Nigel Farage’s immigration plans will spark EU trade war ‘worse than Trump tariffs’, warns minister
Britain’s reform policies will trigger a trade war with the EU and have far worse consequences than Donald Trump’s tariffs, a senior minister has claimed.
European affairs minister Nick Thomas-Symonds, who is responsible for negotiating a Brexit reset for Sir Keir Starmer’s government, has sacked Reform leader Nigel Farage on the grounds that he is “not a serious candidate for prime minister”.
He warned that Reformation’s plans to tear up the settled status agreement for EU citizens would trigger a trade war before he tries to withdraw from further deals.
Mr Thomas-Symonds spoke Independent The critical 48 hours ahead of the UK’s renegotiation with the EU come before the UK/EU parliamentary assembly meets on Monday and Chancellor Rachel Reeves outlines the government’s vision at the Mais Conference in the City of London on Tuesday.
Ms. Reeves will issue a similar warning about Reformation’s immigration policies; The policy will see non-British citizens lose their benefit payments and break the settled status deal negotiated for EU citizens before Britain left the bloc in 2020.
Mr Thomas-Symonds said Independent: “If you think Boris Johnson has left us with a bad deal, imagine what Nigel Farage will do in power.
“We know that the emissions trading system and the food and drink deal together will add up to £9bn a year of value to the economy by 2040, and he has already said he will deliver on that.”
Highlighting Reform UK’s draconian immigration plans, unveiled at a press conference in Dover last month, Mr Thomas-Symonds added: “Farage is also talking about taking all welfare support away from EU-based citizens.
“Frankly, then we would probably end up in some kind of trade war with the EU. That’s not really what we need.”
He added: “Think of the progress we have made recently, working constructively with the EU to ensure that additional trade barriers are not erected over the ‘Made in Europe’ agenda. Nigel Farage would put all of this at risk.”
Asked whether a trade war would be “worse than Trump’s tariffs”, Mr Thomas-Symonds warned: “There would be around £800 billion worth of trade a year because trade with the EU is so much bigger.
“What does this mean? It means raising prices in stores. It means putting jobs at risk. These are not our national interests, it is not a serious policy.”
Reform responded to his claims by accusing Labor of “scaremongering”. A spokesman said: “Reform UK believes the welfare system should support those who pay it, not as an open-ended right. The idea that putting British taxpayers first will somehow spark a trade war with the EU is absurd.”
Deputy leader Richard Tice, Reform’s business and trade spokesman, also hit back at Mr Thomas-Symonds.
He told a press conference in Westminster: “‘Why would you want to push yourself ever closer to any economic model that’s failing? That’s the last thing in the world we should be doing. So, of course, we’ll be looking at everything on tour.”
“Why should we pay someone to come to our country and then give them benefits? In the nicest way possible, you are lucky enough to come to this country and live here, please contribute, work, integrate, translate the language, it’s great.”
“But you know, we can’t pay people coming to the UK to sit on their backs at home. It’s that simple.”
Mr Thomas-Symonds believes Brexit will be a “major dividing line” between Reform and Kemi Badenoch’s Conservatives at the next election, but has also warned pro-EU supporters that Britain will never again be a member of the bloc and has ruled out any customs union with it in reset talks.
But although the BMG poll on March 4 was the latest to suggest 45 per cent to 37 per cent support for rejoining, Starmer argues his government’s “ruthless pragmatism” is due to public interest in the issue.
He said: “I speak to people all over the country on a weekly basis and there is support for the closer relationships we have already established and are establishing, but there is no desire to reopen past discussions.”
He added: “We are the ones who will deliver for the British people, raising living standards, providing jobs, law enforcement and immigration. And if the Conservatives and Reform want to abolish all that, I would welcome the debate at the next election.”
