Sir Keir Starmer is facing mounting pressure to let Parliament vote on a potential US-UK trade deal, as he pushes to secure a pact with Donald Trump ahead of a key EU summit on May 19.
Despite pledging in opposition to increase transparency on trade agreements, Starmer last week stopped short of committing to a parliamentary vote.
He said any agreement would “go through the known procedures for this House”, relying on the government’s prerogative powers to ratify treaties without a binding Commons vote.
Labour figures want greater visibility
Some MPs, including Labour figures Liam Byrne and Emily Thornberry, are calling for greater scrutiny, warning that a rushed deal with Washington could compromise UK standards on food, digital protections, or animal welfare.
“We are debating in the dark,” Byrne said, criticising the lack of clarity on negotiating mandates and trade-offs.
The UK is currently navigating sensitive parallel talks with the US, EU and India. Starmer’s team hopes to clinch all three trade agreements within weeks – an outcome one official described as the “dream scenario”.
EU wary of conceding ground to Trump
But the strategy carries risks, with EU leaders wary of any concessions to Trump that might undercut European alignment.
The government has signalled willingness to reduce tariffs on US cars and review its digital services tax, in exchange for the US lifting its 25% tariffs on steel and autos. However, trade experts warn that deeper concessions to Washington could make it harder to meet EU standards – particularly in agriculture.
Delicate balance
Starmer’s global economics adviser, Michael Ellam, is managing the delicate balance. As Britain edges closer to reshaping its international trade stance, critics are warning that democratic oversight must not be sacrificed in the rush to seal a deal.
