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Furious MPs have slammed Keir Starmer for bowing down to Brussels after it emerged that marmalade may be rebranded as part of his Brexit reset.

The spread could soon be sold as “citrus marmalade” because of Labour’s “completely bonkers” EU food deal.

Britain might be forced to re-adopt EU rules in an effort to boost trade with the bloc and slash red tape for British producers.

Dame Priti Patel MP said: “Labour’s ‘EU reset’ is descending into farce. This marmalade madness is a classic example of the nonsense bureaucracy that emanates from Brussels.

“Keir Starmer is trying to take us into the EU by the back door, signing us up to heaps of rules and regulations that will disrupt British businesses.”

The parliamentarian, whose Essex constituency is home to Tiptree conserves, added: “Rather than trying to reopen the battles of the Brexit years, Starmer should focus on fixing the mess he and his colleagues have made of running the country.”

Chicken and mushroom Pot Noodles and some of Britain’s favourite crisp flavours could also be in line for the EU-dictated makeover.

New rules may prevent any descriptions such as “chicken or bacon-flavoured” goods when the ingredients are plant-based, according to a leaked draft text.

Reform UK’s deputy leader Richard Tice said: “Starmer’s Brexit reset is a blatant betrayal of the British people and of democracy.

“Brussels bureaucrats forcing us to rename marmalade thanks to Labour’s EU food deal is completely bonkers.

“It symbolises exactly why millions of people voted to leave nearly a decade ago.

“Labour Brexiteers can show their disgust by voting Reform in the May elections. It’s time for a proper Brexit – and only Reform UK will deliver it.”

Jams are known and sold as marmalade in European countries currently.

But this has caused some confusion as in Italy, jam is called marmellata while it is marmalade in Germany and mermelada in Spanish.

This means citrus-based spreads in the EU are now clearly distinguished as “citrus marmalade”.

Professor Catherine Barnard, Professor of European Union Law and Employment Law at Cambridge University, said: “The trouble is, because we’ve been out now for six years, the world has moved on. The Germans have got their way over the naming and we’re going to have to like it or lump it.

“Now, there may be a possibility that we can negotiate some sort of exception because one of the things that was agreed was that we would have some exceptions – although I’m not sure marmalade is at the top of the list.

“Nevertheless, this is one of the issues about dynamic alignment and dynamic alignment means that the EU has got to keep up to date with EU rules.”

The renaming could form part of the sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement which is currently being thrashed out by the UK and Brussels.

There might be 76 revised EU food laws that could also apply in England, Wales and Scotland, should the broader food deal with Brussels be agreed.

Mark Francois MP, chairman of the European Research Group, said: “Labour are in a sticky mess over this; which is all part of their plan to take us back into the EU, not in one go but by stealth; sector by sector via a process known as ‘dynamic alignment’ – which basically means we go back to being a rule-taker from the EU.

“They will start with foodstuffs and veterinary regulations and then extend this to other areas, one by one.

“Rather like gradually boiling a frog, they hope the British people somehow won’t twig what they’re up to – but we already have!”

Former Cabinet Minister Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg added: “The mad EU is back to its bad old ways. Perhaps it will rename Paddington next.”

The Government and the EU agreed to pursue the new SPS deal in May last year.

Ministers have insisted that it, and the Windsor Framework, will make it easier, cheaper and more predictable for goods to move not just between the UK and the EU but also within the UK itself, including smoother movements from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.

This deal will impact farmers, food businesses hauliers, pesticide firms

Officials promised “businesses will save money” because less money will be “spent on complex paperwork at the border”.
They added trade will flow faster and new markets will be unlocked.

Dick Searle, chief executive of the Packaging Federation, said it will cost some for UK firms initially to change labels but many companies’ packaging is already aligned with the EU.

He added: “There will be some costs because of the cost of changing the origination for printing but once it’s done, it shouldn’t be too difficult because most packs are already labelled with recycling instructions or so on.

“What we need to ensure is that it doesn’t clash in any way with instructions for this country.”

It comes as Sir Keir is plotting to use the tenth anniversary of the EU referendum to launch a new push to reverse Brexit.

The Prime Minister is planning a new “summit” with European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen close to the anniversary of the referendum vote on June 23.

Sir Iain Duncan Smith MP said: “Keir Starmer has always been determined to take the UK back into the EU. He is now using the war in Iran disgracefully as cover for this subterfuge. The British people are being hoodwinked and give no say in this re-entry into the EU. Worse, the EU is already demanding huge concessions from Starmer which he grants in secrecy.”

Ms Von der Leyen and Sir Keir spoke on Wednesday night, when No 10 said they “discussed their shared ambition to further strengthen the partnership between the UK and the European Union”.

It took place after Sir Keir delivered his most pro-EU remarks since the election where he told the nation the “volatile” international situation caused by the US-Israeli conflict with Tehran meant Britain’s “long-term national interest requires closer partnership with our allies in Europe and with the European Union”.

At the general election, Labour promised not to seek a customs union, to rejoin the single market or establish freedom of movement as part of closer ties with the bloc.

But the PM has spent weeks suggesting that he wanted to “go further” in moving Britain closer to the EU single market as he cranked up his push to reverse Brexit.

The Daily Express Give Us A Proper Brexit crusade has called for Britain to leave the European Convention on Human Rights, slash red tape for businesses and enforce a 12-mile exclusion zone around the UK for British vessels only.

A government spokeswoman said: “Manufacturers have already or are preparing to make these changes to enable continued access to the EU market.
“Our deal is good for British food producers — making it easier for British marmalade to be sold across Europe.”