Use of e-gates by British holidaymakers in EU still not guaranteed, minister suggests

The use of e-gates by British holidaymakers in the European Union is still not guaranteed, a minister has indicated.

Following six months of talks, Sir Keir Starmer unveiled his post-Brexit trade deal on Monday at the first summit of European Union and UK leaders in London.

The wide-ranging deal will allow more British travellers to use passport e-gates when going on holiday to Europe, while farmers will get swifter, easier access to trade on the continent as a result of an agreement on animal and plant product standards.

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But Sarah Jones, the minister for industry, told Sky News negotiations on e-gate usage will have to continue with individual countries – despite the deal.

She said: “Of course it will take time with each country, but we will go as fast as we can. And of course, I will come back to you as soon as I can on the timings.”

This appears to be a departure from the prime minister, who on Monday declared more explicitly that “Brits travelling to Europe will now be able to use e-gates”.

Ms Jones was asked about the wording of Monday’s agreement, and whether it commits only to “swiftly exploring opportunities for enhanced co-operation” with the European Union.

She disagreed, stressing that the UK will have access to an “enormous fund for defence”.

However, she admitted the deal will need to be negotiated further “going forward”.

“But the principle of this is important. It’s giving us access to a market we didn’t have before,” she said.

Pushed again on whether the post-Brexit deal is a plan rather than an agreement, Ms Jones said: “It was a lot more than a plan.”

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The minister also insisted the cost to taxpayers from Sir Keir’s deal with the EU will be outweighed by the economic benefits.

The UK will pay administration costs, which have yet to be decided, for participation in measures such as the scheme to make it easier to ship animal and plant products to the EU.

Ms Jones told Sky News: “Whatever administrative costs we have to pay, and they will be negotiated and I don’t have an answer for you now on what those costs are, they will be outweighed very significantly by what we estimate will be a £9bn advantage a year by 2040.”