LONDON – May 23, 2025 — British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s newly announced “reset” agreement with the European Union has reignited fierce debate in the UK, with reactions ranging from praise for pragmatic diplomacy to accusations of betrayal and surrender.
Unveiled at a summit in London on May 19, the wide-ranging deal seeks to ease tensions and restore trust between the UK and the EU following years of post-Brexit uncertainty. The agreement covers key areas including food exports, fishing rights, border checks, and cooperation on defence and security.
Speaking at the summit, Starmer declared it was time to “move on from the stale old debates of the past,” hailing the agreement as a forward-looking arrangement that puts “British interests first.”
The deal has won the support of many voters. A YouGov poll published ahead of the summit found that a majority of Britons now favour a closer relationship with Brussels. British businesses, particularly small and medium exporters, also welcomed the rollback of trade barriers.
Simon Spurrell, a Cheshire cheesemaker who made headlines after losing £600,000 due to post-Brexit export rules, praised the agreement as a lifeline for small producers. “Our biggest consumer market is open again,” he said. “Thank heavens the grown-ups are back in the room.”
However, praise was not universal. Prominent voices in the right-leaning British press and among pro-Brexit politicians harshly criticised the deal, claiming it compromises British sovereignty.
The Daily Mail labelled the agreement “the day the Brexit dream died,” accusing Starmer of allowing Britain to become “an obeisant Brussels rule-taker.” The paper’s editorial argued that the UK conceded far too much, particularly in agreeing to “dynamic alignment” with EU food and agricultural standards and allowing continued access for European fishing vessels in British waters.
The Daily Telegraph echoed these sentiments, calling the deal “Britain’s most shameful capitulation since joining the EEC.” The paper suggested that the UK was effectively re-entering the EU in all but name — without a seat at the table.
Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson blasted the agreement as a “complete and deliberate betrayal of Brexit,” while Reform Party leader Nigel Farage declared it an “abject surrender.”
In contrast, The Guardian offered a more tempered view, describing the reset as “a rational step forward.” The paper praised the easing of trade and the increased cooperation on defence, calling it “significant and timely.”
While it criticised the lack of provisions for UK musicians and touring artists, it acknowledged the deal as a practical approach that serves British businesses and consumers.
Despite the political fallout, Starmer remains committed to repositioning the UK as a cooperative partner in Europe. With public sentiment shifting in favour of closer ties and economic pragmatism taking precedence, the Prime Minister’s gamble may yet prove to be a turning point in Britain’s evolving post-Brexit story.
