Why Keir Starmer Believes His EU Deal Is A Gamble Worth Taking

Keir Starmer, right, welcomes European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa to Lancaster House.Keir Starmer isn’t known as much of a gambler.The prime minister, a lawyer to trade, prefers to weigh up both sides of an argument before making a balanced judgment on his preferred course of action.But there is no doubt that the deal the government has today struck with the EU is a major risk – both economically and politically.British negotiators have spent the last six months in talks with their European counterparts, culminating in the agreement unveiled at Lancaster House today.New rules on veterinary and food products will, the government says, make it easier for British businesses to export their goods and reduce prices in the shops.In return, European fishermen will get access to British waters up until 2038 – far longer than had been expected.Greater co-operation on security will allow UK defence firms to bid for EU contracts, while British holidaymakers will be able to use e-gates at European airports rather than queuing for hours to have their passports stamped.The general principles of a “youth experience scheme”, allowing 18 to-30-year-olds to live and work in the EU, has been agreed.And although the final details have yet to be agreed, Starmer insisted the numbers involved will be capped and time-limited – a major UK demand as Labour ministers try to bring down immigration.There have, of course, been howls of outrage from Brexiteers, who say the deal is a betrayal of what the British people voted for in the 2016 referendum.Fishing industry representatives have also described it as a “horror show”.But Starmer’s calculation is that most people have moved on from the arguments of yesteryear over “sovereignty”, and are more interested in making Brexit work.According to leading pollsters, it is a gamble which could pay off.Luke Tryl, UK director of the More in Common think-tank, said: “It’s difficult to overstate public exhaustion with and reticence to return to Brexit rows.“If the deal is seen as reopening that, government will pay the price, but if it’s seen as pragmatic friction-reducing changes and Tories and Reform re-litigating Brexit, the government stands to win.“I personally think the latter outcome – that this is seen as a modest win for the government that doesn’t reopen Brexit wars, is more likely.“The difficulty for Reform and the Tories is that the battle for the soul of the right means they have an incentive to try and out oppose each other even if doesn’t appeal to the electorate.”James Johnson of JL Partners said: “My view remains unchanged since 2016 when it comes to British public opinion and EU deals: if it doesn’t touch immigration and free movement – this doesn’t – then very few will care in either direction.”After the recent trade deals with India and the USA, Starmer is hoping that completing the hat trick will go down well with voters while backing his political opponents into a corner.Related...Keir Starmer Hails UK-EU Deal As Row Rages Over Fishing 'Horror Show'Nigel Farage Roasted By Emily Thornberry Over EU Deal 'Surrender' ClaimLabour Have Struck A Deal With The EU Which Could Massively Improve Your Holiday Experience

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