You wait years for a good trade deal and then three come along at once!
In the last three weeks the Government has announced the frameworks for three really significant trade and economic agreements with the United States, India and the EU; the world’s biggest economy, the world’s fastest growing economy and the world’s largest trading block (and our biggest trading partner).
These deals will pump billions into our economy every year, protect and create tens of thousands of jobs in sectors like steel making and cars, provide exciting new opportunities for British businesses, especially our farmers, and lower prices for us here in west Cumbria.
I want to focus on the EU deal but I do want to highlight the boost to our cattle farmers from the US deal. The NFU have long fought for access to the US market for British beef and we’ve secured ring-fenced access for 13,000 metric tonnes. Any US beef coming into the UK will have to meet our high welfare and quality standards. No cheap, hormone-treated beef will be hitting British supermarket shelves. I’ll be working with local farmers to ensure they can take advantage of this opportunity.
Our UK-EU agreement is the biggest prize. The largest and most substantial deal ever negotiated post-Brexit. However you voted in the referendum nine years ago, almost no one thinks the deal Boris Johnson negotiated was a good one and we’ve been dealing with the consequences ever since; stagnant growth, higher costs for British businesses and higher prices at the shops.
Our manifesto promised a better deal with the EU without rejoining the single market or customs union or returning to free movement. Our deal fulfils that promise. It provides a huge boost for Cumbrian farmers, who have seen lamb exports to the EU reduce by 14% over the last five years in large part due to increased checks and paperwork – we’re ending that. Our agreement also means we’ll be able to export processed meats again. The famous Cumberland sausage can be sold in Europe once more! The NFU is clear: “this deal will deliver many benefits for agri-food exports to the EU”.
Slashing bureaucracy will lower food prices, putting money back in the pockets of west Cumbrians, which is why it has the backing of Asda, Lidl and other supermarkets. The CEO of Morrisons says the deal “promises to ease a source of pressure on food prices”.
The Conservatives and Reform opposed the deal before they even knew what was in it. What’s their alternative? Deals negotiated by the Tories shafted our farmers and Nigel Farage defended allowing chlorinated chicken into the UK. Not on my watch. They need to explain to farmers, businesses and shoppers why they should pay the price for their weird ideological obsession.
This Labour Government was elected on a mandate to make Brexit work. That is exactly what this deal does.
Josh MacAlister MP 