Hi John,

The first 🇬🇧 UK-EU 🇪🇺 Summit between Keir Starmer and Ursula Von Der Leyen is just weeks away.

For lots of us it's a strange feeling. No, we're not going to get everything we want, but this is the closest we have been, since 2016, to getting back some of what we lost. No matter how bittersweet (or just bitter!) that might feel, we have to seize this opportunity.

That's why I wanted to set out exactly what Best for Britain is doing in these crucial days ahead of the 19th May.

But, some of it can't be achieved without you. See how you can get involved.

We need three key groups of people to make their voices heard in the next few days:

• Voters, especially in Labour constituencies
• Business owners, who can demand a better deal
• People working in the culture, hospitality, and education sectors

And, if you can, please do consider making a donation to help the campaign reach everyone across all four nations of the United Kingdom.

Every penny raised goes on reaching more people who can put pressure on the Government ahead of the crucial summit on 19th May. 

Back in 2022 Best for Britain created the UK Trade and Business Commission, which published 114 policy demands in June 2024, after years of evidence-gathering, and meeting with businesses and parliamentarians across Europe and across the UK.

A huge thank you to all of our supporters who funded this work to make it possible.

We're so grateful that other organisations have adopted some of these as their own. The more voices that make the case for these policies, the greater the pressure on the Government will be.

Here's five of the 114 recommendations that could be achieved in 2025, with your help:

1️⃣ A deal on goods and services 🚚 The UK Trade and Business Commission's proposals for MRCs (mutual recognition of conformity assessments), developed with UKAS, will allow businesses to buy and sell goods and services easily again.

2️⃣ An agreement on animal and plant health (SPS) 🌱🍎 To reduce the onerous checks on food and other essential goods, which could lower prices

3️⃣ Changes to visa and carnet rules for touring performers 🎸 🎭Ending the nightmare of paperwork and fees that have stopped UK productions travelling to Europe, and vice versa

4️⃣ A Youth Mobility Scheme 👧 Now being considered by the Government as the "Youth Opportunity Scheme" thanks to pressure from you using our 'Hey MP' tool and polling by Best for Britain

5️⃣ Open the door to more schemes 🇪🇺 Joining Erasmus+, PEM (although we want to go beyond this!), ETS, CBAM, pan-European Clinical Trials, and the EU 'List of Travellers' Scheme.

📈 And Best for Britain was the first organisation to demonstrate just how much growth these policies would achieve while offsetting the effect of Trump's tariffs, one of the most compelling arguments to take to a Government that has promised to be the fastest growing economy in the G7. 

Want to know why this work is so important?

🎧 Listen to Naomi, our CEO, and James O'Brien talk about what a deal could do for you and your family, for the country, and for Europe.

Finally, I want to say how grateful I am to have supporters like you. At times it's been difficult to put aside our frustration that we're even in this position, while campaigning for only a fraction of what was taken away.

If we get some of what we're asking for (a Youth Mobility Scheme, an agreement on food and agriculture, a deal on goods and services, and touring visas for performers and artists) we can consider it a success.

And it will pave the way for further talks, further cooperation, and a future within Europe. The road ahead is fairly long. I am so glad that we have you by our side.

Yours,

Cal

Cal Roscow

Director of Campaigns, Best for Britain

Want to see our polling and research before anyone else? Regular supporters are alway first to get updates. And if you donate £10 we'll plant a 🌱 tree in your name.