The Conservative Party has pledged to reverse any moves by the Labour government aimed at strengthening ties with the European Union if it returns to power. Alex Burghart, the newly appointed Conservative deputy leader, criticized the current UK–EU “reset” initiated under Prime Minister Keir Starmer and continued by Andy Burnham, describing the approach as “disastrous.”

Burghart specifically targeted agreements reached at the Lancaster House summit in May 2025 between the UK and the EU, which include Britain's re-entry into the Erasmus+ student exchange program and continued EU fishing rights in UK waters for 12 years. Under the agreement, Britain will pay £570 million to rejoin Erasmus+ starting in 2027, allowing approximately 100,000 British students to participate in the 2027–28 academic year. In return, European fishing vessels will maintain access to UK waters for an additional 12 years.

Further negotiations are ongoing concerning the reduction of trade barriers on agricultural products, linkage of UK and EU emissions trading schemes, and the establishment of a “youth experience scheme,” which could grant young people from both sides visa-free travel. The UK government is also facing pressure to offer discounted university tuition fees to EU students as part of these arrangements. All three areas are expected to be finalized at the forthcoming UK–EU summit later this year.

Burghart stated that the Conservatives would dismantle these agreements if they regain power, accusing the Labour government of conceding too much to the EU with little in return. “They said, ‘We would like to take your rules, we would like to pay for the privilege and we would like your court [the European Court of Justice] to adjudicate on whether we have followed the rules and we would like to give you access to our fishing water for 12 years.’ It was extraordinary. And in return, they got almost nothing,” he said.

In addition to Brexit-related issues, Burghart addressed other Labour policy proposals. He expressed skepticism about Andy Burnham’s ambition to replace the first-past-the-post voting system, noting that a referendum would be required and recalling Labour’s previous defeat in a 2011 vote on adopting the alternative vote system. “I don’t think it will happen because I think that the Labour Party will lose a referendum if they try to go down this route,” Burghart said.

On pension policy, Burghart reaffirmed the Conservative commitment to the triple lock, a mechanism that guarantees annual pension increases linked to inflation, earnings, or a minimum 2.5% increase. “We support the triple lock. We invented it. It’s in our draft manifesto. That’s what we intend to do,” he said, adding that the party remains firmly committed to maintaining it ahead of the next general election.

Burghart’s remarks came ahead of the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham, where the party aims to present itself as a clear alternative to Labour, particularly on issues surrounding Brexit and domestic policy reform.