Just when it seemed Brexit had found its footing, it’s back in the headlines—this time with Prime Minister Keir Starmer on the verge of sealing a dramatic new deal with the European Union.

But while some are calling it a breakthrough, others are already branding it a “surrender summit.”

After months of quiet negotiations, a last-minute agreement has reportedly been reached that would “reset” the UK’s relationship with Brussels.

Starmer is expected to formally unveil the deal during a meeting in London with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

What’s in the Deal? Trade-Offs Raise Eyebrows

While the deal promises smoother trade, it’s also stirred up alarm about what the UK may be giving away to get there.

One of the biggest points of contention? EU fishing boats could be granted access to UK waters for the next 12 years—a move said to be triggered by French negotiators pushing for longer-term guarantees at the eleventh hour.

But that’s not all. Starmer is also expected to back a new youth mobility agreement, giving millions of young Europeans the right to live, work, and study in the UK for up to three years.

This has already raised eyebrows, considering the PM’s recent tough talk on cutting immigration numbers.

In Return, the UK Gets Eased Border Friction and Access to EU Defence Cash

So, what’s Britain getting in return for these concessions?

For starters, food exports to the continent could face far fewer checks—something British businesses have been crying out for since Brexit red tape began choking cross-border trade.

There’s also a potentially lucrative prize on the table: British defence companies may gain access to a massive £126 billion EU weapons fund.

The catch? UK taxpayers might have to fork over millions to participate.

Another sweetener: UK tourists might soon get to skip long border queues by using e-gates at European airports—bringing some welcome relief to holidaymakers post-Brexit.

Ministers Stay Coy, But Say Deal Offers ‘Real Prize’ for the UK

Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds stopped short of confirming that the deal is fully finalized.

But in a series of morning interviews, he painted the deal as a long-overdue upgrade to the current patchy Brexit arrangements.

“There are huge gaps in the current deal—not just in trade but also in security,” Reynolds told Times Radio.

“This is about creating more jobs, making the country safer, and making life better for people in the UK.”

On the youth mobility plan, Reynolds emphasized it wouldn’t be a return to EU-era freedom of movement.

He stressed that existing youth visa schemes are capped and carefully managed, noting that only around 24,000 such visas were granted last year.

Backlash from the Right: Tories and Reform Cry Foul

Despite the deal still being under wraps, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and Reform UK’s Nigel Farage have already slammed it as a betrayal of Brexit.

Both say they would rip up the deal if they come into power.

Badenoch in particular is raising red flags over the youth mobility plan, warning it could sneak free movement back in “through the back door.”

She and other Tory figures have laid out firm red lines—especially on fishing rights—demanding exclusive access to Britain’s coastal waters and opposing any agreement they feel unfairly benefits countries like France.

Labour Accused of ‘Brexit Betrayal’ as Critics Demand Sovereignty Be Respected

The political fallout is spreading fast, with Labour facing accusations of rolling back hard-won Brexit freedoms.

Shadow Foreign Secretary Dame Priti Patel didn’t mince words, calling it “Labour’s great Brexit betrayal.”

Patel argued the new agreement threatens to unravel the sovereignty that 17.4 million Brits voted for back in 2016.

“Labour is backsliding on our freedoms,” she told the Mail. “We cannot allow this government to hand Brussels back the control we fought to take away.”

What Comes Next?

All eyes are now on Starmer and von der Leyen’s meeting in London, where full details of the deal could finally be revealed.

For now, the country waits—split between cautious optimism and simmering suspicion.

As the dust settles, one thing is clear: Brexit might be “done” on paper, but the politics of Britain’s place in Europe are far from over.