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01:08Yes, we are making it work, and that's been my job as the UK's lead negotiator with the EU over
01:16these past two years, but also the work I did before that when we were in opposition.
01:20We delivered last year the common understanding in May, the very important security and defence partnership, complementing that foundation stone
01:31of our security and defence policy, NATO.
01:33But also I was particularly delighted to have signed the reaccession to Erasmus Plus just before Christmas, but also we
01:43have the package that we want to agree at this year's UK-EU summit.
01:48But on the economic relationship, do you think you've been moving quick enough on this, because there are recent studies
01:55that show that perhaps Brexit has taken a hit of up to 6% to 8% on GDP per
02:00head, for example.
02:01Have you moved quick enough to restore those economic trade ties?
02:06We are certainly moving very quickly, and I would also say that I inherited a status quo that wasn't working.
02:16There's no doubt about the damage that the previous government's handling of Brexit did, and that's exactly been my role,
02:25looking at changing that trading relationship, building a closer UK-EU relationship.
02:30Let me just say why that is so important, because we do live now in a very changed world to
02:37the one of 10 years ago.
02:39We live in a world of trading blocks.
02:41And it is so important that whilst respecting the result of the 2016 referendum and acting on the mandate we
02:49have from the 2024 general election, but not going back to freedom of movement, the customs union or the single
02:55market, of course we respect those who are delivering on our mandate from 2024.
02:59But that closer UK-EU partnership in this world of trading blocks is a fundamental part of our foreign policy
03:07as well.
03:08I must ask you, Minister, because your government is on fragile ground, and there is an imminent leadership contest, some
03:15would say.
03:15And one of the challenges of former Health Secretary West Streeting has described Brexit as a catastrophic mistake, saying that
03:22the future of Britain is in the European Union.
03:25Do you, to an extent, agree with him?
03:28I don't think this is the moment to rerun the arguments of 2016.
03:33I think this is a point to look forward, not back.
03:37And I think in looking forward, what we are doing is building, and I am building week by week, that
03:44closer UK-EU relationship, and doing so in the international context that we find ourselves in.
03:52So it has a number of dimensions, working more closely on security and defence, absolutely fundamental with our European partners,
04:00working on energy security.
04:02And that's why I've been, in recent weeks, I've formally, together with Mara Stevkovic, opened negotiations on UK participation in
04:10the internal electricity market.
04:12And I'm doing that so that we are able to deliver that energy security going forward, but also to try
04:17to bear down on bills as well.
04:20But also on trade and food security, these are fundamentals of our policy going forward, delivering for people in the
04:28UK, but also it's in the EU's interest as well.
04:30There is polling, Minister, that suggests that the public perception, opinion on Brexit has shifted, that a majority of people
04:38now would support rejoining the EU.
04:40And this is coming up in the public debate.
04:43And do you think there is a case to be made for that, especially given the situation you've just described
04:49of trading blocks, of geopolitical friction and so on?
04:53Well, I think that public opinion is not far from where the government is, actually.
04:58I think the government's position is broadly supported by public opinion.
05:01And I don't detect, and I've been up and down the country campaigning over many years, a desire to rerun
05:08arguments that took place between 2016 and 2019-20 in the UK.
05:13I want to ask you about your talks with Mara Stevkovic, the EU's Trade Chief.
05:17I know you've been in very close touch with him over the past years.
05:22And you are seeking closer alignment with the single markets, but you're keeping those red lines.
05:27No entry into the single markets or the customs union or freedom of movement.
05:31How faithful are you this approach will work?
05:35Well, it has been working.
05:37It's delivered the common understanding last year.
05:40It's already delivering benefits, and I'm very confident it will continue to deliver benefits for the British people across this
05:47parliament.
05:48And let me just give some specific examples, because let's talk about the food and drink agreement.
05:52Now, those who oppose the work I am doing are saying to businesses in the agricultural and agri-food sectors
05:59that the situation we have at the moment where we've had to have over a million export health certificates, up
06:05to £200 a time, issued to UK businesses, UK exporters since 2023.
06:11I've held one of these. I've been presented with one of these by a business. Pages and pages, dozens of
06:19wet stamps all over it.
06:20I want to take away that red tape. I want to take away that cost from businesses.
06:25Those who oppose what I'm doing will have to explain to those businesses why they want to reimpose them.
06:30You mentioned you're negotiating a series of new deals. You sound very positive on the SPS, on the agri-food
06:36exports, as well as the carbon emissions trading system.
06:38I want to ask you about the third aspect of this, which is youth experience or youth mobility.
06:45How is this going? Because you officials have been telling me that it is tough to close this deal by
06:52the summer.
06:53What are the bones of contention here?
06:55I think with the youth experience scheme, it's very important that we do have both the limit, the cap, but
07:02also particular time limits as well.
07:05And I've always seen the youth experience scheme in the context of the UK's 13 existing youth mobility schemes.
07:14But listen, of course, we will have over the period left before we have this annual summit.
07:20We are going to have, of course, pressures to close final bits of the negotiation. I'm very, very used to
07:26that.
07:26But we shouldn't lose sight of the bigger picture here because the youth experience scheme will have real opportunities in
07:34it.
07:34Of course, for young Europeans, but for young Brits as well, who are going to be able, as we've always
07:41seen it, to have a very broad scheme around study, around work and around travel.
07:46But when I reflect on the last 10 years, you know, post-Brexit, consequences of what the previous Conservative governments
07:54did, it was opportunities for young people that was one of the things that really bothered me.
07:59That opportunities that previously existed no longer did. And I am very proud of what we are now going to
08:04be put forward to young people.
08:05And I think the youth experience scheme is going to be a really positive part of that.
08:08Can I ask you what type of caps are you looking at? What type of limits for young youth citizens
08:13coming to stay, work in the UK? What are the numbers?
08:16Well, listen, I have to give you the government minister answer here, which is, of course, that these are ongoing
08:21negotiations at the moment.
08:23But in terms of the parameters of the youth experience scheme, they're written down in the common understanding we signed
08:28last year.
08:28And are you confident that the Brussels attaches as much importance to this as you do as a government?
08:35Because some would say the time is on their side. They're not in a rush.
08:38I really do. And I say that because not just because of my relationship with Mara Sefcovic.
08:44But as you can imagine, I've got to know the lead officials in the commission very, very well over the
08:49past two years or more.
08:51And I could never fault the amount of time and urgency that they have given to this and certainly to
08:58me over the past couple of years.
08:59That's never been an issue.
09:00And Minister, how confident are you that this will be wrapped up?
09:04I am very confident of closing this deal. Of course, we will get moments as you always do moments of
09:12difficulty in the final parts of negotiation.
09:14But I'm very confident of closing this deal and delivering a very successful 2026 summit.
09:19We know that Reform UK, the party of Nigel Farage, is topping the polls. That is the reality.
09:25Does that mean that you're looking to Farage proof, let's say, these deals to make sure that a prospective future
09:33anti-European government here in London
09:36does not undo the important work, as you say, that you've been doing?
09:40Well, first of all, if a party at the next general election wants to put the costs back on businesses
09:47that I propose take off or take away the opportunities to young people that this government has delivered, I would
09:52relish that debate.
09:53But the point is this. When you talk about durability of arrangements in any international context, durable arrangements that last
10:02for many years are because they deliver for both sides.
10:05And the best thing to make any deal durable is to ensure that it's delivering for young people.
10:11It's delivering for businesses. It's delivering for, in this case, obviously the British public, but also Europeans as well.
10:16I am very confident that we are going to do that.
10:19Finally, Minister, final question. I want to come back to the situation of the Prime Minister, Keir Starmer.
10:25Brexit has emerged as one of the issues that could define a potential leadership contest.
10:33I know that you work very closely with him in your role in restoring EU ties.
10:40Do you think at this point there should be a slight shift in his strategy?
10:47Does he need to be a little bit more ambitious, more bold in calling for even more collaboration with the
10:55European Union?
10:56Is that the way to go? Has he been too hesitant, too careful not to alienate those red wall traditional
11:02Labour voters that support Brexit?
11:04No, he has been ambitious.
11:06And indeed, throughout this calendar year, we've been talking not just about delivering the summit, but how we want to
11:13deliver beyond the summit as well.
11:14And I think the Prime Minister has been both ambitious on UK, EU, and just look, you're interviewing me here
11:22as we speak in the Cabinet Office.
11:24I'm right next door to the Prime Minister. This agenda is so important to this Prime Minister.
11:30I've always had his personal authority to do this job right at the centre of the government, and that's been
11:36the case since July 2024.
11:38So this has always been a top priority for the Prime Minister.
11:41Second, he's always shown not just ambition, but also shown that he and this government can deliver.
11:49And it's that delivery that's the most important thing.
11:52OK. Minister Nick Thomas-Simmons, thank you for speaking to us.
11:55Thank you.
11:55Thank you.
11:56Thank you.
