Reeves eyes Brussels deal as 'priority' to boost City

RACHEL REEVES today said she would push for a “mutual recognition” deal with Brussels on professional and financial services as an “immediate priority” if she becomes Chancellor after Thursday’s election.

- Nicholas Cecil and Jonathan Prynn

In an exclusive interview with the Evening Standard, Reeves said the City was “sold down the river” by the Brexit deal negotiated by Boris Johnson because there was no agreement on accepting each other’s professional qualifications in key sectors in which the UK excels.

The failure to secure a deal has made it far harder for Britain’s world-leading financial services, accountancy, legal and architectural firms to operate in the European Union since Brexit came into force in 2021.

She said: “Our financial services sector was really sold down the river when Boris Johnson negotiated the Brexit deal. The financial services sector were promised many things during the referendum and they haven’t materialised.