UK-EU Agreement: A Step Forward or Missed Opportunity?

The UK and EU have reached a new agreement, marking a significant step towards closer relations. Liberal Democrat MP Daisy Cooper welcomed the agreement, calling it a 'good first step' towards closer ties with the EU, but also expressed the need for a customs union. She stated, "The agreement is a good first step for closer relationships with the EU and UK, undoing some of the damage by the Conservative botched Brexit deal." However, concerns remain, particularly regarding the impact on fishing communities. Ms. Cooper argued that a more ambitious approach by the government could have resulted in better outcomes for these communities. In response, Victoria Derbyshire, a prominent British journalist, pointed out that a customs union was not part of Labour's manifesto, stating, "A Customs Union was not in Labour's manifesto, that was a red line." The agreement represents a complex political development with implications for various sectors of the UK economy and its relationship with the EU.