Keir Starmer to make assertion in Parliament as we speak forward of ‘main change’
Sir Keir Starmer will address MPs in Parliament as they return following the East recess. Ministers are planning to introduce major changes they claim will ‘lower costs’
Starmer has been slammed for the move(Image: POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Keir Starmer is set to address the nation as the Labour Government plans to introduce major changes to the UK’s relationship with the European Union (EU). New legislation will mean the Government can adopt EU single market rules without a vote in Parliament.
It is being introduced as part of a bill aiming to align the UK with new European regulations on food standards. A Labour source told the BBC: “It will lower costs for businesses and get rid of the Brexit paperwork tax that adds to the cost of the weekly shop.”
However, Reform UK and the Tories have reacted with intense opposition as the move has already been dubbed a “betrayal” of the Brexit vote. The EU and UK are currently negotiating various deals around food safety and standards for animal and plant health.
The legislation accompanying them is expected to include new powers allowing “dynamic alignment”. Meaning, when Brussels introduces new rules, MPs would have a limited opportunity to scrutinise them.
A government spokesperson said: “The bill will go through parliament in the normal way. Any new treaties or deals with the EU will also face parliamentary scrutiny, and Parliament will have a role in approving new EU laws required under those deals via secondary legislation.”
Reform leader Nigel Farage described the move was a “backdoor attempt to drag Britain back under EU control”. He added: “Accepting their rules without a vote is a direct betrayal of the Brexit referendum and a total breach of the Government’s manifesto promises.”
It comes as Starmer has refused to join Donald Trump’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which could compound economic pain for Britons with higher petrol costs.
The US President threatened stop tankers from entering or leaving the key oil and gas shipping lane, a move that is expected to further drive up oil prices when markets open. They price of oil already skyrocketed after Iran seized control of the strait in retaliation to the US-Israel war.
The Prime Minister will discuss cost-of-living pressures with local people on a visit to Greater Manchester on Monday. And Chancellor Rachel Reeves will travel to Washington for International Monetary Fund meetings this week, after warning that “the war in Iran will come at a cost to British families and business”.
MPs return to Westminster from the Easter recess on Monday with no resolution to the Middle East crisis in sight and the fate of a shaky two-week ceasefire uncertain. Mr Trump announced the shipping blockade after US-Iranian peace talks in Pakistan ended without a deal, with both sides blaming each other.
The American leader said on his Truth Social platform that the US military would start “blockading any and all ships trying to enter, or leave, the Strait of Hormuz”. Mr Trump added, without elaborating: “Other Countries will be involved with this Blockade.”
Britain will not be involved, it is understood. The UK is “urgently working with France and other partners to put together a wide coalition to protect freedom of navigation,” a Government spokesperson said.
Sir Keir and French President Emmanuel Macron agreed on the need to work with a broad coalition of partners on the matter in a call, according to No 10. Britain will host further talks on reopening the maritime pinch-point with a coalition of countries this week.
The third such meeting convened by the UK is expected to look for ways to support a sustainable end to the conflict and focus on increasing international diplomatic pressure on Iran to reopen the strait, including through sanctions. Sir Keir’s call with Mr Macron on Sunday took place before Mr Trump posted on social media about a blockade, it is understood.
Mr Trump told Fox News “the UK and a couple of other countries are sending mine sweepers” to the strait, and “it won’t take long to clean it out”. The Prime Minister previously said UK mine hunting systems were already in the region. But this is thought to refer to minesweeping drones which could be deployed once the situation stabilises, and to be distinct from Mr Trump’s blockade.
US Central Command, which is responsible for American military operations in the Middle East, said its blockade of Iranian ports would begin on Monday. US forces “will not impede freedom of navigation for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz to and from non-Iranian ports,” the military said in a statement that appeared to contradict Mr Trump’s threat to stop all ships.
The President blamed the failure of negotiations on Iran’s refusal to reopen the channel and commit to giving up its nuclear ambitions. Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi accused Washington of “maximalism, shifting goalposts, and blockade,” adding: “Enmity begets enmity.”
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