Conservative MP Mark Francois has made a bold prediction about the upcoming UK-EU summit, claiming the government is planning a "major surrender" to Brussels.
Speaking on GB News, Francois forecast that the "reset" with the EU, due to be formalised at a summit in London on May 19, will involve significant concessions.
He stated he was willing to "eat humble pie" on air if his prediction proves incorrect.
Francois claimed the government will use a defence pact announcement as "camouflage" for more controversial measures.
Mark Francois hit out at Keir Starmer on GB News
PA / GB NEWS
The summit is less than a month away and will be a key moment in UK-EU relations under the current administration.
"I am going to make you a prediction live on air," Francois told GB News viewers.
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KEIR STARMERHe suggested that at the summit, the government will "announce a major defence pact with the EU."
"We don't know the details. There might be some merits and it might help Ukraine," he acknowledged.
However, Francois claimed this defence agreement would serve as a distraction from other policy changes.
"They would use defence at the summit as a camouflage and a smokescreen for a major surrender to the EU," he said.
Mark Francois joined Tom Harwood and Emily Carver on GB News
GBNEWS
The MP's comments come amid growing speculation about how the government plans to reshape Britain's relationship with the European Union.
According to Francois, while the defence pact is being announced, the government will "surrender our fishing rights" to the EU.
He also claimed the UK would "take up EU rules on some areas like veterinary science and others" through what he termed "dynamic alignment".
"It's a fancy phrase which basically means if they make a new rule, we amend our rules to follow theirs. We become a rule-taker," Francois explained.
He further alleged that "in certain circumstances, the European Court of Justice would be the final arbiter of those rules."
This arrangement would mean the UK automatically following EU regulations despite having left the bloc.
Francois connected these alleged concessions to what he sees as the Prime Minister's long-term agenda.
"That will be a step on the road to take us back into it - something Keir Starmer has always wanted since he came in as prime minister," he claimed.
The GB News guest portrayed the Prime Minister as having consistently opposed Brexit.
"I saw Keir Starmer, night after night and week after week when we had the battles over Brexit in the Commons calling for another referendum because he couldn't abide by the result in the first one," said Francois.
He concluded: "He remains a Remainer. He always will be, he's an absolute Europhile at heart."
