Labour softens Brexit plan as EU stands firm on trade deal

LABOUR has scaled back its plans for a quick renegotiation of the Brexit trade deal after it was snubbed by the European Union.

Sir Keir Starmer has quietly dropped his ambition to secure a major overhaul of the pact when it comes up for review in 2025, The Telegraph has been told.

EU sources said that he was now taking a more “realistic” approach after Brussels warned him it would not reopen the agreement.

The Labour leader has criticised the 2019 deal struck by Boris Johnson as “far too thin” and said he would renegotiate it to boost economic growth.

In September, Sir Keir talked up a planned review of how the pact is working, scheduled to take place in 2025, as the opportunity to make changes. He told the Financial Times: “As we go into 2025, we will attempt to get a much better deal for the UK. I think there’s more that can be achieved across the board.”

Sir Keir wants to secure improvements that would ease red tape for British food exports and make it easier for UK professionals to work in Europe.

But the EU Commission has privately warned him that it is broadly happy with the agreement and has no intention of reopening the terms of it.

EU insiders told The Telegraph that senior Labour figures had accepted in recent talks that a major renegotiation would not take place in 2025.

“What Labour has done since September is they’ve tried to understand better what’s in the realm of the possible,” a source said.

“There is no appetite among the member states to reopen the trade agreement.”