Westminster returns after the weekend’s cabinet reshuffle, with a new business and trade secretary now in place.
There’s also a new report from the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade on improving UK-EU relations and it looks set to be a busy week for European politics, with one election, one significant speech and one possible defenestration of a prime minister.
Cabinet reshuffle
Trade returns to the political agenda after PM Sir Keir Starmer’s cabinet reshuffle over the weekend, with a new UK trade chief in place.
Peter Kyle becomes the new Secretary of State for Business and Trade, replacing Jonathan Reynolds, who now becomes chief whip and takes a role in the Treasury.
Kyle is already talking trade in Washington today in meetings with the Trump administration, according to Politico London Playbook. Next up, he’ll be flying to China for the reopening of the UK-China Joint Economic and Trade Commission (JETCO).
The new trade minister arrives just as the Defence Industrial Strategy – the final in the series of eight 10-year sector plans – is being launched. The strategy promised a £182m boost for skills in the sector, with specialist technical colleges to be created.
It’s not just Kyle getting his feet under the table at the Department for Business & Trade (DBT). Jason Stockwood, Michael Shanks, Blair McDougall, Kate Dearden and Sir Chris Bryant are all joining as ministers.
Former trade minister, Sarah Jones, leaves DBT to join the Home Office while Baroness Poppy Gustafsson leaves government entirely.
New report launched
A new report from the Chartered Institute and Independent Economics has been launched today in the House of Commons, making a series recommendations for an effective, long-term UK-EU partnership and a stable trading relationship.
The year 2026 will mark a decade since the UK public voted to leave the EU. It will also mark five years having passed since the post-Brexit trade deal – the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) – entered into force.
Under the terms of the TCA, this five-year point will see both sides come together to review its future implementation. This review comes at a significant moment, with global trade becoming increasingly volatile in the decade since the Brexit referendum.
This report – ‘Reimagining UK-EU Trade and Cooperation’ – outlines why this moment is so significant for the long-term UK-EU relationship, offering both strategic and practical recommendations on how to make the most of the 2026 review.
European affairs
It’s also a busy week in European politics.
Firstly, the French national congress is likely to throw out its fifth prime minister in two years, as François Bayrou faces a confidence vote. The results should come out later in the afternoon.
Also later today, Norway goes to the polls in a hard fought election over EU relations, national security and energy. Incumbent socialist PM, Jonas Gahr Støre, looks likely to win a second term.
Aslak Berg, a research fellow at the Centre for European Reform, told the Daily Update that despite the march of a Eurosceptic far-right party, the consensus on EU politics was “not likely to see much change.”
Later in the week, European Commission (EC) president, Ursula von der Leyen, is set to make her set-piece State of the Union speech.
On Wednesday (10 September) von der Leyen will address the EU parliament, setting out her achievements so far and her plan for the next year.
Other dates for the diary
- Monday: Trades’ Union Congress continuous
- Tuesday: Entries for the King’s Awards for Enterprise close
- Wednesday: European Central Bank interest decision. Also, US Supreme Court may decide to take up the US governments appeal against tariffs
- Thursday: Start of New York Fashion Week
- Friday: World Series of Darts Finals starts in Amsterdam
- Saturday: Last Night of the Proms on the BBC
- Sunday: 70th anniversary of Pope Leo XIV
