Britain poised to reset trade and defence ties with EU

Contributing sentiments towards policy:

59% : Britain is poised to agree the most significant reset of ties with the European Union since Brexit on Monday, seeking closer collaboration on trade and defence to help grow the economy and boost security on the continent.
59% : The EU has also accelerated efforts to forge trade deals with the likes of India and deepen partnerships with countries including Canada, Australia, Japan and Singapore.
58% : Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who backed remaining in the EU, has made a bet that securing tangible benefits for Britons will outweigh any talk of "Brexit betrayal" from critics like Reform UK leader Nigel Farage when he agrees closer EU alignment at a summit in London.
52% : One EU diplomat cautioned that "nothing is agreed until everything is agreed". From the issues up for discussion, Britain is hoping to drastically reduce the border checks and paperwork slowing down UK and EU food and agricultural exports, while access to faster e-gates for UK travellers at EU airports would be hugely popular.
49% : Removing red tape on food trade will require Britain to accept EU oversight on standards, but Starmer is likely to argue that it is worth it to help lower the cost of food, and grow the sluggish economy.
49% : One trade expert who has advised politicians in both London and Brussels said the government needed to "break the taboo" on accepting EU rules, and doing so to help farmers and small businesses was smart. Trade experts also said Britain benefited from the greater focus on defence, making the deal look more reciprocal, and said improved ties made sense in a more volatile world.
48% : Farage, who campaigned for Brexit for decades, leads opinion polls in Britain, giving Starmer limited room for manoeuvre.
48% : 'BREAK THE TABOO' The economic benefit will be limited by Starmer's promise to not rejoin the EU's single market or customs union, but he has instead sought to negotiate better market access in some areas - a difficult task when the EU opposes so-called "cherry picking" of EU benefits without the obligations of membership.
44% : France also wants a long-term deal on fishing rights, one of the most emotive issues during Brexit. LIMITED ROOM FOR MANOEUVRE Britain's vote to leave the EU in a historic referendum in 2016 revealed a country that was badly divided over everything from migration and sovereignty of power to culture and trade.

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