Sir Keir Starmer has secured a landmark deal between Britain and the European Union in a move that has dominated headlines across the political spectrum.
Following a last-minute breakthrough in reset talks, the prime minister – who has made the Brexit reset a centrepiece of his administration – hailed Monday’s summit as marking a “new era” of relations with the bloc.
While Sir Keir declared that Britain was “back on the world stage” with his “win-win” deal, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage made it clear that they would scrap it if they were to win power at the next election.
Ms Badenoch warned the agreement makes the UK “a rule taker”, while the former UK Independence Party (UKIP) leader branded it an “abject surrender” and “the end of the fishing industry”.
Especially thorny issues included fishing rights, which negotiators only solved in the early hours of the morning, while talks surrounding a youth mobility scheme appear to have ended in a deadlock.
Unsurprisingly for the Brexit debate, Tuesday’s front pages highlighted the stark political divides, with the Daily Mail echoing Mr Farage’s remarks with the headline “Starmer’s surrender” and the Guardian leading with the prime minister’s declaration of success.
The Independent takes a look at how the more pro-Brexit media covered the deal.
Daily Mail
The Daily Mail, which was known to be among the most pro-Leave media, unsurprisingly blasted Mr Starmer and his deal with the headline “Starmer’s surrender”.
Leading with the backlash, the paper reported the prime minister has been “accused of a great Brexit betrayal”, suggesting the agreement gives Brussels control over British fish, laws and money.
Daily Express
The Daily Express led with a similar headline to the Mail, citing a quote that Sir Keir’s agreement is an “abject surrender” and condemning it as a “betrayal of Brexit Britain”.
The paper included critics’ warnings that the deal means Britain is in a “new era of Brussels rule”, echoing Sir Keir’s “new era” remarks.
Daily Star
The Daily Star similarly led on criticism of the deal, with the headline: “PM’s in a tight spot.”
The paper features quotes from pro-Leave former prime minister Boris Johnson who called Sir Keir an “orange ball-chewing Brussels gimp”.
The Sun
The Sun also headlines on backlash against the agreement, focusing on fishing rights.
The newspaper’s front page states: “Done up like a kipper.” It reported that Britain was ambushed by a last-minute demand by what it called “12 more years of French and Spanish trawlers plundering our waters”.
The paper also writes that Sir Keir agreed to “take rules from Brussels” among a list of criticisms of the deal.
Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph described the deal as an official “kiss goodbye to Brexit”.
The paper reported on critics accusations the prime minister is trying to drag Britain back into the bloc.
Matt’s cartoon, meanwhile, showed fisherman on a British-flagged vessel with the line: “We took back control, but they took back all the mackerel, sole and haddock.”
