Tories Warn Burnham’s EU Pivot Could Undermine UK’s Post‑Brexit Trade Deals

At the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham, former trade ministers warned that Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s promise to review the UK’s relationship with the EU – including a possible customs union, closer single‑market ties or even re‑entry – threatens the country’s independent trade policy. Greg Hands cautioned that such moves could invalidate or severely limit the free‑trade deals Britain has negotiated with Australia, New Zealand, Japan, the CPTPP, India, Gulf states, South Korea and Switzerland. Joining a customs union would force the UK to adopt EU tariffs, surrender its own trade‑defence tools and align its global tariff system with the EU, weakening its influence abroad. The shift could also strain the UK‑US trading relationship, a key partner for the UK.