NEWS · 19 May 2025

Today’s “Brexit reset” deal is being hyped from many directions. The Tories, Reform and the Brexit press are predictably labelling it a “betrayal”, while the government is trumpeting it as a “landmark”.

The truth is a little more subtle. The deal is positive, but it is only the very beginning of what is needed. We hope that it is a step forward on the road to Rejoin, but there are many more steps to go.

Some relief from the costs of Brexit

The deal at least finally breaks the ‘Brexit taboo’ by openly addressing the issue. The government casually admits to long-denied costs of Brexit such as higher food and energy prices, by saying that this new deal with the EU will “lower food prices” and “drive down bills”.

When lower food and energy prices are on the table, absurd Tory shouts of “surrender!” are not cutting much ice with the public.

The agrifood (SPS) deal will avoid some of the chaos at the border that has afflicted food and plants. Brexiters are raging about fishing rights, but the deal is beneficial for fishing overall because it clears the path for exports to the EU. Far from “selling out fishermen”, it allows them to once again sell their fish in Europe.

However, there is much within this deal that is still to be negotiated, including youth mobility and Erasmus+, and some of the details within today’s headline announcements.

The case to go further

What is most important is that the UK has agreed to the principle of alignment with EU rules, despite the baying of the Brexiters. While Labour’s self-defeating ‘red lines’ remain in place for the time being, increased alignment is positive for the possibilities of rejoining.

But the economic effect of this deal will be quite small compared to what rejoining, or even scrapping the red lines, would unlock.

Now the question will be asked – as it was at the summit’s press conference – if we are going to follow EU rules, why not just fully join so that we can get both the full economic benefit and a say in what those rules are?

And if the Tories and Reform are going to cry “betrayal” whenever there’s an incremental improvement in the deal, why not go all the way and rejoin?

We will have more to say in the coming weeks about stepping up our Rejoin campaigning. For now, let’s celebrate these modest gains and prepare to fight for much more.