The UK and EU are set to sign a joint declaration committing to “free and open trade” after a month of economic turmoil sparked by Donald Trump’s tariff rollout.
In a sign that Labour’s “relations reset” with Brussels may be coming to a head, a draft statement commits to “a new strategic partnership” between the two parties based on the “shared principles of maintaining global economic stability”.
“We confirmed our shared principles of maintaining global economic stability and our mutual commitment to free and open trade,” the document says, according to Politico.
And in a development which may raise eyebrows on the British right, the declaration also heaps support on the United Nations charter and the European Convention on Human Rights – which Tory and Reform UK heavyweights have all opposed.
Elsewhere, officials are negotiating UK-EU agreements on defence, security, energy, and fishing rights – alongside trying to come to a “common understanding” on which topics will be discussed in “Brexit reset” negotiations later this year.
EU ambassadors are set to meet on Wednesday in Brussels to review how talks are going.
But all eyes are on May 19 – the date of a key summit between Britain and the bloc, when the declaration will likely be signed.
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Downing Street hits back at ‘free and open trade’ reports ahead of key EU summit – ‘We REJECT it!’
Downing Street has hit back at reports that Sir Keir Starmer’s impending “free and open trade” declaration is a rebuke to Donald Trump.
The draft is said to make no explicit mention of the US President – despite its direct attack on trade restrictions, which include his highly controversial tariffs.
A Government spokesman said: “The Government rejects the premise that it must choose between our European and American allies.”
Our top story: Nigel Farage teams up with Labour peer in bid to force Keir Starmer into grooming gangs public inquiry
Labour peer Maurice Glasman has joined forces with Nigel Farage to back a parliamentary Bill which calls for a statutory inquiry into the abuse gangs scandal.
Alongside a slew of Tory frontbenchers, the cross-party group will demand a national public inquiry into the crisis.
The coalition of a Labour peer with Nigel Farage’s Reform UK may set off alarm bells in Labour HQ ahead of this week’s local elections.
And backing the bill, Lord Glasman said: “The gangs are still operating. The British public expect action so the police and other services finally get a grip of this disgrace.
“I support an Inquiry to get to the truth and improve how all parts of the state deal with sexual abuse of children.”
And in a further boon to Nigel Farage, GB News also understands that multiple Labour MPs have given their support to the Bill in principle – but are wary of publicly breaking with the frontbench…
