British tourists flying to Switzerland will be able to use e-gates at Swiss airports and border crossings from later this year, following a £5.2bn trade deal secured by Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer. The agreement aims to shorten passport queues for UK holidaymakers, starting with exit checks at Zurich airport, with Basel and Geneva to follow in 2025.
Details of the Agreement
The deal, described by Starmer as the “sixth landmark agreement”, also includes the scrapping of mobile phone roaming charges for UK travellers in Switzerland. The UK’s Department for Business and Trade stated it hopes to “unlock £5.2bn a year in additional UK services exports to Switzerland in the long run”.
Reactions from Business Leaders
Starmer said: “Whether you’re growing a business or travelling for work, this agreement is about making life easier and creating more opportunity for people across the UK.” He added: “British firms will find it easier to sell their expertise in one of our most important markets in Europe, supporting jobs and investment here at home.”
Rain Newton-Smith, chief executive of the CBI business lobby group, said the deal recognised “real opportunities for growth” in services, which was the UK’s “super power”. Chris Hayward, policy chair of the City of London Corporation, described the deal as “gold standard”. Richard Torbett, chief executive of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry, noted that both sides had “made explicit their commitment to maintain a strong and proportionate intellectual property regime”.
Political Context
The announcement comes as Andy Burnham is set to become Britain’s next prime minister, having won the backing of 349 Labour MPs, including all eligible members of Starmer’s current cabinet. The new MP for Makerfield received an extra 27 nominations, taking his total from 322 to 349, making it impossible for any rival to secure enough nominations to challenge him.
