Just when it seemed Brexit arguments had cooled, a new round of debate is heating up in Westminster.
This time, the focus isn’t immigration or trade in goods, but electricity — and whether closer cooperation with the EU could quietly reopen the door to Britain paying money back to Brussels.
Why Electricity Trading Is Back on the Table
Ministers have opened discussions with the European Union about rejoining its internal electricity market.
The thinking inside government is simple enough: smoother electricity trading could help stabilise supply and, ultimately, bring down energy bills for households already stretched by high living costs.
Access to the EU market would also allow British energy companies to export power more easily to the continent, potentially strengthening the UK’s energy sector.
On paper, it sounds like a win-win.
The Price of Access Raises Red Flags
The concern lies in what the EU might ask for in return.
Critics fear Brussels will demand that the UK contributes to the EU’s “cohesion fund” — a pot of money used to support poorer regions across the bloc.
For many Brexit supporters, that idea alone feels like a step backwards.
Those fears have intensified because this debate follows closely on the heels of another controversial decision.
Erasmus Deal Adds Fuel to the Fire
Only days earlier, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer signed the UK back into the EU’s Erasmus student exchange programme.
Estimates suggest that move could cost British taxpayers up to £6 billion over the next seven years — around three times the amount Boris Johnson rejected during Brexit negotiations.
For critics, the timing is telling.
They argue it points to a broader shift toward deeper financial commitments to the EU under the banner of rebuilding relations.
Starmer Signals Closer EU Ties
Sir Keir has made no secret of his ambition to rebuild bridges with Brussels.
He has openly pledged to keep moving toward a closer relationship with the EU and has already faced backlash for agreeing earlier this year to a deal that extended French fishing access to British waters for another 12 years — a move opponents branded a “surrender.”
Each step has added to the narrative that Brexit lines are being blurred.
Opposition Accuses Labour of Giving Too Much Away
Shadow Foreign Secretary Dame Priti Patel was quick to criticise the direction of travel.
She argued that after agreeing to pay billions to rejoin Erasmus with little visible return, the Prime Minister now appears ready to send even more money to Brussels.
According to her, voters are entitled to question whether the government is really putting British interests first.
Government Pushes Back on Budget Claims
Labour insists those fears are being overstated.
Brexit reset minister Nick Thomas-Symonds stressed that the UK will not make general contributions to the EU budget to secure an electricity deal.
He argues the negotiations are about practical benefits — especially cutting energy costs for families — rather than reopening old financial commitments.
Behind the scenes, however, Labour figures have acknowledged a willingness to consider what they describe as “fair contributions” if it unlocks market access and economic benefits.
Brexit Veterans Warn of Legal Control Issues
Former Brexit negotiator Lord Frost has taken a harder line.
He claims the talks risk leaving Britain subject to EU laws it has no influence over — rules that may not suit the UK and cannot be changed from within.
For him, the issue isn’t just money, but sovereignty.
Where Things Stand Now
Sources close to the negotiations insist the UK has already made clear it will not pay into the EU’s cohesion fund.
Even so, the talks remain politically sensitive, and any hint of financial compromise is likely to spark further backlash.
What Happens Next?
As discussions with Brussels continue, the electricity deal could become the next major test of Sir Keir Starmer’s approach to Europe.
Whether it delivers cheaper energy without reopening old Brexit wounds — or reignites them — may depend on how much the UK is ultimately asked to give up, and what it gets in return.
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