Burnham's draft deal with the EU would see Britain follow Brussels food rules in return for scrapping Brexit export checks
A badge split between the Union Flag and the EU flag, symbols of the Brexit relationship at the heart of a draft deal that critics warn would bind Britain to EU goods standards without a voice in shaping them.
A 200-page draft text agreeing to scrap costly veterinary and plant health certificates on British food exports to the EU has been circulated to all 27 EU member states ahead of a Brussels summit on 20 November, with the government claiming the deal will eventually deliver £5.1bn in annual economic benefits. Prime Minister Andy Burnham, speaking at the Commonwealth summit in Antigua, said updated Treasury figures put the GDP boost at 0.4%, and accused opponents of "misreading the public mood" over Brexit.
In return, Britain will commit to "dynamic alignment" — meaning it must follow EU food, plant and animal standards with no voice in shaping them.
The deal also reportedly sees Britain pay into EU development funds for poorer member states in exchange for rejoining the bloc's electricity market, and align with EU tariffs on Chinese vehicles.
DUP leader Gavin Robinson says the agreement shows a "lack of ambition" and that Northern Ireland will still face EU customs rules the rest of the UK does not.
