Sir Keir Starmer has attempted to strengthen the UK’s relationship with the EU since becoming Prime Minister on July 4.
Keir Starmer speaks with von der Leyen in Brussels
An ex-Brexit negotiator has accused Sir Keir Starmer of trying to resurrect Theresa May’s “disastrous” Brexit deal by tying Britain into mirroring new EU rules.
Lord Frost said a law being introduced by the Government around product safety and certification would “keep this country in the tractor beam” of Brussels regulators.
The Bill, tabled by Labour ministers, includes a clause that would mean all UK laws “can be updated to recognise new or updated EU product regulations”.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer met with EU leaders in Brussels (Image: Getty)
The Prime Minister wants to form closer ties with the EU (Image: Getty)
Lord Frost claimed it was the first step in a wider plan to accept EU rules and the jurisdiction of the bloc’s court in return for closer trading ties.
He said: “It is simply the beginning of a path in which this country slips back closer, without voters noticing, to single market-like trade arrangements,” the former Brexit negotiator told peers.
“I fully expect that that is what the Government will try to do – the resurrection of the disastrous Chequers proposals to keep this country in lockstep with the EU.”
Mrs May’s doomed Chequers deal would have led to the UK and the EU maintaining a “common rulebook” in return for the continuation of frictionless trade in goods.
The proposal was created in an attempt to solve the problem of the Northern Ireland border.
But Brexiteers rejected it because it effectively kept Britain in the EU single market.
Brussels was also opposed to the plan on the grounds that it would have allowed the UK to “cherry pick” trade access without free movement of people.
Sir Keir has said he wants to “reset” ties with Europe and has travelled to several EU nations to meet with their leaders in a bid to do this.
