Sir Keir Starmer clashed in the Commons on Tuesday over the UK-EU trade deal which he has hailed as a “win-win” but which has been branded an “abject surrender” by Nigel Farage.
The Prime Minister staunchly defended Britain’s “reset” deal with the European Union - insisting the partners are “looking forward to tomorrow” and not re-litigating Brexit.
He argued the deal “delivered for Britain”, gave “unprecedented access” to the EU market, that scrapping trade barriers would “cut the price of the weekly shop” and closer energy links with the Continent would drive down energy bills.
Highlighting recent trade agreements with the US and India as well, he emphasised: “These deals release us from the tired arguments of the past and, as an independent sovereign nation, allow us to seize the opportunities of the future - a clear message sent across the globe that Britain is back on the world stage."
But he came under fierce criticism as he addressed Parliament, shortly after midday, from the Conservatives and Mr Farage’s Reform UK, with particular anger over granting EU trawlers the right to fish in UK waters for 12 years.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch hit out at the EU deal as a “total capitulation” with the UK becoming a rule-taker from Brussels.
“When Labour negotiates, Britain loses,” she said.
She branded trade deals with the EU, US and India as “own goals” and the pact with Brussels as a “stitch-up for our country”.
She added: “This is a Prime Minister who would pay to give away his family silver.”
She attacked the “fraud of a deal” and a “failure” by the PM.
However, Sir Keir slammed her comments as “such an unserious response”, as he listed supermarkets and other businesses backing the deal.
He described the deal with the bloc, set out at a Monday summit in London, as a the start of a “new era” in the UK-EU relationship.
The wide-ranging deal will allow more British travellers to use passport e-gates when going on holiday to Europe, while farmers will get swifter, easier access to trade on the Continent as a result of an agreement on animal and plant product standards.
The Government claimed the post-Brexit “reset” will cut red tape for travellers and businesses, boosting the economy by £9 billion by 2040.
But it has been met with heavy criticism after agreeing to grant European fishing trawlers a further 12 years’ access to British waters.
Sir Keir was accused by the Conservatives of having “surrendered” many of the gains they negotiated post-Brexit.
Earlier, Mr Farage warned the 12-year fishing deal would be “the end of the fishing industry”.
Other measures covered in the UK-EU deal include:
– British burgers and sausages will once more be allowed into the EU, and some routine checks on plant and animal products will be removed completely.
– Linking UK and EU emissions-trading schemes, which will mean British firms will not be hit by Brussels’s carbon tax next year.
– A commitment to work towards the UK associating with the Erasmus+ student exchange programme.
– British steel exports will be protected from new EU rules and restrictive tariffs, saving the beleaguered industry £25 million.
