The Brexit reset minister refused to say whether he will try to preserve UK laws allowing gene editing of crops or a pledge to ban foie gras imports as part of a food deal with the EU.
Nick Thomas-Symonds on Wednesday set out the case for aligning with Brussels rules to strike a new food and drink deal designed to reduce border checks on trade, boost the economy and bring down prices for British shoppers.
But he said there “will be some carve-outs” for the UK to be negotiated when both sides return to the table for talks this autumn, which the minister hopes will bring about a final deal by 2027.
Experts have speculated that the UK is likely to ask for an exemption to allow it to maintain laws allowing the gene editing of crops, introduced by the Conservatives as a major Brexit freedom following the departure from the EU.
Britain would also need an exemption from EU law if Labour wants to live up to its pre-election pledge to ban foie gras imports on animal welfare grounds.
There have also been concerns that the UK’s live animal export ban may have to be reversed as this is another area where Britain has diverged from EU law.
Under the proposed food and drink deal, both sides would follow the same rules – originating in Brussels – in order to ensure minimal checks and friction on trade in that industry across the border.
Pressed by The i Paper on whether the carve-outs he would seek would cover gene editing, foie gras and the animal export ban, Thomas-Symonds told a Spectator event hosted by former Leave campaign leader Michael Gove on Wednesday: “In terms of the carve-outs, that is obviously the negotiation that is now going to take place, and forgive me for not cutting across the process when we are engaging at the moment, both obviously across Whitehall, looking across different areas, but also.. with different stakeholders as well, to get a priority sense of what are the most important issues to secure.”
He added: “It’s a live negotiation that’s going to be going on in the autumn.”
Gove, who introduced and advocated the policies as a Conservative Cabinet minister, suggested he could back a deal aligning with Brussels laws – despite leading the Leave campaign – if those Brexit freedoms could be maintained.
Farage accused of ‘easy answers’
Meanwhile, Thomas-Symonds rejected claims from Reform’s Nigel Farage and Tory leader Kemi Badenoch that the food and drink deal would amount to treason because it would involve giving up UK sovereignty.
The EU Relations minister accused the pair of offering only “easy answers and snake oil” when it comes to the post-Brexit relationship with Brussels.
Setting out his plan to strike a food and drink deal by 2027, he said: Some will hysterically cry even treason. Some will say we’re surrendering sovereignty or freedoms, but that is nonsense.”
He continued: “Now we know we are going to have a political fight on this, especially when we legislate for it in Parliament.
“But the Prime Minister was very direct in his instructions to me on taking office – national interests first, build on what’s best about Britain.
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“We are determined to plug the gaps, to rebuild Britain, protect our borders, bring down bills in every part of the country and secure good jobs, a new relationship of mutual benefit, one that brings freedom back to our businesses and exercises our sovereignty.
“And it needs pragmatism – when you’re tough, decisive and collaborative. That cannot rest on easy answers and snake oil. The Tories (are) completely 2D, stuck with a ghost of Brexit past. And then Nigel Farage, who has pledged to reverse our progress.”
Farage criticised the proposed deal in May, writing in the Telegraph that it would push the UK “back into the orbit of Brussels, giving away vast amounts of our sovereignty for very little in return”.
He also wrote: “A Reform government would undo all of this with legislation.”
Meanwhile, Badenoch said Labour’s approach would make the UK a “supplicant”.
“My worry is that Labour are taking us backwards instead of taking us forwards,” the Tory leader said.
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