Politics · United Kingdom · 7 hrs ago
Burnham plans UK-EU deals on trade, emissions and youth visas
Andy Burnham is preparing three deals to bring the UK closer to the EU ahead of a meeting in Brussels later this month.
The agreements would cover easier agricultural trade, access to the EU emissions trading scheme and visas for people under 30 to live, work and travel between the UK and EU.
Under the farm deal, some trade restrictions would ease, and travellers could use pet passports instead of getting certificates for each trip with their animals.
The government says the agreements could add £17bn to the UK economy, while the agricultural deal alone is expected to be worth more than £5bn by 2040.
The UK would pay the EU to join its emissions scheme, drawing criticism from people who say this means accepting rules Britain sought to avoid by leaving the bloc.
Leaders are expected to announce the deals in Brussels on 20 November, though some details, including the number of youth visas, still need to be settled.
Andy Burnham is preparing to announce three proposed UK-EU deals covering agricultural trade, emissions and youth visas.
The deals are expected to be discussed at a meeting in Brussels on 20 November.
The government estimates the agricultural agreement could be worth more than £5bn to the UK economy by 2040.
Burnham said the broader agreement could add £17bn to the UK economy, or 0.4%.
Some critics argue that joining the EU emissions trading scheme would mean accepting rules Britain sought to avoid by leaving the bloc.
- Who
- Andy Burnham and EU leaders Ursula von der Leyen and António Costa are expected to be involved.
- What
- The UK and EU are negotiating deals on agricultural trade, emissions trading and youth visas.
- When
- The deals are expected to be discussed on 20 November; some parts may not take effect until 2028.
- Where
- The planned meeting is in Brussels.
- Why
- The agreements aim to ease trade, avoid a cross-border carbon tax and allow young people to live, work and travel across the UK and EU.
Critics of the emissions agreement
UK government and deal supporters
Emissions trading
Critics of the emissions agreement
Critics say the UK would sign up to rules it sought to avoid when it left the EU.
UK government and deal supporters
The agreement would provide access to the EU emissions trading scheme and help avoid a cross-border carbon tax.
Economic impact
Critics of the emissions agreement
Critics question the terms of the agreement.
UK government and deal supporters
Burnham said it could add £17bn to the UK economy, or 0.4%.
Burnham said the agreement would boost the UK economy by £17bn, or 0.4%.
Burnham is scheduled to meet Ursula von der Leyen and António Costa in Brussels, where leaders are expected to announce the deals.
Some parts of the agreement are not expected to be put in place until this year.
- Proposed deals
- Agricultural trade, emissions trading and youth visas
- Agricultural agreement
- More than £5bn estimated value to the UK economy by 2040
- Economic impact
- £17bn, or 0.4%, according to Burnham
- Youth visa scheme
- For people under 30
- Expected meeting
- Brussels, 20 November
What people are saying
A deal could add up to 0.4% to GDP. Now that is a number that you cannot ignore.
Public opinion has changed nationally. But I want to be really clear on this issue. I will not run ahead of public opinion. The public need to be the boss when it comes to whatever happens with Brexit.