The minister for the constitution and European Union relations has set out the “three pillars” — prosperity, safety and security — shaping the government’s approach to its attempted reset of relations between the UK and EU.
Nick Thomas-Symonds, the minister responsible for leading Keir Starmer’s “Brexit reset”, insisted that the UK wants “closer working with our allies in the EU”.
Speaking in Brussels at the UK-EU forum’s annual conference, he said the British government sees “real opportunities to improve the status quo” in the reset happening this year, with the UK and the EU set to revise how their post-Brexit trade deal operates.
He said: “This British government was elected on a mandate to strengthen national security by reconnecting with our allies, to increase people’s safety through strong borders, and to increase prosperity through growth.
“Our European friends are a part of every single one of those priorities, and I believe it’s these priorities that form the three pillars of a reset in our relationship.”
The EU relations minister added: “The time for ideologically driven division is over, time for ruthless pragmatism is now”.
“It is through a new partnership between the UK and the EU that we will deliver for the people of the United Kingdom and for people across the continent.
“The future of the EU and the UK lies beyond the status quo, reaching forward to deliver benefits for all our people to share.
“So let us rise to our shared challenges and grasp this opportunity because together we will create a stronger UK and we will create a stronger Europe.”
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Belief that Britain was right to leave the EU falls to new low of 30%, poll finds
Thomas-Symonds also remarked that improving the UK-EU trade deal could kickstart ailing economies across the continent.
He said: “A study published last year showed that between 2021 and 2023 the goods EU businesses export to the UK were down by 32 per cent, whilst UK goods exports to the EU were down by 27 per cent.
“That is not good for British or European businesses, especially at a time when our economies need a kickstart.
“Reducing trade barriers is of mutual benefit to the UK and the EU.”
Josh Self is Editor of Politics.co.uk, follow him on Bluesky here.
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