Sir Keir Starmer trumpeted the UK-EU trade deal as “good for biscuits” in a slip of the tongue in the Commons.
The Prime Minister swiftly corrected himself, describing the post-Brexit agreement as “good for business”.
He stressed it was backed by supermarkets and many businesses which will find it easier to export to the Continent, with less trade barriers, and cut delays for lorries full of produce at ports.
“This is good for biscuits, good for business,” he said.
The PM labelled the Government’s recent efforts on the world stage a “hat-trick of deals” after the agreements also struck with the US and India.
Sir Keir said the Government should be “proud” to give young people the opportunity of a “controlled youth experience scheme”, following the deal with the European Union.
He told the Commons: “It helps British holiday makers because they will be able to use e-gates when they travel to Europe, ending those huge queues to passport control.”
The EU agreement also includes a defence pact, closer energy ties which aim to cut household bills, and a commitment towards the UK associating with the Erasmus+ student exchange programme.
But Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said the deals with the US, India and European Union were “own goals” and said the Government had failed to improve terms agreed by the Tories.
“When Labour negotiates, Britain loses,” she said.
“This (EU agreement) is not a deal made for Britain; this is a deal made for Labour’s PR to show them on the world stage. Well, it is a stitch-up for our country, for their short-term headlines.”
She highlighted EU trawlers being given the right for 12 years to fish in UK waters.
She said: “Why is the Prime Minister selling our fishermen down the river? Is it because they don’t vote Labour?”
She asked how the UK would scrutinise laws made in the EU that it would now be subject to as a “rule taker”, and if there was a cap on the youth mobility scheme.
She also urged the PM to say how much the deal would cost the UK.
But Sir Keir said the Conservatives were being “totally unserious” in their rejection of the Government’s trade deals.
The Prime Minister said: “Oh dear. That was just such an unserious response.
“She is against every single deal. She’s the only ex-trade secretary who is against every single deal.”
Tory and Reform MPs lined up to attack the deal.
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey called on Sir Keir to make a customs union deal with the EU which he claimed would be a “trade deal to dwarf all other trade deals”.
