Andy Burnham to unveil EU trade deals worth billions of pounds

Agriculture, youth visas and emissions agreements nearly tied up under PM’s plan for a much closer relationship with Brussels

Andy Burnham is preparing to announce billions of pounds of trade deals with the EU covering everything from youth visas to pet passports under his vision of a much closer relationship with the bloc.

With the prime minister scheduled to meet his European counterparts in Brussels on 20 November, officials have all but agreed three deals that would allow farmers to sell freely to the continent and travellers to take their animals abroad more easily.

Although parts of the agreement will not be put in place until 2028, those close to the talks insist the process will not be derailed by disagreements on European industrial policy or UK university fees.