UK opposition leader vows to reverse Starmer's 'reset deal' with EU

LONDON

UK opposition leader Kemi Badenoch pledged Monday to reverse an agreement with the European Union spearheaded by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, labelling it a "surrender deal."

Badenoch made the remarks at a news conference following the announcement of a new agreement between the UK and the EU aimed at resetting their relationship post-Brexit at a summit held in London.

She said the deal takes Britain "backwards" and undermines key Brexit gains such as sovereignty and control over laws.

"Anything that brings back ECJ jurisdiction, we cannot have,” said Badenoch, referring to the European Court of Justice.

“I ended ECJ jurisdiction in Britain on Dec. 31, 2023. I cannot believe that 18 months later, we’re getting it back through dynamic alignment," she added.

"We will reverse this terrible deal at the first opportunity," she said on X.

The UK and the EU struck a deal that covers fishing, trade, defense and energy during the first summit since the UK's departure from the EU, known as Brexit.

Starmer hosted European Council President Antonio Costa, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas for the much anticipated summit.

Starmer has described the deal as "win-win," which involves giving European fishing boats 12 more years of access to UK waters in a deal that will see Britain get a veterinary agreement which is expected to increase UK agri-food exports to the EU.

At Badenoch's news conference, Victoria Atkins, the shadow environment secretary, said the Labour Party's new reset deal was a "betrayal of British fishermen."

The two sides also signed a new defense and security pact to strengthen cooperation and security, which Starmer defined as "vital in this dangerous new era."