A face-saving patch on a self-inflicted wound.
That’s what the UK’s new trade deal with the EU amounts to, despite the government’s breathless attempts to paint it as a triumph.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves claims that Britain is now “in a better place on trade than any other country in the world,” but beyond the spin and political theatre, the reality is far more muted.
This agreement doesn’t usher in a new golden era of prosperity—it simply patches over some of the Brexit damage inflicted by successive UK governments.
And for ordinary people, there’s precious little to get excited about.
Thanks to incredible supporters, we hit our £50-this-month donation goal with half the month still to go. That means another month of research, reporting, and political truth-telling — made possible by you.
But why stop there? Every extra pound helps power more investigations, more videos, and more impact.
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The government touts big wins for exporters and boasts of returning British sausages and raw burgers to EU supermarket shelves.
It celebrates easier passport checks, expanded defence cooperation, and a vague promise of better youth mobility.
But scratch the surface and a familiar picture emerges: business interests are served, while the broader public is asked to applaud quietly from the sidelines.
Buy Cruel Britannia in print here. Buy the Cruel Britannia ebook here. Or just click on the image!
Let’s take fishing, for example.
The sector, symbolic of Brexit sovereignty, has once again been dealt a losing hand.
The extension of EU access to UK waters until 2038 might bring “stability” for negotiators, but it strips UK fishermen of annual bargaining power.
The Scottish Fishermen’s Federation even calls it a “horror show.”
Meanwhile, food exporters stand to benefit from reduced checks and red tape, but only under conditions.
The UK will be bound to EU food standards through “dynamic alignment” and accept European Court of Justice oversight in these areas.
This may be good for trade figures, but it raises questions about sovereignty and democratic accountability—the very issues Brexit was supposed to resolve.
Defence industries also fare well, with the UK set to benefit from access to the EU’s new €150bn SAFE fund for arms manufacturing.
This opens the door for UK defence firms to tap into a lucrative market. But unless you work in arms manufacturing or have a stake in the industry, it does little to put food on the table or lower your energy bills.
As for youth mobility, there’s promise but no delivery—yet. A proposed scheme might allow young people to work and travel more freely between the UK and EU, but the specifics are still under negotiation.
Meanwhile, the government cautiously eyes immigration figures, which means any benefit for young people could be capped, delayed, or scaled back.
And let’s not forget that all of this still leaves the UK bound to follow rules it can no longer write.
While this may be necessary for smoother trade, it exposes the hollowness of post-Brexit “independence.”
Get my free guide: “10 Political Lies You Were Sold This Decade” — just subscribe to our email list here:
👉 https://voxpoliticalonline.com
Reeves may talk about growth and opportunity, but even optimistic forecasts show only modest economic improvement—and those gains are vulnerable to external shocks, like US tariffs and ongoing inflation.
The bulk of the British public will see no transformative effect on wages, job security, public services, or housing.
For them, this deal isn’t a gateway to a brighter future.
It’s a grudging admission that the promises of Brexit have failed to materialise.
We’re there already! Thanks to amazing supporters, we’ve reached this month’s £50 goal to fund independent research and reporting.
How much further can we go? The more we receive, the more we can do.
If you value fearless political journalism that holds the powerful to account, please chip in today. Even £2 helps keep Vox Political running strong.
👉 Support us here: https://ko-fi.com/voxpolitical
So, who really benefits?
Exporters.
Corporate interests.
Politicians needing a win.
Not the many. Just the few.
This deal isn’t a turning point. It’s damage control.
And for a country that was promised a global Britain reborn, that should be cause for concern—not celebration.
Vox Political needs your help!
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The first collection, Strong Words and Hard Times,
is still available in either print or eBook format here:
For the few, not the many: who really gains from the UK’s new EU trade deal?
A face-saving patch on a self-inflicted wound.
That’s what the UK’s new trade deal with the EU amounts to, despite the government’s breathless attempts to paint it as a triumph.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves claims that Britain is now “in a better place on trade than any other country in the world,” but beyond the spin and political theatre, the reality is far more muted.
This agreement doesn’t usher in a new golden era of prosperity—it simply patches over some of the Brexit damage inflicted by successive UK governments.
And for ordinary people, there’s precious little to get excited about.
Thanks to incredible supporters, we hit our £50-this-month donation goal with half the month still to go. That means another month of research, reporting, and political truth-telling — made possible by you.
But why stop there? Every extra pound helps power more investigations, more videos, and more impact.
If you haven’t donated yet — or want to chip in again — help us build momentum for the next big target: £75.
If you value fearless political journalism that holds the powerful to account, please chip in today. Even £2 helps keep Vox Political running strong.
👉 Support us here: https://ko-fi.com/voxpolitical
The government touts big wins for exporters and boasts of returning British sausages and raw burgers to EU supermarket shelves.
It celebrates easier passport checks, expanded defence cooperation, and a vague promise of better youth mobility.
But scratch the surface and a familiar picture emerges: business interests are served, while the broader public is asked to applaud quietly from the sidelines.
Buy Cruel Britannia in print here. Buy the Cruel Britannia ebook here. Or just click on the image!
Let’s take fishing, for example.
The sector, symbolic of Brexit sovereignty, has once again been dealt a losing hand.
The extension of EU access to UK waters until 2038 might bring “stability” for negotiators, but it strips UK fishermen of annual bargaining power.
The Scottish Fishermen’s Federation even calls it a “horror show.”
Meanwhile, food exporters stand to benefit from reduced checks and red tape, but only under conditions.
The UK will be bound to EU food standards through “dynamic alignment” and accept European Court of Justice oversight in these areas.
This may be good for trade figures, but it raises questions about sovereignty and democratic accountability—the very issues Brexit was supposed to resolve.
Defence industries also fare well, with the UK set to benefit from access to the EU’s new €150bn SAFE fund for arms manufacturing.
This opens the door for UK defence firms to tap into a lucrative market. But unless you work in arms manufacturing or have a stake in the industry, it does little to put food on the table or lower your energy bills.
As for youth mobility, there’s promise but no delivery—yet. A proposed scheme might allow young people to work and travel more freely between the UK and EU, but the specifics are still under negotiation.
Meanwhile, the government cautiously eyes immigration figures, which means any benefit for young people could be capped, delayed, or scaled back.
And let’s not forget that all of this still leaves the UK bound to follow rules it can no longer write.
While this may be necessary for smoother trade, it exposes the hollowness of post-Brexit “independence.”
Get my free guide: “10 Political Lies You Were Sold This Decade” — just subscribe to our email list here:
👉 https://voxpoliticalonline.com
Reeves may talk about growth and opportunity, but even optimistic forecasts show only modest economic improvement—and those gains are vulnerable to external shocks, like US tariffs and ongoing inflation.
The bulk of the British public will see no transformative effect on wages, job security, public services, or housing.
For them, this deal isn’t a gateway to a brighter future.
It’s a grudging admission that the promises of Brexit have failed to materialise.
We’re there already! Thanks to amazing supporters, we’ve reached this month’s £50 goal to fund independent research and reporting.
How much further can we go? The more we receive, the more we can do.
If you value fearless political journalism that holds the powerful to account, please chip in today. Even £2 helps keep Vox Political running strong.
👉 Support us here: https://ko-fi.com/voxpolitical
So, who really benefits?
Exporters.
Corporate interests.
Politicians needing a win.
Not the many. Just the few.
This deal isn’t a turning point. It’s damage control.
And for a country that was promised a global Britain reborn, that should be cause for concern—not celebration.
Vox Political needs your help!
If you want to support this site
(but don’t want to give your money to advertisers)
you can make a one-off donation here:
Be among the first to know what’s going on! Here are the ways to manage it:
1) Register with us by clicking on ‘Subscribe’ (bottom right of the home page). You can then receive notifications of every new article that is posted here.
2) Follow VP on Twitter @VoxPolitical
3) Like the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/VoxPolitical/
Join the Vox Political Facebook page.
4) You could even make Vox Political your homepage at http://voxpoliticalonline.com
5) Follow Vox Political writer Mike Sivier on BlueSky
6) Join the MeWe page at https://mewe.com/p-front/voxpolitical
7) Feel free to comment!
And do share with your family and friends – so they don’t miss out!
If you have appreciated this article, don’t forget to share it using the buttons at the bottom of this page. Politics is about everybody – so let’s try to get everybody involved!
Buy Vox Political books so we can continue
fighting for the facts.
Cruel Britannia is available
in either print or eBook format here:
The Livingstone Presumption is available
in either print or eBook format here:
Health Warning: Government! is now available
in either print or eBook format here:
The first collection, Strong Words and Hard Times,
is still available in either print or eBook format here:
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