Keir Starmer MP, Labour’s Shadow Brexit Secretary, responding to the agreement between the European Union and the UK Government on the terms of a transitional deal, said:

“This agreement could have been signed months ago but Ministers wasted time fighting among themselves, holding out on negotiating objectives that they have failed to achieve and pursuing their reckless red lines.

“Labour was the first to call for sensible transitional arrangements because it is the only way to protect jobs and the economy.

“It is welcome that they have finally struck a deal on transition and now the Government must prioritise negotiating a final agreement that protects jobs, the economy and guarantees there will be no hard border in Northern Ireland.”