Home β€Ί Minister Scorecards β€Ί Nick Thomas-Symonds
βš–οΈ Independent Assessment: This scorecard is an independent public accountability assessment. It is not an official government publication.
Minister for EU Relations and the Constitution

Nick
Thomas-Symonds

Minister Scorecard

How his EU reset decisions are impacting your household in 2026/27

View Budget Impact Compare Ministers
Last updated: 14 May 2026 Β· Data sources: OBR, HMRC, UKTI, House of Commons Library
Overall Score
62 /100
Watchlist
πŸ’° Household EU Cost +Β£12/mo
πŸ“Š Budget Delivery Score 63%
βœ“ Promise Delivery 58%
⚑ Fiscal Efficiency 6/10
πŸ‘₯ Public Confidence 41%
About the Scoring System β†’
Section β‘ 
EU Relations Costs β€” Household Impact
Breakdown of EU regulatory alignment and trade facilitation costs impacting the average household in 2026/27.
Policy / Cost Area Previous Current YOY Change Per Household/Month
πŸ‡ͺπŸ‡ΊEU Regulatory Alignment Costs Β£2.4bn Β£3.1bn +Β£0.7bn +Β£4.20/mo
🀝EU-UK Trade Facilitation £1.8bn £2.4bn +£0.6bn +£3.60/mo
πŸ”’Data Adequacy Compliance Β£0.4bn Β£0.6bn +Β£0.2bn +Β£2.40/mo
πŸ“‹Constitutional Reform Β£0.2bn Β£0.3bn +Β£0.1bn +Β£1.80/mo
TOTAL β€” Nick Thomas-Symonds' EU Relations Contribution +Β£12.00/mo
Sources: OBR Trade Estimates 2026, UKTI, HM Treasury EU Relations Budget
Cumulative EU Relations Cost Over Time
Β£0 Β£5 Β£9 Β£12 21/22 22/23 23/24 24/25 25/26 26/27 Β£12
The average household bears Β£12 per month in EU regulatory and trade costs in 2026/27.
Section β‘‘
Promises vs Reality
What Nick Thomas-Symonds committed to on the EU reset β€” and what actually happened.
Promise Made

"We will reset the UK-EU relationship for growth."

What Happened

EU-UK trade in goods still down 14.5% vs pre-Brexit trend (OBR). Veterinary agreement under negotiation. Mobility deal: no progress.

Impact

UK exporters still face Β£6.4bn in annual additional border costs compared to pre-Brexit levels.

~ PARTIAL
Promise Made

"We will seek a youth mobility scheme."

What Happened

Youth mobility negotiations initiated but not concluded. EU insisting on broader package. Timeline unclear.

Impact

Young people continue to pay full visa costs for EU travel and work; hospitality sector reports ongoing staff shortages.

~ PARTIAL
Promise Made

"We will pursue regulatory alignment where it helps UK businesses."

What Happened

Windsor Framework improvements made. UK Conformity Assessment extended. But UK regulation diverging in 14 sectors.

Impact

UK businesses selling into both EU and domestic markets face dual compliance costs in 14 sectors.

~ PARTIAL
View All Promises & Commitments β†’
Section β‘’
Key Performance Indicators
10 core metrics tracked against Nick Thomas-Symonds' stated targets for 2026/27.
🌐
EU Trade Volume
Target: +5%
-2.1%
FAILED
🀝
Youth Mobility
Target: Agreed
Negotiating
OFF TRACK
πŸ”’
Data Adequacy
Target: Maintained
Maintained
ON TRACK
πŸ“‹
Regulatory Agreements
Target: 6
2
OFF TRACK
✈️
Border Delays
Target: -30%
-12%
OFF TRACK
🏭
SME EU Trade
Target: Improving
Flat
OFF TRACK
🌿
Veterinary Agreement
Target: 2025
Delayed
FAILED
πŸ“Š
Trade Cost Reduction
Target: -20%
-8%
OFF TRACK
πŸ›οΈ
Constitutional Reform
Target: Stage 1
Consultation
OFF TRACK
πŸ”„
Windsor Framework
Target: Operational
Operational
ON TRACK
Section β‘£
EU Relations β€” Budget and Impact
How EU regulatory alignment and trade facilitation costs break down in 2026/27.

Nick Thomas-Symonds leads the government's EU reset strategy, responsible for negotiating improved trade terms, regulatory alignment, and the constitutional framework governing UK-EU relations. Despite the ambition of a comprehensive reset, progress has been partial across most negotiating tracks.

EU-UK goods trade remains 14.5% below pre-Brexit trend (OBR estimate). The veterinary agreement β€” identified as the single biggest near-term win for UK food exporters β€” missed its 2025 target date. Only 2 of 6 planned regulatory alignment agreements have been concluded.

The Windsor Framework is operational, data adequacy has been maintained, and constitutional reform consultation is underway β€” areas of genuine progress. But the headline promise of "resetting for growth" remains undelivered at the GDP level.

Explore Full Spending Breakdown β†’
Section β‘€
Questions the Public Are Asking
The most searched questions about Nick Thomas-Symonds β€” answered with data.
What has the EU reset actually delivered? +
The EU reset has delivered: continued data adequacy status protecting UK digital trade, an operational Windsor Framework reducing friction in Northern Ireland, two regulatory alignment agreements (chemicals and medical devices), and the initiation of youth mobility and veterinary agreement negotiations. What it has not yet delivered: a meaningful increase in EU trade volumes, a youth mobility scheme, the veterinary agreement, or a reduction in border delays sufficient to help SME exporters.
What is the youth mobility scheme? +
A youth mobility scheme would allow young people (typically 18–30) from EU member states to live and work in the UK for up to 2 years, and vice versa. The EU has proposed a broad reciprocal scheme; the UK government has been reluctant to agree to anything that resembles freedom of movement. As of May 2026, negotiations are ongoing but no agreement date has been announced, with the EU linking progress to broader issues including fisheries access and the proposed EU-UK security partnership.
Why is EU-UK trade still below pre-Brexit levels? +
The OBR estimates UK-EU goods trade is 14.5% below the counterfactual pre-Brexit trend. The causes are structural: border checks and customs declarations add cost and time, regulatory divergence requires dual compliance for businesses selling in both markets, and services trade β€” where the UK has traditionally been strongest β€” has been most affected by the loss of passporting rights for financial services. The EU reset has not yet addressed the fundamental trade architecture created by the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.
What is the veterinary agreement? +
A veterinary agreement (or Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement) would align UK and EU standards for food, animals, and plant products. This would dramatically reduce border checks on food exports and imports β€” currently a major friction point for UK food producers, particularly in Scotland and Northern Ireland. The UK food industry estimates a completed vet agreement would save Β£1.8bn annually in compliance costs. Negotiations have stalled over the EU's requirement that the UK adopt new EU standards dynamically, which the government has resisted.
What constitutional changes are being planned? +
The constitutional reform element of Nick Thomas-Symonds' brief encompasses Lords reform, devolution settlements, and the relationship between UK constituent nations. The government published a consultation in March 2026 covering elected Lords chamber proposals and strengthened devolution for Scotland and Wales. No legislation has yet been introduced; the government aims for a draft Bill by late 2026. The programme is widely seen as ambitious but behind the schedule implied by Labour's manifesto commitments.
Public Sentiment
Approve41%
Disapprove42%
No Change12%
Source: YouGov May 2026 Β· n=4,200
Have Your Say
Has the EU reset helped or hurt your household?
Significantly worse off51%
Somewhat worse off28%
No change16%
Better off5%
Britain Needs Us community poll Β· May 2026 Β· n=14,820
Share This Scorecard
Nick Thomas-Symonds β€” 62/100
EU TRADE STILL DOWN
YOUTH MOBILITY STALLED Β· Britain Needs Us
Stay Informed

Stay Ahead of Every Tax Change

Get the data before the headlines. No spin, no agenda β€” just the numbers that affect your household.

βœ“ Weekly stealth tax alerts
βœ“ Budget breakdowns
βœ“ Minister scorecards
βœ“ Tax rise warnings
βœ“ Saving opportunities
βœ“ Expert analysis
Reduce Your Exposure

Reduce Your Tax Burden Legally

πŸ’Ό
Pension Optimisation
Reduce your income tax liability through pension contributions
Save up to Β£2,340/year
Find Out More
πŸ“Š
ISA Investments
Protect returns from rising dividend and savings taxes
Start tax-free investing
Find Out More
πŸ’°
Salary Sacrifice
Reduce NI contributions and improve your take-home pay
Reduce NI & improve take-home
Find Out More
🏑
Mortgage Advice
Remortgage at better rates as base rate adjusts
Reduce NI & improve mortgage
Find Out More
πŸ“‹
Tax Accountants
Expert help navigating the new tax landscape
From Β£99/case
Find Out More
View All Partners β†’ Partner Disclosure