Starmer’s Brexit Reset: A Strategic Shift or a Sacrifice?

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Starmer’s Brexit Reset: A Strategic Shift or a Sacrifice?

 

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has unveiled a landmark reset in UK-EU relations with a new post-Brexit deal aimed at reestablishing close cooperation with Britain’s largest trading partner. At a press conference in London, Starmer described the agreement as a “strong package” that promises tangible benefits for both sides. “We are agreeing a new strategic partnership fit for our times, providing real, tangible benefits on security, irregular migration, energy prices, agri-food, trade and more, bringing down bills, creating jobs and protecting our borders,” he said.

Historic day.

After months of negotiations, I can announce that the Labour Government has secured a new agreement with the EU.

🇬🇧Good for jobs
🇬🇧Good for bills
🇬🇧Good for borders
And more…

Britain back on the world stage, with a Government in the service of working people.

— Nick Thomas-Symonds (@NickTorfaen) May 19, 2025

 

Starmer emphasized that the breakthrough was the result of “hard work together at every level,” identifying common ground without compromising the UK's sovereignty. One of the most talked-about aspects of the new agreement is a concession to allow young Europeans greater access to the UK for work, study, and travel. Although not officially named a youth mobility scheme, both parties have agreed to work toward a “balanced youth experience scheme” under mutually agreed terms. The deal also includes a return pathway for European au pairs, who were excluded after Brexit.

 

The UK remains firm on the need for an annual cap, although the agreement itself vaguely notes that numbers must be “acceptable to both sides.”

The deal, however, has sparked controversy, particularly in Scotland and among the UK fishing community. Angus Robertson, Scotland’s constitution secretary, criticized the UK government for sidelining devolved administrations in the negotiations. “Scottish government received no documentation or draft proposals in advance. I asked UK minister last week for this. Nothing received. Reset?” he posted on social media.

 

 

The most contentious issue remains fishing. The 12-year extension of EU catch quotas in UK waters has been described by Elspeth Macdonald, chief executive of the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation, as a “total capitulation to the EU.” Representing more than 400 fishing boats, Macdonald argued that this long-term agreement strips Scottish fishers of any leverage they might have had through annual negotiations. “It would be a terrible deal for Scottish fishermen,” she said in an interview on BBC’s Good Morning Scotland.

 

At a Downing Street reception with business leaders, Chancellor Rachel Reeves underscored the economic necessity of rebuilding ties with Europe. “For too long, it’s been too difficult to do trade with the UK’s largest trading partner,” she said. “We can see all over the last months how much the world is changing, but the British government isn’t just going to stand by and watch that change. We ought to shape it in our national interest.”

 

Despite strong business support, political criticism has mounted. Conservative peer Lord Rose of Monewden told Times Radio that the agreement is essential for repositioning the UK amid global shifts. “It has to be a win,” he said. “It’s five years since we did the deal in 2020. But in reality, look what has happened in the world since then… And we’ve been ignoring the 250 million people across the channel, 20 miles away. We should be talking about opportunity, opportunity, opportunity.”

 

But not everyone sees opportunity. Richard Tice, deputy leader of Reform, denounced the 12-year fishing concession as a complete surrender. “Starmer has surrendered — lock, stock and barrel. He’s waved the white flag and kissed goodbye to UK fishing,” he said. Reform leader Nigel Farage echoed the sentiment, saying this would “be the end of the fishing industry.”

 

Conservatives have also raised alarms over what they call a return to rule-taking from Brussels. Tory leader Kemi Badenoch called the 12-year access “three times longer than the government wanted,” warning that the lack of firm limits on youth mobility could reignite fears of renewed free movement. Shadow environment secretary Victoria Atkins added, “The fishing industry had been sacrificed to get a deal over the line, calling it far worse than we anticipated.”

 

In response, Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds defended the fishing terms. He emphasized that market access, especially to the EU, is essential for the sector. “It’s not just about what you catch in the UK, it’s who you’re going to sell it to… 70 per cent of our exports are to the EU,” he said. “That market access is fundamental to the prosperity of that industry, so it’s not a trade-off in that regard.”

 

As the dust settles, the new UK-EU deal is already proving to be a divisive milestone — hailed by some as a pragmatic reengagement with Europe, and condemned by others as a betrayal of Brexit promises.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Times  2025-05-20

 

 

[nauseus]

SOS  Sell Out Starmer.

[JonnyF]

He is selling Britain out.

 

He truly is a 'orrible little man. 

[The Cyclist]

1 hour ago, nauseus said:

SOS  Sell Out Starmer.

 

Indeed

 

This sums it up rather well

 

[Chomper Higgot]

1 hour ago, JonnyF said:

He is selling Britain out.

 

He truly is a 'orrible little man. 

He’s extending by 12 years the fishing deal Johnson negotiated and in exchange getting lots of goodies for the British economy.

 

Even British fishermen do well out of this deal, the removal of restrictions on exports to the EU will re-open the opportunity to sell their catch in Europe, an opportunity they were robbed of by Brexit.

 

Add the benefits to British farming, security, access to EU defense spending and re-entry to Erasmus, it’s a great deal.

 

It’s well past time to peal back the damage the Tories did under cover of Brexit. Starmer is on it.!

[Black arab]

Right wingers . moaning again , can't stand to see UK moving in a better direction, and I'm no starmer fan.

All Tories and reform have is "he surrendered to the eu or he sabotaging Brexit" tough , suck it up losers.

[RayC]

9 minutes ago, Black arab said:

Right wingers . moaning again , can't stand to see UK moving in a better direction, and I'm no starmer fan.

All Tories and reform have is "he surrendered to the eu or he sabotaging Brexit" tough , suck it up losers.

 

Spot on.

 

The 'hard' Brexiters don't like the existing deal but complain when any changes are made to it. When challenged to define what a good Brexit deal should look like, there is deafening silence.

[Chomper Higgot]

Removing Ted tape and restrictions placed on the British fusing industry by Brexit is absolutely the right thing to do g to do for British fishermen.

 

The damage done by Brexit needs to end:

 

https://www.westcountryvoices.com/how-fishing-was-gutted-by-brexit/

[Bannoi]

At last a bit of common sense. 

[jippytum]

A betrayal of Brexit.  Starmer is giving tme country to illegal immigrants and Europe. Starmer should be tried for treason. 

[coxyhog]

1 hour ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Starmer is on it.!

Whatever he's on it ain't good!

[The Cyclist]

1 hour ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Starmer is on it.!

 

Drugs ?
 

£9billion by 2040 😀😀  that doesn't even cover the current cost of the Illegals.

 

Starmer in a nutshell

 

[Eloquent pilgrim]

 

Extending the agreement by another 12 years with nothing tangible in return, is a disgraceful betrayal of the UK’s fishermen, but unfortunately, it is not the first, as we belatedly discovered in 2000 under the 30 year rule.

 

With the release of Government papers under this rule, we now know that Geoffrey Rippon, fisheries minister at the time, told the treacherous Ted Heath, Tory Prime Minister at the time, "If we want to enter the EEC (as it was then known) under the terms stated by General De Gaulle, we will have to sacrifice Britain’s fishermen, which is exactly what he did.

 

The Common Fisheries policy was hastily introduced by the original 6 members at the instigation of France, at the time that Britain was negotiating membership. It was a simple ploy by the members states to give all members equal fishing rights to UK territorial waters, reducing the protection zone of our fishermen’s rights to 12 miles from the coastline from its previous 200.

 

It also introduced an absurd quota system that has not only seen millions upon millions of fish thrown back into the sea for gulls to feed on, but has resulted in our fishing industry, that was the largest in all of Europe, being completely decimated, leaving huge unemployment and poverty in towns like Hull and Grimsby, the latter once being the largest fishing port in the world.

 

This is yet another sad betrayal of the UK’s fishermen, and the irony of the UK being an island nation, surrounded by bountiful supplies of fish should not be lost on anyone.

 

 

 

[newbee2022]

He's the best PM Britain ever had and a great European. Thank you Sir Keith.❤️

[JonnyF]

2 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

He’s extending by 12 years the fishing deal Johnson negotiated and in exchange getting lots of goodies for the British economy.

 

Even British fishermen do well out of this deal, the removal of restrictions on exports to the EU will re-open the opportunity to sell their catch in Europe, an opportunity they were robbed of by Brexit.

 

Add the benefits to British farming, security, access to EU defense spending and re-entry to Erasmus, it’s a great deal.

 

It’s well past time to peal back the damage the Tories did under cover of Brexit. Starmer is on it.!

 

Funny how all you Libs claim Trump will be the death of Democracy yet support Starmer rolling back Brexit without a mandate. 

 

Access to EU defense spending? 😃

[jippytum]

Starrmer realises his future and the labour party is doomed  after being rejected by the British public. He seems intent on doing as much damage to the country as possible before he is forced out. 

[JonnyF]

25 minutes ago, RayC said:

When challenged to define what a good Brexit deal should look like, there is deafening silence.

 

We told you hundreds of times what it should look like. You just don't listen, then claim nobody spoke. 😃

[Chomper Higgot]

25 minutes ago, The Cyclist said:

 

Drugs ?
 

£9billion by 2040 😀😀  that doesn't even cover the current cost of the Illegals.

 

Starmer in a nutshell

 

 

Peanuts compared to the cost of Brexit:

 

https://news.sky.com/story/brexit-new-report-suggests-uk-311bn-worse-off-by-2035-due-to-leaving-eu-13046256

[Chomper Higgot]

Just now, JonnyF said:

 

We told you hundreds of times what it should look like. You just don't listen, then claim nobody spoke. 😃

Unicorns and warm sunlit uplands, a glorious trade deal with the US, immigration suddenly halted and £350 million a week for the NHS.

 

Non of which materialized.

 

[Chomper Higgot]

3 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

Funny how all you Libs claim Trump will be the death of Democracy yet support Starmer rolling back Brexit without a mandate. 

 

Access to EU defense spending? 😃

He hasn’t rolled back Brexit.

 

None of the things in this deal were listed in the Brexit vote.

 

[GanDoonToonPet]

Labour have been trying to reverse Brexit from day 1, including the disasterous misreading of public opinion which lost them the 2019 general election.

 

Since Labour came to power, Starmer has:

 

1. Had his political enemies arrested, jailed, denied bail, fast-tracked their trials before they had time to mount a defence, and publicly announced that he's expecting 'harsh sentences'

 

2. Given away pensioners' winter fuel allowance to pay the hotel bills of economic migrants

 

3. Introduced inheritance tax for farmers, priming them for re-entry into the CAP due to the need for subsidies

 

4. Re-introduced freedom of movement for EU workers

 

5. Sold the fisherman down the river (again)

 

When did the UK become a banana republic? 🤔

[Photoguy21]

44 minutes ago, Black arab said:

Right wingers . moaning again , can't stand to see UK moving in a better direction, and I'm no starmer fan.

All Tories and reform have is "he surrendered to the eu or he sabotaging Brexit" tough , suck it up losers.

We can see a good direction just a pity you Lefties cant see anything

[Photoguy21]

20 minutes ago, jippytum said:

A betrayal of Brexit.  Starmer is giving tme country to illegal immigrants and Europe. Starmer should be tried for treason. 

There speaks an honest man

[Bkk Brian]

1 hour ago, Chomper Higgot said:

He’s extending by 12 years the fishing deal Johnson negotiated and in exchange getting lots of goodies for the British economy.

 

Even British fishermen do well out of this deal, the removal of restrictions on exports to the EU will re-open the opportunity to sell their catch in Europe, an opportunity they were robbed of by Brexit.

 

Add the benefits to British farming, security, access to EU defense spending and re-entry to Erasmus, it’s a great deal.

 

It’s well past time to peal back the damage the Tories did under cover of Brexit. Starmer is on it.!

If its such a good deal why is Starmer giving £360 million investment into coastal communities to help help soften the blow?

 

The deal Johnson did would have finished in 2028, its now in place till 2038!

 

You need to convince real fishermen, fishing communities and fishing bodies, they are not as easily suckered in, its their livelihood's.

 

Elspeth Macdonald, chief executive of the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation, was also critical, saying: “This deal is a horror show for Scottish fishermen, far worse than Boris Johnson’s botched Brexit agreement.

“It is clear that Sir Keir Starmer made the whole deal on the backs of our fishermen and coastal communities, granting EU vessels 12 years of continuous access to UK waters at the last minute in order secure other objectives.

“This highlights the total indifference of the British political establishment to the interests of our fishing sector, with Sir Keir becoming the third prime minister after Edward Heath and (Boris) Johnson to betray the industry.”

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/fishing-deal-12-years-european-union-british-waters-starmer-b1228525.html  

 

 

https://thefishingdaily.com/uk-fishing-industry-news-news/disaster-for-uk-fishermen-as-labour-government-sells-out-fishing/

 

 

 

[The Cyclist]

3 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Peanuts compared to the bust of Brexit:

 

https://news.sky.com/story/brexit-new-report-suggests-uk-311bn-worse-off-by-2035-due-to-leaving-eu-13046256

 

Come back with something that is more up to date than January 2024 from an EU supporting news outlet.

 

 

[Purdey]

9 hours ago, Social Media said:

a betrayal of Brexit promise

It wasn't Starmer who made Brexit promises. Who said to expect sunlit uplands? Who had a red bus promising money to the NHS?

[Eloquent pilgrim]

15 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

He's the best PM Britain ever had and a great European. Thank you Sir Keith.❤️

 

You don't even know his name .... absolutely hilarious, most embarrassing comment on here so far this year.

 

 

[The Cyclist]

Just now, Eloquent pilgrim said:

 

You don't even know his name .... absolutely hilarious, most embarrassing comment on here so far this year.

 

 

 

Hold my beer, I'll show you an even better one 😀😀

 

5 minutes ago, Purdey said:

Who had a red bus promising money to the NHS?

 

Somebody who couldn't nderstand 2 Sentences 😀😀

[Photoguy21]

1 minute ago, Eloquent pilgrim said:

 

You don't even know his name .... absolutely hilarious, most embarrassing comment on here so far this year.

 

 

Obviously newbee2022 is either taking the p or a complete moron

[The Cyclist]

1 minute ago, Photoguy21 said:

Obviously newbee2022 is either taking the p or a complete moron

 

Decisions decisions 😀😀