Labour warns of £9 billion trade loss as Farage’s EU stances threaten UK economy

A senior Labour minister has accused Nigel Farage of risking UK’s economic stability by promoting policies that could jeopardise trade with the EU, amidst ongoing debates over post-Brexit relations and future trade strategies.

A senior Labour minister is set to accuse Nigel Farage of undermining the UK’s economic interests by advocating policies that would damage trade with the European Union, as Labour intensifies its efforts to counter Reform UK’s rising popularity in the polls. Nick Thomas-Symonds, the European affairs minister, plans to deliver a major speech warning that a Reform UK government could slash UK trade by £9 billion, with significant consequences for jobs and food prices.

This development comes amid Labour’s push to secure a permanent trade deal with the EU on food and drink products, aimed at reducing border checks and easing costs for supermarkets and consumers. The current temporary arrangement, instituted in June, suspends checks on certain fruit and vegetables imported from the EU, including tomatoes, grapes, and peppers, until January 2027. This interim deal has been welcomed by industry representatives and is seen as critical to maintaining smooth trade flows. The government intends to build on this foundation to finalise a long-term sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement within the next 18 months, reflecting a broader strategy to align standards with the EU and stimulate economic growth.

Thomas-Symonds will criticise Farage’s approach, accusing him of advocating for policies that would reverse these trade gains and reintroduce burdensome red tape. Farage has positioned himself staunchly against the current SPS provisions agreed in May, which cover a range of areas including fishing rights, defence cooperation, a youth exchange scheme, and passport e-gates. Writing in the Telegraph, Farage described the deal as a surrender of UK sovereignty that risks drawing the country “back into the orbit of Brussels.” He further promised that a Reform UK government would undo these arrangements through new legislation.

One of Farage’s most controversial proposals involves plans for mass deportations of illegal migrants, a move criticised by former Tory Attorney General Dominic Grieve, who warned it could trigger the collapse of the post-Brexit trade framework. Such a breakdown would end free trade arrangements, data-sharing agreements, and security cooperation with the EU—pillars of the UK’s post-Brexit relationship which many experts consider vital for economic and national security.

Labour’s stance, as articulated by Thomas-Symonds, emphasises pragmatic engagement with the EU, focusing on “sovereignty exercised in the national interest.” The minister argues that maintaining and deepening alignment with EU standards will boost growth, support farmers and fisheries, and protect consumers from food price hikes. “Nigel Farage’s manifesto at the next election will say in writing he wants to take Britain backwards, cutting at least £9 billion from the economy, bringing with it a risk to jobs and a risk of food prices going up,” Thomas-Symonds is expected to say. “Farage wants Britain to fail. His model of politics feeds on it, offering the easy answers, dividing communities and stoking anger.”

Reform UK, however, rejects Labour’s accusations, arguing that it is the current Labour government that has done the most harm to British businesses. A spokesperson for Reform UK contended that high taxes and Labour’s failure to abolish retained EU laws are stifling economic success, particularly among small and medium-sized enterprises. The party positions itself as a challenger to the government’s strategy, promising to unwind what it sees as damaging EU entanglements and restore economic vitality through deregulation.

The ongoing debate highlights the continuing political friction over Brexit’s legacy and future UK-EU relations. While Labour seeks to consolidate trade gains through negotiation and regulatory alignment, Farage and Reform UK promote a more combative approach that eschews existing agreements. The government’s focus on securing a long-term trade deal within 18 months illustrates its commitment to stability and economic pragmatism amidst these political challenges.

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Source: Noah Wire Services

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score:
10

Notes:
The narrative is fresh, with the earliest known publication date being August 26, 2025. The Independent’s article is the primary source, with no evidence of prior publication or recycled content. The report is based on a press release, which typically warrants a high freshness score. No discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes were found. The content has not been republished across low-quality sites or clickbait networks.

Quotes check

Score:
10

Notes:
The direct quotes attributed to Nick Thomas-Symonds and Nigel Farage are unique to this report. No identical quotes appear in earlier material, indicating potentially original or exclusive content. No variations in quote wording were found.

Source reliability

Score:
10

Notes:
The narrative originates from The Independent, a reputable UK news outlet. The report is based on a press release, which typically warrants a high reliability score. The individuals and organisations mentioned, including Nick Thomas-Symonds and Nigel Farage, are verifiable and have a public presence.

Plausability check

Score:
10

Notes:
The claims made in the narrative are plausible and align with known political positions and recent events. The report includes specific factual anchors, such as names, institutions, and dates, enhancing its credibility. The language and tone are consistent with UK political reporting. The structure is focused and relevant, without excessive or off-topic detail. The tone is appropriate for a political report, without being unusually dramatic or vague.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH

Summary:
The narrative passes all checks with high scores, indicating it is fresh, original, and from a reliable source. The claims are plausible and well-supported, with no signs of disinformation.