{
  "id": 11416901,
  "title": "Tories warn Burnham’s EU ‘pandering’ will shred post-Brexit trade deals",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/tories-warn-burnhams-eu-pandering-will-shred-post-brexit-trade-deals",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-02T10:28:42.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Politico EU",
    "slug": "politico-eu",
    "url": "https://www.politico.eu/article/tories-andy-burnham-eu-pandering-threatens-post-brexit-trade-deals/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Former Conservative trade ministers have expressed concerns over Labour leader Andy Burnham's pledge to review Britain's post-Brexit trade policy in relation to the EU. Former trade ministers Greg Hands, Liam Fox and an unnamed third minister have warned that Burnham's approach could undermine the independent trade policy Britain has established since leaving the European Union.\n\nHands, who held the role multiple times under Conservative governments, stated that the options presented by Burnham could invalidate most or all of Britain's existing trade agreements. The UK has negotiated free trade deals with nations like Australia, New Zealand, Japan, the Asia-Pacific trading bloc CPTPP, India, South Korea and Switzerland since leaving the EU.\n\nEntering into a customs union with the EU, a policy Burnham has floated, would have significant implications for the UK's global tariff system, the independent system of taxes and duty rates applied to goods imported from other countries. This alignment would also limit the UK's ability to negotiate the terms of new trade deals and could impact relations with key trading partners such as the US.\n\nIn contrast to the UK's independent trade policy, a customs union membership with the EU would require Britain to adopt the EU's tariff rates, including those on steel and electric vehicles. This could complicate the UK's relations with the US, the UK's largest bilateral trading partner. Fox emphasized that Burnham's comments were \"all about keeping the Labour left quiet\" and that there were no \"mealy-mouthed panders\" to the party.\n\nExperts warn that Burnham's approach could undermine new trade relationships with fast-growing economies and divert attention from supporting UK businesses in securing export contracts in burgeoning markets.",
  "summary": "Three former ministers tell POLITICO of “grave consequences” if the U.K. moves closer to the EU under prime minister's bid for a revamped relationship.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}