A top Tory peer has slammed the Labour Government’s plans to allow the EU to “control” UK food standards as “very alarming”.Lord Daniel Hannan warned that giving Brussels a “permanent and open ended right” to set British food regulations would damage the UK’s ability to strike trade deals with other nations.The veteran Brexiteer’s comments come amid reports that Sir Keir Starmer is closing in on a new partnership with the EU that would align the UK with Brussels’ food and veterinary standards.The deal, which could be signed as early as next month, would potentially place some UK food standards under European Court of Justice jurisdiction.Lord Hannon told GB News: “We already have a trade deal with Brussels, as you very well know, and it’s a very comprehensive one. “It’s the most inclusive and wide ranging deal that the EU has ever signed, with any country that isn’t either a member or about to become a member. LATEST DEVELOPMENTS ‘He’s selling out UK again!’ Starmer accused of Brexit ‘backsliding’ with plans to bow to EU judgesBen Habib demands TRADE WAR with EU as ‘extremely concerning’ Brexit fishing row breaks outExplosive Brexit showdown erupts as GB News guest hits out at tariffs”We do not have such a deal with the US, and the US is our single biggest trading partner. We sell as much to the US as to our second, third and fourth markets put together.”So that’s the big opportunity. The trouble is that it would be a much more ambitious deal, and a much more lucrative deal for both sides if we were free to set our own regulations across the board. “And this is why it’s very alarming to read that the government is going to give the EU a permanent and open ended right to set our food standards, not agreeing on a case by case basis.”Giving somebody else a permanent right, well, who’s going to want to do a serious trade deal with the country that does that?”This comes as JD Vance, the US vice-president, recently said there was a “good chance that we’ll come to a great agreement” in trade talks with the UK.However, Donald Trump has long been a vocal critic of the EU, previously describing it as “a foe” on trade.Nigel Farage warned that aligning with EU standards would “make life for America very difficult, maybe impossible” in trade negotiations.”What I prioritise is keeping our hands free. Long term, financially, America is a much bigger goal,” the Reform UK leader said.Lord Frost, who led Brexit negotiations under Boris Johnson, also warned that the deal would complicate negotiations with Trump’s White House because “one of the things the Americans most want is access to our food and agriculture market”.”We would be selling away our ability to set our rules for no real benefit,” he said.Some Labour MPs have also expressed concerns, with Graham Stringer warning: “Automatic realignment, whereby we just follow the EU, would waste and destroy the Brexit decision.”“A closer, more cooperative relationship with the EU will improve the British people’s security, safety and prosperity,” the UK Government said.“We will act in Britain’s national interest and we have been clear there will be no return to freedom of movement, the customs union or the single market. We will not provide a running commentary on talks.”
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