Remainer Labour MPs Declare Starmer Surrender Deal Only a “First Step” – Guido Fawkes

“Dear X,

Talks went to the wire last night, but today the government has secured a new deal with the EU. Will you help us keep fighting to reset our relationship with Europe?

Those responsible for Tory hard Brexit continue to try to drag this country backwards – in fact, they were opposing this deal in Parliament last week before it was even signed. The summit outcomes have just been released – here’s what you need to know:

Standing together on security: The UK and EU have signed a formal Security and Defence Partnership. This will let us work more closely together to tackle common threats and especially on Europe’s response to Putin’s aggression. Crucially, this agreement is necessary for the UK to participate in the EU’s new €150bn defence fund. The UK and EU will also open a new dialogue on coordinating foreign aid.

Cutting red tape: The UK and EU have agreed to work towards establishing a so-called SPS agreement on food safety and animal and plant health. This should remove the need for border checks, extra paperwork and costs on businesses importing and exporting food, drink, plant and animal products. The UK will align with EU rules on food and drink but have a role in shaping them, and will have access to relevant EU databases. An SPS deal will also come as a boost to the fishing industry, which has faced huge burdens of post-Brexit paperwork. The UK exports approximately 80% of its fishing catches, of which 70% by value goes to the EU. According to the UK in a Changing Europe, UK fishing exports to the EU fell 29% by volume from 2019-23.

Unlocking energy cooperation: The UK and EU have agreed to work towards linking their carbon emission trading schemes, meaning that up to £800m in charges should now be paid to HM Treasury rather than to the EU. Again the UK will align to EU regulations but have a role in shaping them. They will also explore ways for the UK to participate in the EU internal electricity market, allowing more efficient electricity trading to enable the green energy potential of the North Sea to be unlocked.

Boosting mobility: The UK and EU have agreed to work towards a youth experience scheme to allow young people to move abroad for work and study – this will be time-limited and restricted to numbers that both sides find acceptable, so it is not a return to freedom of movement. They have also agreed to work towards making it possible for UK travelers to use EU e-gates, and to support touring and cultural exchange.

Keeping talks open: The UK have EU have agreed to keep talking on other measures to remove trade barriers, as well as holding regular high level summits.

Now more than ever, we need your help. This deal is a first step, but it is the beginning – not the end – of the fight for a better relationship and a better future standing together with Europe.

Here’s what our Honorary President, the Rt Hon Neil Kinnock, has said:

Our Government and the EU have negotiated steps of realism that can become significant strides of progress in the national and mutual interest.

This is the path to freer trade, higher growth and greater security for the UK in a world made more fragile by Putin and Trump.

There will be much more to do in the coming days and weeks, but today we need you to speak up for this deal – to your friends, on social media, and to your MP. Follow the Labour Movement for Europe on X/Twitter, Bluesky and Instagram, where we will be sharing content to help you make the case.

And please ask your MP to speak up in the debate in the House of Commons this Thursday, 22 May. This will be Parliament’s first opportunity for detailed scrutiny of the outcomes of this crucial summit.

We rely on your donations to continue its work to campaign within the Labour Movement for a better relationship with Europe. In the coming months, your support will allow us to make sure the agreements promised in today’s summit become reality, and that we can carry on repairing the damage cause [They didn’t bother finishing their sentence]

Thank you for your support for this work and for the Labour Movement for Europe,

Stella Creasy MP”