Bid for permanent EU food and drink deal

THE Government said it wants to get a permanent deal with the European Union on food and drink agreed in the next 18 months, as it sets out its stall ahead of talks later this year.

- HARRY TAYLOR

The current temporary agreement, which was put in place in June, stopped checks on some fruit and vegetables imported from the EU which meant no border checks or fees would be paid. It will expire in January 2027.

It came as Cabinet Office minister Nick Thomas-Symonds is set to accuse Reform UK leader Nigel Farage of wanting to see British businesses fail, as Mr Farage called for the agreement between the UK and EU to be torn up.

Mr Thomas-Symonds will accuse Farage of “siding with the promise of more red tape, mountains of paperwork, and a bureaucratic burden”.

He will address an event hosted by the Spectator in central London on the Government's priorities for the UK-EU relationship, and progress that has been made in recent talks with the EU.