasion marked the first UK–EU summit since Britain’s departure from the European Union in 2020.
The agreements cover several key areas, including defence and security cooperation, a joint geopolitical declaration—particularly addressing the ongoing war in Ukraine—and a comprehensive pact on issues such as border management, trade barriers, migration policy, and fisheries.
The summit signals a notable shift in tone, with both sides aiming to stabilise and strengthen relations after years of post-Brexit tension. But as criticism increases over the PM’s decision, it may also bring changes to the British political scene.
Source: PAP, GB News
Photo: @addicted2newz
Tomasz Modrzejewski
