Share

Sub-head:

PM accused of betraying historic 2016 vote to leave EU as 100-strong Whitehall unit is launched to tie Britain back to Brussels.

1. The trade and cooperation agreement (TCA), the basis for the UK-EU relationship after Brexit, will be subject to renewal talks in 2025.
2. The TCA agreement, signed by Boris Johnson, includes a set of review dates: 1 January 2025 is the earliest date for a review of the trade heading, as set out in Article 411 of the level playing field provisions. This could extend to other Part Two provisions including aviation, road transport and fisheries. 1 January 2026 is the date for commencement of the first 5-yearly general review of implementation of the TCA and supplementing agreements.
3. To be clear, these review dates are written in to the legal agreements signed by the then Conservative government. They are not being driven by the current Labour government.
4. Following a speech to Eurogroup finance ministers in Brussels - the first given by a UK chancellor since Brexit - Rachel Reeves repeated that the UK would not rejoin the single market and customs union or Freedom of Movement, as outlined in the Labour manifesto.
5. Brexit is estimated to be costing the UK 5% of GDP every year.
6. Brexit has reduced UK exports by £27bn.
7. The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), which represents about 50,000 businesses, said that in order for the economy to grow "we must export more" but UK firms "are struggling under huge regulatory and paperwork burdens".
8. Given these problems it is clear that the TCA implementation must be improved.
9. Under Conservative governments nearly 100,000 extra civil servants were recruited to deliver Brexit.
10. There is no “surrender squad” of civil servants set up to reverse Brexit, Downing Street has insisted.

11. Asked if such a team had been set up, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said:

    “No.”

    “This is all about ensuring that we get the best possible relationship between the UK and the EU, that ensures that Brexit works for the British people"

    The Prime Minister's official spokesman added: “The Prime Minister has said we want to reset out relationship with the EU and make Brexit work for the British people and we have seen very positive engagement in our early conversations as we work to reset the relationship with our European partners to strengthen ties, secure broad-based security pacts, tackle barriers to trade.”

    There are fewer people in the team than the 100-strong figure reported in several media outlets, according to No 10, but the spokesman would not reveal how many were part of it.

Wondering what could drive such a misleading headline? Related bias drivers

Share