Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission (left) and Keir Starmer, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom greet each other, ahead of their bilateral meeting at the 6th European Political Community summit, May 16, 2025 in Tirana, Albania
THE TUC has called a closer trading relationship with the European Union “a no brainer” after talks on a Britain-EU deal entered their final hours in the wake of global economic chaos sparked by US trade tariffs.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is expected to announce a deal with the bloc at a major summit in London today.
British access to a £125 billion EU defence fund is expected when he meets European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and European Council president Antonio Costa.
Reports suggest that there could also be agreements on allowing British travellers to use e-gates at European airports, easing regulation on food exports and imports, and setting up a youth mobility scheme with the EU.
TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said that the Tories’ “botched” Brexit agreement has set workers and businesses back.
“It’s time for a new approach that honours the referendum result while giving us a much-needed closer trading relationship with EU,” he said.
“Fundamentally that means reducing trading barriers to deliver a boost to British jobs.
“It means greater mobility and opportunities for British workers in the EU and European workers in the UK. And it means upholding mutual high standards on workers’ rights.”
Polling by the union federation has shown that two in three people back a closer relationship with the EU, which British voters chose to leave in the referendum of 2016. The figure includes eight in 10 Conservative to Labour switchers at the last general election and 56 per cent of Reform-leaning voters — those who voted Labour in 2024 but would now vote Reform.
Prospect general secretary Mike Clancy chairs the domestic advisory group, a body of stakeholders set up by the government to consult ministers on the UK-EU Trade & Co-operation Agreement.
He said: “In the UK-EU reset talks, the UK government must be bold and focus on the art of the possible rather than drawing up so-called red lines.
“At the heart of their approach must be removing barriers to trade and improving workers’ rights and social protections.”
Yesterday Cabinet Office minister Nick Thomas-Symonds, who is in charge of negotiations, said that the final details of the deal were still being worked out, with talks going “to the wire.”
Meanwhile in Scotland, the SNP called for Britain to rejoin the EU.
