Tory Shadow Minister Torn Apart On BBC Question Time Over His Attack On EU Deal

Kieran Mullan on BBC Question TimeA Conservative MP was repeatedly torn apart on BBC Question Time last night over his take on the UK’s new EU deal.Shadow justice minister Kieran Mullan claimed Keir Starmer’s agreement has granted the EU superior authority over disputes.He was referring to the terms around trading animal and plant produce.The deal states there would be a “dispute resolution mechanism with an independent arbitration panel that ensures the Court of Justice of the European Union is the ultimate authority for all questions of European Union law.”Mullan said: “They [Labour] have said the EU courts will decide.”But Paymaster General and the minister for EU relations, Nick Thomas-Symonds, quickly jumped in: “No they haven’t.”Mullan hit back: “Yes they have! It’s an independent arbitrator, but the ECJ [European Court of Justice] will be the ultimate decision-maker.”“No, you’re mistaken, I’ve got to correct that,” Thomas-Symonds replied.The two men started to shout over each other so presenter Fiona Bruce raised her voice, and put her arms between the politicians.“Hang on! Oh my god!” She said, before letting the minister explain.Thomas-Symonds said: “Kieran is mixing up having to refer a very specific interpretation of European law to the Court of Justice which then refers it back to the panel which makes –”Mullan cut in: “Not true.”The minister just looked at the Tory and said: “I negotiated the deal, Kieran.”That sparked laughter in the room, but Mullan continued trying to talk over him.Conservative MP Kieran Mullan makes false statementsTwo panelists correct himKieran Mullan doubles down #BBCQTPeople of Bexhill and Battle, this is your MP embarrassing himself on national TV pic.twitter.com/MiECCuMUB0— Farrukh (@implausibleblog) May 22, 2025Mullan also argued against the deal as a whole, telling Question Time: “It’s easy to conclude a negotiation if you give the other side what they want. That isn’t a success for this country, and particularly for example for our fishermen.”He continued: “Labour have handed them a 12-year agreement that is not in the interests of British fishermen and the industry has been very clear about saying that.”But this claim was met with backlash too, this time by presenter Fiona Bruce.She pointed out that Labour has just extended the deal the Tories already set up with their Brexit agreement.Bruce noted that at the time, the former Conservative government called it, “the best possible deal”.Mullan said that was the best possible outcome at the time, adding: “The fishing industry were clear we had to maintain a year-by-year negotiating position.”“A trade deal is not supermarket sweep,” he continued. “You don’t get prizes by rushing around you can get, and saying it’s a success, that isn’t how negotiations work. You have to be tough sometimes, you have to be willing to say no.”He then claimed Labour have “surrendered on so many issues”, and that they were bringing freedom of movement “in through the back door”.But The Economist’s editor-in-chief Zanny Minton Beddoes took aim at this language.“It’s not a surrender document, that’s complete nonsense,” she said. “It’s a sensible, modest step forward – but it’s not transformative either.′Conservative MP Kieran Mullan criticises Labour's UK-EU reset deal saying the fishermen are losing outFiona Bruce points out that its the same terms the Conservative government negotiatedKieran Mullan then humiliates himself trying to disagree with the deal his own government… pic.twitter.com/GixsIAORmt— Farrukh (@implausibleblog) May 22, 2025Other guests also took issue with Mullan’s language.“What really, really frustrates me is if Kieran is going to sit here and say, ‘this isn’t a good deal,’ tell us what you think is a good deal,” fellow panellist and barrister Hashi Mohamed said. “That’s the rhetoric that I really don’t buy.”He also said: “Using extreme examples and the rhetoric that you’re using to try and inject that kind of extreme example into what should be a rational debate does not help anyone.”Similarly, journalist Inaya Floarin said, “even as someone that campaigned for Brexit... I am quite sceptical of the rhetoric of surrender.”An audience member also slammed the Tory legacy as a whole, saying: “There’s a pattern here, it’s the same with Brexit.“A lot of these issues were caused by the Conservative government. And now there’s a government that is trying to clean up the mess they made.“And they’re giving out about the way they’re trying to clean up this mess.”Related...The Tory Party Will Be Dead In 10 Years, A Labour Minister Has ClaimedBBC Question Time Audience Laughs As Fiona Bruce Skewers Tory Chairman Over His Party's Record'A Dead Party Walking': Starmer Savages The Tories In PMQs Clash With Badenoch

Comments

Breaking news

SNP challenges PM over claim UK can’t stop sending F-35 parts to Israel

The Herald

Comments

Similar News

Reform hits 30% landmark as more than half of Tory voters switch to Farage

Could Boris Johnson Really Ride To The Tories' Rescue By Making A Dramatic Return To Politics?

Labour embarrassed over claims of 'massive increase' in NHS appointments as analysis reveals rise was smaller than under Tories

Minister Rubbishes Tory Claims That Chagos Deal Will Cost £30bn With 1 Key Point

BBC Breakfast host ties Tory leader Kemi Badenoch in knots in winter fuel payments grilling

BBC Question Time audience applauds at panelist's scathing put-down of Tory MP

Labour set to free killers and rapists earlier under new soft-justice masterplan branded 'recipe for a crimewave' by the Tories

Tory councillor's wife jailed for Southport tweet helped obtain British citizenship for family of Nigerian GP who hails her as the 'kindest British person I know'

Kemi Badenoch's Popularity Hits New Low As Tory Crisis Deepens

Michael Gove takes his seat in the Lords: Ex-Tory minister becomes Baron Gove of Torry after being handed a peerage by Rishi Sunak

Ermine-clad Tory Michael Gove sworn into House of Lords

Wilfred Frost Fact-Checks Robert Jenrick In Painful On-Air Clash Over Tories' Winter Fuel Plan

Chris Mason: Labour still blaming Tories in blizzard of announcements

The Tory Party Will Be Dead In 10 Years, A Labour Minister Has Claimed

Keir Starmer defends 31-month prison sentence for Lucy Connolly after Tory councillor's wife was jailed over social media rant about Southport murders

Criminal probes into water firms hit record high as Tory record blasted

Tories in a ‘very dangerous place’ after plunging to FOURTH in the polls – as Farage surges ahead

Starmer Says Tories Face 'Descent Into The Abyss' Over Attempts To Attack New EU Deal

Wife of former Tory councillor loses appeal against sentence for racial hatred post

Wife of ex-Tory councillor jailed for social media rant about migrants loses appeal over sentence

Breaking news

SNP challenges PM over claim UK can’t stop sending F-35 parts to Israel

Ministers urged to 'come clean' over Sheku Bayoh inquiry after new top lawyer hired

Employment Tribunal rules SQA exam invigilators are workers and deserve holiday pay

Man charged over cargo ship that crashed into front garden

Cannes prepares to award the Palme d'Or, with Neon positioned to add to an unprecedented streak

Some Africans have long seen a big belly as a sign of wealth. It’s killing them

AP PHOTOS: Looking back at 10 days in 2020 of fervent non-stop protests for George Floyd

Takeaways from AP report on abuse case handled by Pope Leo. Victims say he helped when others didn't

Israeli soldiers and former detainees tell AP Israel's use of human shields in Gaza is widespread

Japanese artist Takashi Murakami opens exhibit in Ohio museum with more than 100 works

Ex-Minneapolis police chief recalls 'absolutely gut-wrenching' moment of seeing George Floyd video

What keeps the safety director of the most vulnerable spot in US up at night before hurricane season

San Diego plane crash is a devastating loss to the alternative rock music community

Blind tennis champion Naqi Rizvi lobbies for sport's awareness and Paralympic inclusion

Only 900 speakers of the Sanna language remain. Now Cyprus' Maronites are mounting a comeback

'He listened to me': Victims of an abusive Catholic group say Pope Leo XIV helped when others didn't

Flight attendant issues important warning to people who fall asleep on planes

BRIAN READE: ‘Brexit was an act of self-sabotage and howls of betrayal are a joke’

Turkish health chiefs break silence on death of Brit mum Beth Martin after shock autopsy

Kyiv residents dash for shelter after latest large-scale Russian missile attack

Today's horoscope for May 24 as Scorpio goes through a lucky phase

Secret area passengers are 'banned' from on planes exposed by cabin crew

UK weather forecast as jet stream 'buckle' could send June temperatures soaring

Important reason London Tube stations have fake owls guarding the platforms

Davina McCall says 'horrible' ordeal felt like 'Alzheimer's' after brain surgery

The fan and the local player - a relationship hanging by a thread

San Diego airport experienced glitches before fatal plane crash

Boeing to avoid prosecution in US Justice Department deal over crashes

Texas star Sharleen Spiteri 'still living the dream'

Yachts an easy way to bring migrants to UK, says ex-smuggler

Thought The Sirens Cast Looked Familiar? Here's Where You've Seen The Stars Before

Cannes Film Festival 2025: These Films All Received The Longest Standing Ovations

How China Stands in the Way of a U.S.-Vietnam Trade Deal

Israel’s Eurovision Campaign Went All the Way to the Top

Trump’s E.U. Tariff Threat Could Cause Economic Damage Beyond Europe

Mum leading youth violence campaign urges kids to speak up in wake of Kayden Moy's death

Football fans to be given powers to stop clubs deserting local areas under new law plan

"Beast!"Top Scots golf caddie heckled at court after filthy texts to schoolgirl

Energy bill drop a welcome boost for families but still unaffordable for too many Scots

Scots dad makes desperate attempts to save home from devastating fire

The UK Government is working relentlessly to bring down energy bills for Scots households

Is this every Hollywood actor's ultimate bucket list job?

All passengers confirmed dead after California plane crash

Creepy Scots circus school teacher touched up students during trapeze lessons

Apple Cider Vinegar Gummies that boost energy and help bloating now 40% off

Can you spot the hidden letter in this brain teaser? Only high IQs can in under 13 seconds

Police make dire Charlotte May Lee vow after former TUI flight attendant's 'record cannabis haul'

Travelers avoiding Japan because of dire comic book prediction

AP PHOTOS: Kyiv comes under large-scale Russian drone and missile attack

Freedom of the Press Foundation says it will sue Paramount if it settles with Trump over 60 Minutes lawsuit

Can Donald Trump build the 'Golden Dome' over the US?

Reform UK prepares for real power on a council it now dominates

'I don't know what we'll do' - Vapers panic-buy ahead of disposables ban

Rebuked by Trump but praised at home: How Ramaphosa might gain from US showdown

Urgent mental health centres to open across England

'We are ready to respond': Trade war fears reignite as Europe strikes back at Trump's threat

Why Russian troops are massing near Ukraine's 'fortress city'