UK-EU relationship less angry now, says Lord Cameron

Lord Cameron has said the "heat and anger" has gone out of the UK-EU relationship, as ties are repaired in the wake of Brexit.

The foreign secretary, who as PM called and then lost the 2016 Brexit referendum, said relations were now "much more functional".

Speaking to a House of Lords committee, he said the UK wanted to be the EU's "friend, neighbour and partner".

But it also wanted to "fix" elements of the trading relationship, he added.

Lord Cameron quit Downing Street after losing the Brexit referendum, and stayed away from frontline politics until his shock return to government last month.

He later said he did not regret calling the vote, but regretted the "difficulties and the problems" in delivering the result.

Rishi Sunak made him his foreign secretary as part of a cabinet reshuffle, appointing him a lifetime peer in the process so he could re-enter Parliament.

Appearing before the Lords European Affairs Committee, the former prime minister said he had "stopped" his relationships with European leaders after leaving office.

"It's been interesting coming back to see how it's working and how problems are being fixed and opportunities are being taken," he added.

"I think a lot of the heat and and anger has come out of the relationship. It's now much more functional and I think it's functioning well."

Since becoming prime minister in October last year, Mr Sunak has sought to improve the post-Brexit relationship with the EU after a period of turbulence under predecessor Boris Johnson.

He renegotiated the terms of Mr Johnson's deal withdrawal on Northern Ireland earlier this year in a bid to soften post-Brexit trading issues, despite anger from some Tory backbenchers.

He has also decided to recognise the EU's product safety symbol indefinitely, re-joined its flagship science research scheme, and is negotiating a co-operation deal with Frontex, its borders agency.

In particular, Mr Sunak has sought closer working with France on the issue of illegal migration, including by agreeing to give the country £500m over three years to help stop migrants crossing the Channel.

Speaking to peers, Lord Cameron said he wanted to "to try and do more" with France, including in the areas of defence and nuclear energy.

He also said he was "very interested" in talking to EU countries about new rules to reverse plummeting school trips since Brexit, and was looking to see "what more can be done" to ease touring rules for professional musicians.

However, he said the UK should not be looking to "reopen" its trade agreement with the EU, which came into effect in 2021, during a review scheduled for 2026.

"We've obviously got some things we'd like to fix, but they've already got some things they want to fix with us," he said, without offering details.