• The Labour Government has delivered on its promise of a strengthened relationship with the EU as one of our closest trading partners and geographic allies.
• British families will benefit from a deal that delivers lower food and energy bills, shorter queues on holiday, and safer streets through increased collaboration on law enforcement.
• UK businesses in the food and drink, defence, energy and steel sector will benefit from reduced trade barriers and increased investment in jobs.

Jeff Smith, Labour MP for Manchester Withington has welcomed the UK-EU deal as one that delivers for local businesses and working people, delivering on the promise made by the Labour Government.

Under the deal signed by the UK and EU, the significant red tape faced by businesses will be cut; making trade easier for farmers and fishers; and encouraging investment in jobs across food and drink, defence, and in the North Sea. The food trade (SPS) and energy (ETS) agreements are worth up to £8.9 billion annually in 2040 UK GDP terms.

The SPS agreement will see the nightmare of food rotting in lorries stuck in 16-hour queues disappear, reducing the burdensome cost and ultimately reducing the cost of food for British people, with businesses such as Salmon Scotland are welcoming this deal. The electricity arrangements secured will bring down electricity bills for households across the country. British steel jobs will be protected by restoring how much we can export tariff free to the EU, so more UK steel can be exported. The agreement opens the door to the UK defence industry bidding for £150bn worth of export contracts in the defence procurement project. The UK is one of the largest exporters of defence equipment in the world, and in 2023 the UK won defence orders worth £14.5bn.

With increased cooperation on law enforcement between the UK and EU, this will improve the police’s ability to track down criminals, plus access to EU facial image data meaning the increased capability to catch people smugglers.

MP Jeff Smith says:

“This Labour Government promised to strengthen the relationship with the EU, and the deal secured this week delivers for businesses and working people in Manchester Withington as part of our Plan for Change.

“Businesses in the North West have been crying out for reduced trade barriers, and I am delighted that this Labour Government are cutting red tape so businesses in the steel, food and drink, and defence sector can export more to Europe.

“The deal will deliver for families in Manchester Withington, driving down food and electricity bills, making our streets safer by increasing our security collaboration to catch and lock up dangerous criminals, and cutting passport queues at the airport.”