UK Border Strategy: Single Trade Window

Lord Brennan of Canton Excerpts

Tuesday 25th February 2025 Lords Chamber

[Lord Livermore (Lab)]

I am grateful to the noble Lord for his question, but let us remember what the costs are that we are trying to reduce here: they are from the previous Government’s ill-conceived Brexit deal, which imposed new trade barriers on businesses equivalent to a 13% increase in tariffs for manufacturing and 20% in tariffs for services. As a result, the Office for Budget Responsibility found that GDP will be 4% lower and overall trade intensity will be 15% lower than had the UK remained in the European Union. Of course, we want to try to ameliorate the difficulties of the previous Government’s disastrous Brexit deal, but it will take time to ensure that the fiscal resources are there. As I say, it remains our long-term intention to deliver that single trade window, but we can do so only when resources allow.

[Lord Brennan of Canton (Lab)]

My Lords, it is not just trade in goods that is important but trade in services. The last Government promised free cultural touring after Brexit, but they were unable to deliver it. What progress are this Government making in delivering a cultural touring agreement with the European Union to allow musicians and other artists to perform more freely across Europe?

[Lord Livermore (Lab)]

I am grateful to my noble friend for his question. It was a key manifesto commitment of this Government to deliver those touring visas and it remains a key ask of ours in the EU reset negotiations. We recognise that delivering such new agreements will take time, but we are ambitious and we want to move forward at pace.