Keir Starmer pledges to seek major rewrite of Brexit deal | Financial Times
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Labour leader tells FT his government would put closer trading relationship with Brussels at heart of growth policy

Sir Keir Starmer has promised to seek a major rewrite of Britain’s Brexit deal in 2025 if Labour win the next general election, saying he owes it to his children to rebuild relations with the EU.

Starmer told the Financial Times that he would put a closer trading relationship with Brussels and a new partnership with business at the heart of his efforts to bolster Britain’s economic growth.

Britain’s Trade and Cooperation Agreement with the EU, negotiated by former premier Boris Johnson, is due for review in 2025 and Starmer said he saw this as an “important” moment to reset relations.

“Almost everyone recognises the deal Johnson struck is not a good deal — it’s far too thin,” he said in an interview. “As we go into 2025 we will attempt to get a much better deal for the UK.”

…

It is far from clear whether the EU would wish to renegotiate the trade deal, which only came into force in 2021, particularly if it involved Britain selectively choosing only parts of the single market. Many in Brussels see the 2025 review as simply a tidying-up exercise. 

    • SyldonEnglish
      1·
      1 year ago

      He has until very recently held the opinions of the whole of the EU. He is a highly credible source for what the EU thought process and what it wants. The whole agenda of the EU is to unite Europe by trade with a view to preventing future conflicts. Who in the EU has stated that the UK could not rejoin?

      There will be hurdles to jump in the path back into the EU. There will be concessions made on both sides. I could easily see Greece holding out for the Elgin marbles and succeeding. Spain will attempt and fail to reintegrate Gibraltar. The EU will also have changed a lot by the time we rejoin. No one in the EU will have the same conditions that they have had in the past.

      • Bernie Ecclestoned@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
        1·
        1 year ago

        There is no rejoin process. The application would have to be started afresh, current wait times are in excess of a decade, so I stand by statement that there is no way the UK will join the EU within 10 years.

        • SyldonEnglish
          11·
          1 year ago

          Again the opinion of some random on the internet.

          • Bernie Ecclestoned@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
            1·
            1 year ago

            It’s a fact, not an opinion. You are voicing your opinion that the UK could rejoin because some retired failed French president wannabe says so.

            Please paste a link to the EU rejoining process

                • SyldonEnglish
                  1·
                  1 year ago

                  A simple google will confirm Barnier’s comments. First you say they are invalid because of the speaker, now you criticise the source when the speaker is highlighted as being extremely credible. A very poor attempt imo.

                  From your own link:

                  According to the EU treaties, membership of the European Union is open to “any European State which respects the values referred to in Article 2 and is committed to promoting them” (TEU Article 49). Those Article 2 values are “respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities.” This is based on the 1993

                  The reason some Eastern block countries take so long is because they have to change their own infrastructure. The UK does not have to do this. You are not comparing apples to apples.

                  Membership requires that candidate country has achieved stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights, respect for and protection of minorities, the existence of a functioning market economy as well as the capacity to cope with competitive pressure and market forces within the Union. Membership presupposes the candidate’s ability to take on the obligations of membership including adherence to the aims of political, economic and monetary union.

                  The UK currently fails under this criteria. Starmer has made pledges to reverse all this crap within 100 days.

                  Before a country applies for membership it typically signs an association agreement to help prepare the country for candidacy and eventual membership. Most countries do not meet the criteria to even begin negotiations before they apply, so they need many years to prepare for the process. An association agreement helps prepare for this first step.

                  Does not apply to the UK once these scumbags are gone. Provided Starmer makes good on his commitments. We also have to renegotiate the TCA in 2025. One thing is certain is that the UK will align closer to the EU. This will facilitate any future requests to rejoin not hinder them. The days of divergence will die with the Tories.