As European leaders will come to London on Monday for the first annual UK/EU summit, talks have reached the ‘business end’, a source said
The UK is “on the cusp” of a deal with the EU that will cut bills and holiday queues for Brits, Labour ’s negotiator has pledged.
Nick Thomas Symonds, the Paymaster General, has been deep in talks with Europe’s trade commissioner Maros Sefcovic as both sides try to smooth over the gaps in the broken Brexit deal left behind by the Tories.
As European leaders will come to London on Monday for the first annual UK/EU summit, talks have reached the ‘business end’, a source said.
Keir Starmer will tomorrow argue a “strengthened, forward-looking partnership with the EU” will mean more money in people’s pockets, lower prices in supermarkets and shorter queues for people heading on holiday.
And on the eve of the summit, Mr Thomas-Symonds told the Mirror : “In the last fortnight, we’ve secured trade agreements with India and the United States. Saving jobs, growing the economy and boosting wages. These deals stalled under the previous government, who were busy prioritising ideological debates over the national interest and the interests of British workers.
“Now we’re on the cusp of an agreement with the EU that will deliver jobs, more secure borders and lower bills too. Stopping lorries having to wait hours at the border while food rots. Securing our energy into the future so we’re no longer at Putin’s mercy. Plugging the gaps on defence, borders and crime cooperation. Making our relationship with the EU work.”
Deals still being hammered out, but expected to be agreed on Monday include a defence and security pact, changes to ease red tape for food crossing the border and changes to fishing rules.
The UK is also set to agree to a youth mobility scheme allowing young people to come and work in this country – but numbers and the length of stay will be ‘smart and limited’.
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Keir Starmer said: “In this time of great uncertainty and volatility, the UK will not respond by turning inwards, but by proudly taking our place on the world stage – strengthening our alliances and closing deals in the interests of British people.
“First India, then the United States – in the last two weeks alone that’s jobs saved, faster growth and wages rising. More money in the pockets of British working people, achieved through striking deals not striking poses.
“Tomorrow, we take another step forwards, with yet more benefits for the United Kingdom as the result of a strengthened partnership with the European Union. It will be good for our jobs, good for our bills and good for our borders.
“That’s what the British people voted for last year, and it’s what my government will deliver.”