Minister: UK-EU trading is a “sovereign choice” and not a “unilateral transaction.”
Industry Minister Sarah Jones emphasized that the recent deal with the EU is not a “one-sided” agreement, despite criticisms that the government has made substantial concessions regarding fishing rights with the EU.
During her appearance on Good Morning Britain, Jones shared with Richard Madeley and Susanna Reid that, “We’re making a huge amount of money from the exports we can now undertake, so it’s certainly not a one-way street.”
She asserted that the business community has welcomed the deal, stating it does not mean the UK will have no influence over regulatory rules:
“What will happen is we will have discussions about those rules. Any rule change must go through parliament, and there’s an arbitration process to resolve conflicts. I don’t anticipate any conflicts, as we don’t intend to lower our standards.”
“You know, when the Tories introduced their contract, they talked about how we could diversify from the EU, but that didn’t happen because there was a concern about reducing these standards.”
Jones further reflected on the terms of the Brexit deal with the EU, noting:
“We made a choice for sovereignty in this matter. This was a practical answer to the challenging situation where we couldn’t trade with our closest partner at all. I mean, I couldn’t even trade sausages or minced meat. This arrangement improves things significantly and puts more money in people’s pockets.”
Reeves Eyes Gulf Trade Agreement as the UK’s Next Major Deal
Chancellor Rachel Reeves stated that the UK government is approaching a trade agreement with six Gulf nations, including Qatar and Saudi Arabia, describing it as the next significant deal following Brexit.
In an interview with the BBC, she mentioned that the agreement would enhance trade relations, building upon recent deals with the US, the EU, and India.
“The UK is in a stronger position than any other country in negotiating with these nations,” Reeves claimed. “We’ve secured the best deal with the US so far and the best arrangement with the EU for any country outside of it.”
She also noted that the UK is “not seeking any trade negotiations with China.”
Earlier in April, Foreign Secretary David Lammy confirmed that Labour is continuing discussions with the Gulf regarding a trade deal initiated by the previous Conservative government.
Priti Patel Criticizes Deal as a Betrayal of Brexit
Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel has condemned the government’s agreement with the EU as a betrayal of Brexit, accusing Prime Minister Keir Starmer of making “smug” remarks upon its announcement.
While speaking on GB News, Patel remarked:
“Keir Starmer has never believed in Brexit; he dedicated his time to reversing it. He misled the British public during the last election, failing to reveal that his plans would place us back as rule-takers.”
When responding to Starmer’s assertion that the deal restores the UK’s position on the global stage, Patel said:
“That’s utterly nonsense. It was Britain that took the lead in the international response to Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, and it’s the Conservatives who have secured over 70 trade agreements post-Brexit. We won’t entertain that rhetoric.”
Industry Minister: Costs to Taxpayers Outweighed by Economic Benefits
Jones stated that the costs associated with the deal with the EU will pale in comparison to the economic benefits, reiterating that the UK is not rejoining the EU.
On Sky News, she explained:
“We’re not paying for market access with this deal; that’s not what’s happening. We aren’t becoming part of the EU again. Any payments will be related to joint costs that need negotiating.”
Morning News Summary
Good morning, and welcome to our live coverage of UK politics today. Here’s a brief overview:
- Industry Minister Sarah Jones affirmed that the UK-EU deal announced yesterday does not signify Britain’s return to the EU, insisting that benefits will outweigh costs to taxpayers.
- Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel claimed that “when Labour negotiates, Britain always loses,” calling the deal a betrayal of Brexit.
- Chancellor Rachel Reeves mentioned that trade agreements with six Gulf nations, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar, are on the horizon.
That’s all for now. Stay tuned for updates as the cabinet meets this morning, and the Prime Minister may deliver a statement later.
