Kemi Badenoch accuses Labour leader of ‘selling out’ British fishing rights to the EU in exchange for a new trade deal

By ANNA MIKHAILOVA and GLEN OWEN

Published: 01:02 BST, 27 April 2025 | Updated: 01:09 BST, 27 April 2025

Sir Keir Starmer has been accused of ‘selling out’ British fisheries in exchange for a new trade deal with Brussels.

The Prime Minister is close to agreeing a reset with the European Union which will allow British defence companies to bid for a new €150 billion defence fund, but is expected to also announce significant concessions on fishing rights and freedom of movement.

Brexiteers have responded with fury. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said: ‘Every time Labour negotiates, Britain loses. Keir Starmer tried repeatedly to overturn Brexit, and it beggars belief that now he’s in government he’s selling out our fishing rights. Instead of capitulating to the EU yet again, Labour should be pressing home our Brexit benefits.’

Government sources denied there was a link between fishing and defence in the EU talks.

Critics questioned the EU defence fund’s benefit to the UK defence industry and said the Prime Minister should instead be doing more to champion British defence companies.

The Security Action for Europe fund, announced by Brussels last month, is aimed at helping countries to invest in missile defence, drones, ammunition and cyber security. British companies such as BAE Systems and Babcock were originally excluded from the fund because the UK has not signed a defence and security pact with Brussels.

But a defence source said: ‘We want access to EU cash. But do we need it enough to be bending the knee to France’s fish demands? No. In fact they are disparaging the UK sector by acting like they aren’t strong enough and we need EU support to be viable.

‘All defence firms need is for the Government to actually place orders.’

Sir Keir Starmer has been accused of ‘selling out’ British fisheries in exchange for a new trade deal with Brussels. Pictured: File photo 

The Prime Minister is close to agreeing a reset with the European Union which will allow British defence companies to bid for a new €150 billion defence fund, but is expected to also announce significant concessions on fishing rights 

Brexiteers have responded with fury. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch (pictured) said: ‘Every time Labour negotiates, Britain loses’ 

The source added that the EU fund is seen by ministers as ‘a way to support firms without having to spend UK cash’.

And Tory environment spokesman Victoria Atkins said: ‘The EU’s Common Fisheries Policy decimated our fishing fleet. When we left, we made real progress, including increased quotas for our fishermen and less access for foreign vessels. But now, Keir Starmer wants to hand our fishing grounds straight back to the French.’

Under the 2020 agreement struck by Boris Johnson, by next June Britain will have seized back 25 per cent of catching rights in its waters that were surrendered before the 2016 Brexit vote.

There was hope that the return to UK control would continue after the deadline, but France and Spain are reluctant to agree.

Former environment secretary George Eustice urged the Prime Minister to immediately halt negotiations on fisheries. He said: ‘The UK has the upper hand in current reset negotiations because the EU has most to gain from reduced border checks and defence cooperation. There is no reason to allow freeloading by the EU on British fisheries resources.’

Sir Keir is expected to announce the deal at a UK-EU summit on May 19. It would include a new ‘youth experience scheme’ which will bring back a form of freedom of movement. The EU first proposed a youth mobility scheme, which would allow young people to study or work for up to four years, last April. That plan was rejected by both Labour and Tories in the run-up to the general election.

Now EU sources have said they will accept a watered-down version, with young people allowed for a year, but with an option of a further one or two-year extension. There has also been a proposal of a ‘one in, one out’ system by the Home Secretary.

A Government spokesman said: ‘The upcoming UK-EU Summit will cover a range of issues as we look to build a stable and positive relationship that aligns with our national interest. No agreements have been reached and we have always been clear we will protect the interests of our fisheries.’

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Kemi Badenoch accuses Labour leader of ‘selling out’ British fishing rights to the EU in exchange for a new trade deal

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