Sunak: No Backsliding on Brexit

On Monday, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak denied that his government was seeking to backtrack on the UK's withdrawal agreement from the European Union, despite what appeared to be a growing backlash against Brexit.

Brexit-supporter Sunak told business leaders that life outside the EU was "already delivering enormous benefits and opportunities."

He has promoted greater restrictions on immigration - a key plank of the Brexit deal - and closer trade ties with Asia.

However, Sunak added, ""Let me be unequivocal about this: under my leadership, the United Kingdom will not pursue any relationship with Europe that relies on alignment with EU laws."

The UK left the EU entirely in January 2021, after years of political wrangling since the divisive referendum in 2016 to leave the bloc.

Brexit saw the UK withdraw from the European single market and customs union, while free movement between member states and the jurisdiction of European courts ended.

But the agreement between London and Brussels maintained largely duty-free trade with the remaining 27 members.