Sir Keir Starmer has defended his “win-win” UK-EU reset deal as he hit out at Reform leader Nigel Farage and the Tories in the Commons.
Sir Keir said the agreement, announced during a major summit in London with EU leaders on Monday, would “cut the price of the weekly shop” and “put money back in people’s pockets.”
But Conservative former minister Esther McVey argued the EU youth mobility scheme was “a bitter betrayal of British youth”, as she called for a cap on the numbers, to specifically protect “white working class boys”.
The prime minister also slammed Nigel Farage, who was not at the debate, for showing that his Reform party “simply does not care” about Britain’s relationship with the European Union.
The deal sparked backlash from the fishing industry and Brexiteers by striking a deal for EU fisherman to access British waters for 12 years, far longer than had been expected.
Israel hits back at ‘unjustifiable’ sanctions on settlers
Responding to David Lammy’s announcement suspending trade deal talks with Israel and sanctioning West Bank settlers, Israel’s Foreign Ministry hit back on X.
They said: “Following the UK’s announcement that it will suspend free trade agreement negotiations with Israel and impose sanctions on settlers: Even prior to today’s announcement, the free trade agreement negotiations were not being advanced at all by the current UK government.
“More than that, the agreement would serve the mutual benefit of both countries. If, due to anti-Israel obsession and domestic political considerations, the British government is willing to harm the British economy — that is its own prerogative.
“The sanctions against residents of Judea and Samaria are unjustified, and regrettable, especially at a time when Israel is mourning yet another victim of Palestinian terror — Tzeela Gez, of blessed memory, who was murdered on her way to the delivery room.
“Doctors continue fighting for her newborn’s life in hospital. The British Mandate ended exactly 77 years ago. External pressure will not divert Israel from its path in defending its existence and security against enemies who seek its destruction.”
Keir Starmer vows to get Brits to the beach sooner
Sir Keir Starmer has hailed his agreement with the EU which gives UK tourists in Europe easier access to passport e-gates.
The prime minister posted on X: “You know how it goes: all you want to do is start your holiday, but you get off the plane to never-ending queues at passport control.
“My deal with the EU means more Brits will be able to sail through the e-Gates instead. Getting you to the beach sooner.”
Prime Minister apologises for ‘overly rude’ comment that MP ‘talks rubbish’
Sir Keir Starmer has said his comment that the Plaid Cymru Westminster leader “talks rubbish” was “overly rude”.
The Prime Minister apologised to Liz Saville Roberts at the despatch box on Tuesday, as he took questions about the UK agreement with the European Union.
Ms Saville Roberts told the Commons: “The Prime Minister once argued and we quote, ‘we should retain the benefits of the single market’.
“Given his recent tendency to dismiss the views of others, what would he say to his younger self?”
Sir Keir replied: “I think last week I was overly rude and I apologise.
“I do respect the honourable member.”
Responding to her question, the Prime Minister described “red lines” on the single market in Labour’s 2024 manifesto and added the Government had “kept those red lines and delivered a very good deal”.
UK hits Israel with further sanctions and suspends trade talks over Gaza violence
UK hits Israel with further sanctions and suspends trade talks over Gaza violence
The UK has slapped Israel with further sanctions and suspended trade talks with the country in response to violence against Palestinians in Gaza.
My colleague Political Correspondent Millie Cooke with the latest:
Science minister hails potential of mRNA cancer vaccines amid £1bn BioNTech deal
The British government will today sign a £1billion-pound deal with Covid-vaccine maker BioNTech to advance mRNA technology which could prevent cancers from developing.
BioNTech is looking to set up three “centres of excellence” in the Britain which will use AI to develop new drugs.
Science and Technology Secretary Peter Kyle told the Mirror: “There are two totally transformative technologies coming together – mRNA as a tool for vaccines plus artificial intelligence. We as a country can be not just a leading force, but the superpower that the world needs when it comes to treating disease.”
“The Holy Grail is always stopping people getting cancer in the first place and mRNA treatments are preventative. We are in the foothills of the age where we could be treated for diseases that are not currently present in our bodies and actually the technology is leading in that direction faster than people realise. This is something that this government wants to be at the forefront of so it is British people who benefit first, while we also contribute to the global good.”
Starmer releases video criticising ‘poser’ Farage
Sir Keir Starmer has released the opening of his speech to the House of Commons today where he hit back at critics of his EU deal.
He said: “It’s also the member for Clapton – who is not here – the member for Kingston, who have both shown in their own ways, that their parties simply do not care. And if your whole approach to our allies is about striking a pose, then you don’t get to strike a deal.”
Latest YouGov poll shows 64% of Brits disapprove of Labour’s record
YouGov asked Brits do you approve or disapprove of the Government’s record to date?
Starmer told EU deal a ‘bitter betrayal of British youth’
Sir Keir Starmer’s deal with the EU is “a bitter betrayal of British youth”, Conservative MP Esther McVey (Tatton) claimed, specifically referring to “white working class boys who suffer the most”.
She told the Commons: “With youth unemployment higher in Europe, in countries like France, Spain, Portugal and Sweden, I can see why the EU pushed for a youth mobility scheme to help get their youth unemployment figures down.
“So can the Prime Minister tell the House what impact assessment he has done on his youth scheme for youth unemployment for young Brits, particularly white working class boys who suffer the most and can he tell the House today the cap he has put on numbers for people coming into the UK? If he can’t, this is a bitter betrayal of British youth.”
The Prime Minister replied: “This provides young people in the United Kingdom the opportunity to work, to study and to travel in Europe. It is going to be a capped scheme of limited duration and with visas, something again, everybody said we couldn’t negotiate. We have negotiated.”
Prime Minister urged to put the EU trade deal to Commons vote
Labour MP and chairwoman of the foreign affairs select committee Dame Emily Thornberry said: “The Government is rightly confident that these deals will be popular and that they will provide great benefits to our country.
“So can I ask the Prime Minister this, why not take this opportunity to fix a glaring hole in our democracy and simply put those agreements to the vote to allow them to be scrutinised by this place? I can assure him they will be passed.”
Sir Keir Starmer replied: “All of these will require legislation, and therefore they will go through the House on that basis.”
Conservative MP Sir Bernard Jenkin (Harwich and North Essex) said: “(Sir Keir) is giving up control over our laws and restoring payments to the European Union. He will pay a bitter political price for this betrayal.”
The Prime Minister replied: “We were told it was impossible to negotiate a better deal with the EU with those red lines, we’ve just done it. We have also shown that we are outside the EU because, he will appreciate, that having a deal with India and the US is inconsistent with membership of the EU.
“There could be no better evidence that we’re not going back into the EU, nor are these negotiations on that basis.”
