The EU is reportedly making new demands on farming from Keir Starmer as he seeks a deal on a Brexit ‘reset’ at a major summit next week. 

Brussels has made an 11th hour gambit to get Britain to halt advanced work on gene editing crops, which would allow UK farmer to grow disease and drought-resistant strains.

The bloc is way behind Britain due to struggles to get all 27 states to agree, and they want the UK to throw away its advantage.

The demand is included in an agreement where the UK would align food safety rules with the EU in exchange easing of checks on British food and agricultural products exported across the Channel, the Times reported.

Brussels also want the deal time limited to 2030 and renewal linked to fishing rights in UK waters for continental boats, with a source telling the paper: ‘We want the two to be linked … to roll over the SPS [food] agreement in future, the UK will have to agree a new fisheries deal.’

Sir Keir is due to host a major EU summit in London on Monday where he hopes to unveil a new Brexit deal that brings Britain closer to the EU.

He is expected to agree to allow under-30s to work and travel freely under a ‘youth mobility’ deal that critics say is too close to a return of free movement. 

As the deadline approaches individual states have also thrown in fresh demands, including a Spanish attempt to link the deal to a new arrangement for the Gibraltar border. 

Brussels has made an 11th hour gambit to get Britain to halt advanced work on gene editing crops, which would allow UK farmer to grow disease and drought-resistant strains.

Brussels has made an 11th hour gambit to get Britain to halt advanced work on gene editing crops, which would allow UK farmer to grow disease and drought-resistant strains.

Sir Keir is due to host a major EU summit in London on Monday where he hopes to unveil a new Brexit deal that brings Britain closer to the EU.

Sir Keir is due to host a major EU summit in London on Monday where he hopes to unveil a new Brexit deal that brings Britain closer to the EU.

Brussels also want the deal time limited to 2030 and renewal linked to fishing rights in UK waters for continental boats, with a source telling the paper: 'We want the two to be linked ... to roll over the SPS [food] agreement in future, the UK will have to agree a new fisheries deal.'

Brussels also want the deal time limited to 2030 and renewal linked to fishing rights in UK waters for continental boats, with a source telling the paper: ‘We want the two to be linked … to roll over the SPS [food] agreement in future, the UK will have to agree a new fisheries deal.’

The Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act, which was passed in 2023, supports the development of crops using modern biotechnology, such as gene editing.

The hope is to increase crop yields, reduce pesticides and enhance disease resistance.

Both Sir Keir Starmer and the EU have indicated they want to see closer defence ties ahead of the meeting.

YouGov polling commissioned by pro-EU campaign group Best for Britain has indicated the British public would back this, with 69 per cent of those polled in favour.

The survey of 4,703 adults carried out between the end of March and start of April also found a majority, 53 per cent, backed alignment on animal and plant standards, whereas only 21 per cent were opposed.

Maintaining the same food standards could eliminate costly checks on food products exported across the Channel.

Voters also back a youth mobility scheme, the polling suggested, with 63 per cent in favour and 17 per cent opposed.

The Government supports ‘controlled schemes’ which would allow young people to travel, a Foreign Office minister said last night.

Ahead of the UK-EU summit next week, backbench Labour MPs pressed the Government to agree a youth mobility scheme, arguing ‘we owe it to our younger generation’.

Meanwhile, the Conservatives warned a scheme of this sort could ‘disadvantage young British workers’ who are ‘already struggling’.

Speaking in the Commons, Foreign Office minister Stephen Doughty said: ‘We are taking serious action to reduce net migration, but we support controlled schemes that create opportunities for young people to experience different cultures, travel and work.’

Speaking from the frontbench, shadow business minister Andrew Griffith said: ‘The wrong type of youth mobility scheme would disadvantage young British workers, who are already – thanks to this Government – struggling to get their foot on the ladder for a job, again, unemployment up today, or able to secure a roof over their head in Britain’s housing market.

‘And what part of the Government’s objective is to make it harder for our young people?’

Conservative former minister Sir John Hayes also warned against a youth mobility scheme, saying ‘young people across the entire continent will want to travel here’.