May 19, 2025
Press release
Starmer's threadbare EU “deal” won't fix broken Brexit Britain, Rejoin EU Party says
The Labour government's Brexit 'reset' deal barely scratches the surface of repairing the damage done by Brexit and will leave the UK as a rule-taker, rather than having a seat at the table as a full EU member, the Rejoin EU Party says.
The deal, announced in London by Keir Starmer, was notable more for its limited scope and what it didn't include than for what it did, Rejoin EU says.
New trade agreements mean the UK will have to follow EU regulations in areas such as food, emissions and potential electricity market co-operation without having a say in setting them.
UK travellers will eventually be able to use more electronic gates at EU airports, though movement restrictions imposed after Brexit will remain due to the government's refusal to restore reciprocal freedom of movement rights.
A much-vaunted “youth mobility scheme” wasn't agreed and is reportedly subject to further negotiations as Labour insisted on capping the number of people taking part and the time they can spend in the UK. A possible UK return to student exchange scheme Erasmus was also mooted but not confirmed.
While the deal did include initiatives such as a pet passport scheme and reduced Brexit red tape on food trade, it falls far short of restoring all the benefits that the UK had as a full EU member, Rejoin EU says.
Rejoin EU Party leader Brendan Donnelly said: “This deal is a poor substitute for EU membership and leaves the UK accepting rules in which it would otherwise have a say if the UK re-joined the EU.
“While Starmer says it's 'time to move on', the hard Brexit he supports is stopping Britain making the progress it so badly needs.”
The deal also included a defence and security pact that will “pave the way” for British defence companies to take part in a 150bn euro EU-co-ordinated programme to re-arm Europe, although again, details remain to be confirmed.
Former MEP and Rejoin EU Party supporter John Stevens said: “The defence deal was billed as being the most substantial economic component of today's agreement.
“However, it seems the precise extent of British involvement has yet to be finalised and could be more modest that many in the UK industry and government had hoped. This is because many EU states, notably both France and Germany, have become concerned about the risk of a Farage-led government in London after the next general election.”