Jon Stone

London

EU–UK Reporter at POLITICO Europe

EU–UK Reporter at @POLITICOEurope; documenter of London cycle routes (link below) [email protected]

Articles

Britain rekindles old flames as trade war simmers

1 week ago | politico.eu | Sophie Inge |Jon Stone |Graham Lanktree

“There is a great sense of positivity and also eagerness and dedication to have this concluded sooner rather than later from both the sides,” Sitharaman told reporters at a joint briefing following the discussions. But Trump’s trade war won’t see India “rush” into a deal, Sitharaman told an audience at India’s High Commission the day before. While she and Reeves both said progress was made, thorny issues remain.
UK rejects EU plan to tie defense pact to fishing quotas

3 weeks ago | politico.eu | Jon Stone

LONDON — The British government has rejected an EU plan to tie talks on fishing rights to other topics in Keir Starmer’s EU reset — including a defense and security pact. Speaking on Tuesday U.K. Fishing Minister Daniel Zeichner told a parliamentary committee there would be “no linkage” between fishing negotiations and talks in other areas like security or reduced border checks for goods.
Brexit’s unfinished business: Gibraltar talks stuck in limbo

2 months ago | politico.eu | Jon Stone

LONDON — Negotiations to strike a Brexit deal for Gibraltar are stuck between a Rock and a hard place. Four-way talks between London, Madrid, Brussels and Gibraltar began in 2021 in a bid to hammer out one of the trickiest remaining issues thrown up by Brexit: how a 6.8km² rock off the southern coast of Spain can function outside the EU. A British territory since 1713, Gibraltar’s economy is heavily integrated with Spain’s.
EU leaders to travel to UK for Brexit reset summit in May

2 months ago | politico.eu | Jon Stone

BRUSSELS — Keir Starmer is set to host EU leaders at a Brexit summit in the U.K. on May 19 to discuss his plans to reset Britain’s relationship with the bloc.
Keir Starmer tells EU countries to ‘step up’ for Ukraine

2 months ago | politico.eu | Jon Stone

BRUSSELS — Keir Starmer has told the European Union to “step up” when it comes to supporting Ukraine ahead of a meeting with EU leaders to talk security. Speaking at a joint press conference with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, hours before a dinner meeting with the 27 EU presidents and prime ministers, Starmer also discussed ideas for a new post-Brexit security pact with the bloc. “Peace will come through strength, and we must do all that we can to support Ukraine's defense,” said Starmer.
Brussels lowers its expectations for Keir Starmer’s Brexit reset

2 months ago | politico.eu | Jon Stone |Dan Bloom |Sam Blewett

BRUSSELS — Brussels had high expectations for Keir Starmer’s Brexit reset. Now it’s adjusted them — downward. Six months of red lines and rejection have dashed hopes that the new U.K. prime minister really wants to walk back the more extreme elements of the Tory Brexit settlement. While officials and diplomats still believe improvements to the cross-channel relationship are possible, nobody expects them to be game-changers. All expect them to take time.
Keir Starmer appoints former New Labour spin doctor as EU negotiator

Jan 13, 2025 | politico.eu | Jon Stone

LONDON — Keir Starmer has appointed Gordon Brown’s former spin doctor to lead negotiations with the European Union. Michael Ellam was Downing Street director of communications from 2007 until 2009, and has since 2013 worked for the bank HSBC. As second permanent secretary at the Cabinet Office he will be in charge of Starmer’s “reset” of relations with Brussels and negotiate closer links on issues like trade and security.
Former Vote Leave chief will help pick Britain’s new Brexit negotiator

Jan 8, 2025 | politico.eu | Jon Stone

Johnson put his ex-Vote Leave colleague in charge of vetting civil service appointments back in 2022 shortly before his premiership imploded. Starmer has not replaced her.
Britain wants to reset its Brexit reset

Dec 31, 2024 | politico.eu | Jon Stone

Britain’s new government spent most of the fall bogged down in questions over where it stands on EU demands for a youth mobility scheme — which Brussels sees as essential to the reset. The young Labour administration is worried the idea smells too much like EU migration, a difficult political issue in Britain. It hasn’t ruled the idea out, but the official line is that it has “no plans.” That hasn't stopped the questions.
Is the British government scared of Nigel Farage?

Dec 19, 2024 | politico.eu | Jon Stone |Dan Bloom |Tim Ross

According to one EU official present at the recent talks, Thomas-Symonds told the MEPs he’d love to do more — but that Nigel Farage’s upstart, Europhobic Reform outfit had come second to Labour in 89 constituencies at the election, making a closer embrace of the EU politically problematic. “He was apologetic — he said he wanted to go further,” the EU official present told POLITICO.