On Thursday’s BBC Question Time, Tory MP and shadow justice minister Kieran Mullan found himself repeatedly contradicted—by government ministers, fellow Conservative shadow justice minister Kieran Mullan faced fierce pushback on BBC Question Time for his attack on Labour’s new UK-EU “reset” trade deal. His key criticisms unraveled on live TV as ministers, panellists and the audience corrected him point by point.
🔍 ECJ clash exposed
Mullan claimed Labour had handed ultimate authority to the European Court of Justice (ECJ):
“They [Labour] have said the EU courts will decide.”
In response, Paymaster General Nick Thomas-Symonds—who actually negotiated the deal—replied:
“No, they haven’t. I negotiated the deal, Kieran.”
Fiona Bruce had to intervene:
“Hang on! Oh my god!”
Thomas-Symonds then outlined the real process:
- A specific point of EU law goes to the ECJ.
- The ECJ issues a ruling.
- An independent arbitration panel applies that ruling.
Mullan repeatedly talked over him and refused to admit his mistake.
🐟 Fishing terms under fire
Mullan pivoted to fishing:
“Labour have handed EU boats UK waters for 12 years. That’s not in our fishermen’s interests.”
Bruce reminded him this mirrored the original 2020 Brexit deal, once called “the best possible deal.” Mullan conceded it was “the best at the time” but said annual negotiations would serve the industry better.
⚖️ Rhetoric vs. solutions
Panellists quickly dismantled Mullan’s rhetoric:
- Zanny Minton Beddoes (The Economist) called the “surrender” claim “complete nonsense.”
- Hashi Mohamed, a barrister, challenged him: “If it isn’t a good deal, propose a better one.”
- Inaya Florence, a Brexit supporter, said his “surrender” language was overblown.
👥 Audience backlash
An audience member summed it up:
“The Conservatives created many of these problems. Now Labour is cleaning up their mess—and they’re complaining about it.”
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