Keir Starmer’s decision to step down means that the EU-UK summit due to take place next month will be postponed. This may mean that the phytosanitary requirements and border checks for flowers and plants will not be abolished until later.
Keir Starmer announced on 22 June that he is stepping down as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. He will remain in office until a new Labour leader has been elected. Andy Burnham is a possible successor. The former Mayor of Greater Manchester was elected to the House of Commons last week. The process towards the leadership change starts on 9 July and is due to be completed before the Labour Party conference in September.
In response to Starmer’s resignation, European Council President António Costa said that the EU-UK summit to be held in Brussels on 22 July would be postponed. “The renewed uncertainty in British politics, particularly the postponement of the summit at which the SPS agreement was to be signed, is a disappointing setback for our sector,” says Tim Rozendaal, Strategic Adviser and Project Manager at VGB. The SPS agreement is intended to end the phytosanitary requirement and border checks for flowers and plants.
