Sir Keir Starmer is reportedly mulling a Brexit-betrayal deal which would commit the UK to aligning with the European Union‘s single market rules on goods. Government officials are said to be exploring this as an option under a wider examination of potential new ways of the UK further harmonising with Brussels’ rules.
Doing so would help lower bureaucratic barriers to trade between Britain and the bloc. Brexit Minister, Nick Thomas-Symonds, told a conference on Thursday that when it is in the UK’s national interest, the Government will look to further align with the EU.
The Telegraph also reports that Mr Thomas-Symonds defended Sir Keir’s Brexit reset, arguing aligning with the European Union is a “patriotic decision”.
Mirroring EU rules on goods would see manufacturers in the UK forced to comply with hundreds of regulations on areas including health and safety.
Former Brexit minister, Lord Frost, toldthe newspaper that Sir Keir’s EU reset would be reversed if a Brexit-supporting government were to take over after the next general election, which is due in 2029.
The Government has insisted that making it easier to implement deals with Brussels by following EU rules could support jobs and slash red tape.
As part of the Prime Minister’s reset with Brussels, the Government will look to pass a new law allowing single market rules to be adopted through secondary legislation.
It means MPs might not necessarily have a vote on each piece of red tape under plans due to be unveiled in the King’s Speech on May 13.
Sir Keir’s UK-EU reset legislation will still be subject to full scrutiny by MPs and peers under the usual parliamentary process.
The UK and EU are already aiming to finalise negotiations on a youth mobility scheme in time for a joint summit this summer.
It also wants to secure a common sanitary and phytosanitary area, applying to the movement of plants and food, and agree a way of linking their emissions trading systems.
Earlier this month, Sir Keir said Britain’s response to the war in Iran would mean a closer economic relationship with the UK’s European allies “because Brexit did deep damage to the economy”.