Transcripts For BBCNEWS Brexit Deal Announced 20201224

Sides wanted to finish that off today and they have done so. We have a statement from downing street saying that everything the British Public was promised during the 2016 referendum and last years general election is delivered by this deal. We have not seen the text of the deal. We know it will be hundreds and hundreds of pages long and there will be a lot of. In the detail. What we will see over the next few hours is, on both sides, plenty of spin, political spin coming out saying we have achieved this on the other side of the channel. French and dutch media have been told by officials on that side that the british had given in a lot. That is to be expected. We need to look at the detail of what is in the deal and remember it is notjust about fish stocks, it is about the entire relationship on trade and security between the uk and all its nearest neighbours, stretching four years into the future. It is a phenomenal achievement by the two negotiating teams to have got this done in what feels like a long time, but nine months are a short period of time in trade terms. Is a huge moment and a significant next few hours as we learn the details. Lets take this in stages. A lot of time to analyse what we are about to see. What about the choreography miss what is the likely areas of detail . Will hear from brussels on number ten first . We expect press conferences from both sides in the next few minutes. Which comes first, we do not know. What we do know is we will see the entire text of the detail this evening. Between the 2000 pages, it is not something you can read in ten minutes. A lot of the detail or not necessarily come out immediately. The interpretation of the detail from each side will come out straightaway. We must see what they say and take it with a pinch of salt and then road tested against what is actually hidden in those pages. And then road tested against what is actually hidden in those pagesm terms of some of the details in the hours leading up to this, we were expecting a News Conference last night and that did not appear. There we re night and that did not appear. There were more sticking points to overcome, and in the last little while, it had been reported that borisjohnson had while, it had been reported that Boris Johnson had been while, it had been reported that borisjohnson had been phoning brexiteer mps to just talk through some of the detail of what had been agreed. And there will be some on the hard core wing of the brexit side who will say we are not taking back control of our fishing waters because there is a transition period, because the eu boats. Be able to fish there. That was always going to be the case. There has to be compromise. I think the Bigger Picture is what is going to be in the broad economic part of the deal . We know there will be tariff and quota free trade. It is a huge thing for businesses. I think many who trade across the board are disappointed that there will be extra bureaucracy and extra checks they have to deal with, but no ta riffs they have to deal with, but no tariffs is a very good start. 0ne they have to deal with, but no tariffs is a very good start. One of the questions, though, is what other terms under which tariffs could be reimposed in the future if either side breaks any part of the deal . That is something we will hear an enormous amount about, not in the next few days, but for years to come. That will be the sort of co nsta nt come. That will be the sort of constant negotiation that goes on between the two sides about how what is agreed in this deal is then interpreted over the years to come. You will stay with me for the crucial next few hours. Lets head straight to downing street because oui straight to downing street because our Political Correspondent is there. You have also seen the statement from number ten. Add a new detailfor statement from number ten. Add a new detail for us statement from number ten. Add a new detailfor us for any statement from number ten. Add a new detail for us for any viewers just joining us. Is a statement from number ten and say that the deal is done. Everything the British Public was promised during the 2016 referendum and general election last year is delivered by the deal. They say they have taken back control of money, borders, law and fishing waters. They say this is the biggest bilateral deal ever signed and it was worth £668 billion in 2019. It also talks about what happens in terms of the uk being able to move away from eu rules and says they are no longer in the lunar apple of the eu and there is no role for the European Court of justice. Eu and there is no role for the European Court ofjustice. Lunar poll. That would have been important in terms of selling that to backbenchers. It also says there are key red lines about returning sovereignty that had been achieved and that means we will have full political and economic independence from year. That is what is coming out of downing street in terms of what they are saying in what is a steal. We do not have a deals of it yet. It is looking fairly lengthy, between 1000 and 2000 pages that will need to be gone through. The government are saying that it fulfils what it set out to do on the promises they made. Is there any indication, fishing seemed to be the last glitch in terms of catches, all of those things, there is a transition period, do we know what the ultimate compromise was . We do not know the detail of that. We understand that the broad compromise was made beforehand and what has been happening since was the real fine detail of pushing fish and sorting out the quotas. We know the issues and contentious issues when the quotas, how much of catching uk waters would take back and how much the wood keep from what they currently catch. We also know there was an issue around how long any switch would take from where we are now to where they want to end up. How may years they might face that in on both sides. We know those were theissues in on both sides. We know those were the issues that were contentious, but we do not yet know what solution they have come up with that. Hopefully we will soon out soon find out. A level Playing Field was also contentious. Interesting the number ten statement saying that the European Court and theyre not having any sort of involvement. They have found some form of adjudication out side of that, havent they . Yes, thatis out side of that, havent they . Yes, that is what this statement implies. The level Playing Field, just remind people what that is only talk about that, 0lly shared rules that both sides will have in common once they both leave the Single Market the uk leaves the Single Market. There was difficulty in in how the rule would be enforced once any side reached it. We know mps were briefed today that they would not be lightning tariffs, which is what the eu wanted, the ability to impose quick overnight tariffs on things if they thought the uk had breached the agreement in other areas. That was a bone of contention. This is what mps have been breached, it is not in there. They have found some way around this. The uk position was a lwa ys around this. The uk position was always that it wanted the same sort of mechanism as you would find in any other sort of free agreement. The eu, the central thing for them has been protecting the integrity of the Single Market, that their big beer was that they did not want a competitor right on the doorstep that there take fear was. The same that there take fear was. The sa m e a ccess that there take fear was. The same access to markets as home grown eu businesses but did not have to follow the same rules or standards. Those are the point of contention, but they have found some way around that mechanism. Hopefully this is the sort of thing we will get in the document that will tells more about what has been negotiated. Document that will tells more about what has been negotiatedlj document that will tells more about what has been negotiated. I want to bring ina what has been negotiated. I want to bring in a shot showing what is going on inside of downing street, because the podium all set up, so at some stage, i will not tempt fate, but at some stage, borisjohnson will arrive there at the microphones and that is the scene in brussels as well. That is then used conference already under way, so i willjust bring the microphones up and dip in. You can see Michelle Barnier there, ursula von der leyen. But here what they are saying about this deal. Technical briefing with our experts who held negotiations over those many months, where you can ask many many months, where you can ask many many questions. But before that, allow me to give the floor to president of underlying. Ursula von der leyen. It was a long and winding road, but we have got a good deal to show for it. It is fair, balanced, and it is the right and responsible thing to do for both sides. She speaks french. Studio iam pausing studio i am pausing only because just to see if ursula von der leyen goes back into english, saying right at the beginning there, we have finally got a deal. It has been a long and winding road, but we have a fair, responsible deal, so those details in terms of the eu, the approach, what they have agreed, just being laid out in those early comments. You heard them say that they will give the details and then open the floor to questions. That is translation now coming in, so lets put the microphones up. Translation the European Union has shown unity over this time. 450 million people, the biggest Single Market in the world, and we were able to rely on these assets. Its very important, in this agreement, line byline. Very important, in this agreement, line by line. Competition in our Single Market will be fair and remain so. The eu rules and standards will be respected. We have effective tools to react with fair competition is distorted and impacts oui competition is distorted and impacts our trade. Secondly, we will continue co operating with the uk in all areas of mutual interest, for example in the field of Climate Change, energy, security, and transport. Together, we still achieve more than we do our part. And, thirdly, we have secured five and a half years of full predictability for our fishing communities and strong rules to incentivise to remain so. Of course, this whole debate has all been about sovereignty, but we should cut through the sound and ask ourselves what sovereignty actually means in the 21st ce ntury. What sovereignty actually means in the 21st century. For me, it is about being able to seamlessly do work, travel, study and do business in 27 countries. It is about pooling oui in 27 countries. It is about pooling our strength and speaking together ina our strength and speaking together in a world full of great powers. And ina time in a world full of great powers. And in a time of crisis, it is about pulling each other up, instead of trying to get back to your feet alone. And the European Union shows how this works in practice. No deal in the world can change reality or gravity in todays economy and todays world. We are one of the giants. Translation European Union is well prepared for brexit. We are aware this agreement is not going to resolve all problems, and we have been working closely with authorities and business in europe to ensure that they are well prepared. In our new budget, there is5 prepared. In our new budget, there is 5 billion euros ringfenced to help people and companies that are very much affected by brexit. Time to turn the page and look to the future. The United Kingdom is a third country. But it remains a trusted partner, we are long standing allies, we share the same value and interests, whether it be the co p26 same value and interests, whether it be the cop26 summit in glasgow or the upcoming uk g7 and italian g20 presidencies. The European Union and the United Kingdom will stand shoulder to shoulder to deliver on out shoulder to shoulder to deliver on our common global goals. Translation and at this moment marks the end of a long voyage. I would like to thank our chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, and his tea m negotiator, Michel Barnier, and his team for their tireless efforts, their endurance, their professionalism. I would like to thank david frost for having been tough but fair negotiating partners. And i am grateful to all our Member States of the European Parliament for their trust and support. I will fiow convene for their trust and support. I will now convene the college and, ladies and gentlemen, at the end of a successful negotiations journey, and gentlemen, at the end of a successful negotiationsjourney, i normally feel joy. But successful negotiationsjourney, i normally feeljoy. But today i only feel quiet satisfaction and, frankly speaking, relief. I know this is a difficult day for some, and to our friends in the United Kingdom, i wa nt friends in the United Kingdom, i want to say parting is such sweet soiiow. Want to say parting is such sweet sorrow. But to use a line from ts eliot, what we called the beginning is often the end, and to make an end is often the end, and to make an end is to make a beginning. So to all europeans, i say, is to make a beginning. So to all europeans, isay, it is to make a beginning. So to all europeans, i say, it is time to leave brexit behind. 0ur europeans, i say, it is time to leave brexit behind. Our future is made in europe. Thank you so much. Now, allow me to give the floor to chief negotiator Michel Barnier. Thank you, madam president. The clock is no longer ticking after four years of collective effort and eu unity to preserve peace and stability on the island of ireland, to protect the citizens and the Single Market, to build a new partnership with the uk. Thank you all, thank you all. This is the work of so many women and men, here in the commission, madam president , all the commission, madam president , all the services, and in particular the eu task force for brexit, with carol martinez, and all the team. And in the Member States, the council, the European Parliament. I also pay tribute also to the eu uk negotiating team, and the chief negotiator, david frost and his deputies. This process has engaged so deputies. This process has engaged so many citizens, businesses, stakeholders, and obviously so many journalists. Thank you for your patience and for your attention. Todayis patience and for your attention. Today is a day of relief. But tinged by some sadness, as we compare what came before with what lies ahead. He speaks french translation the United Kingdom has chosen to leave the European Union and the Single Market, to renounce the benefits and advantages enjoyed by Member States. 0ur agreement does not reproduce these rights and benefits, and therefore, despite this agreement, there will be real changes in a few days from now, as of the 1st of january, real changes for many citizens and many businesses, and that is the result of brexit. But we have also built a new partnership for the future around four pillars. Firstly, a new Free Trade Agreement, an ambitious and fairone, free Free Trade Agreement, an ambitious and fair one, free and fair trade. Without tariffs or quotas. And at the heart of this agreement, there will be new rules of the new economic game rules, the level Playing Field, as we call it, which for the European Union will be the start of a new generation of Free Trade Agreements. Secondly, an economic and social partnership whose scope will be unprecedented. It will cover aviation, road transport, energy, combating Climate Change, fisheries, where we have achieved reciprocal access to waters and to resources, and with a new distribution of fishing quotas and fishing opportunities which has been directly agreed, as is only natural, between the president of the European Commission, ursula von der leyen, and Prime Ministerjohnson, with taking account of britains new status as an independent coastal state, that is a state which will no longer be part of the common fisheries policy just longer be part of the common fisheries policyjust a few days from now. This agreement will require efforts, i know. The European Union will support its fisher and women, and that is our commitment. Its fishermen and women. The partnership also includes cooperation in the field of research and innovation, nuclear safety, space, in the framework of eu programmes, and in this field, our partnership will also include a nondescript nation clause concerning eu citizens which will apply to visas, to services, and to coordinate in social security. And on this point, i havejust two regrets in terms of our societal cooperation. Firstly, the British Government decided not to participate in the Erasmus Exchange programme. And, secondly, the level of ambition in terms of mobility assistance is not in line with our historical ties, but that again is a choice of the British Government. The third pillar of our agreement concerns the security of our citizens, and we have always said that our security of our citizens is not up for that our security of our citizens is not upforgrabs, that our security of our citizens is not up for grabs, and combating terrorism and crime requires close cooperation between the European Union and this great country, the United Kingdom. We will continue to Work Together in eight main fields, and this will entail two pre commissions, firstly respecting fundamental rights and respecting personal data. And, in this respect too, ina personal data. And, in this respect too, in a very uncertain and u nsta ble world, too, in a very uncertain and unstable world, which we now find ourselves, we regret the fact that the British Government has chosen not to at least, for the time being, has chosen not to agree to reach an agreement on foreign policy, defence and development. And then, finally, as regards the fourth pillar, the governance of this agreement, it is based on political dialogue and consultation, a Binding Mechanism for dispute settlement, and credible implementation of our legal orders with provision for sanctions when necessary , with provision for sanctions when necessary, including unilateral sanctions, which can be imposed quickly and effectively when necessary. As the president has said, the proposal will be put to the european council, bringing together the 27 governments and the European Parliament. 0ver four and together the 27 governments and the European Parliament. 0verfour and a half years, European Parliament. 0verfour and a half yea rs, we European Parliament. 0verfour and a half years, we have worked together to build this agreement stage by stage, firstly the withdrawal agreement, which enabled us to stabilise peace, consolidate peace in Northern Ireland, to protect citizens rights, to resolve financial issues. And then, in full transparency with Mutual Respect, and in the spirit of dialogue, we have continued working for nine months, which is a very short time span to reach this Partnership Agreement for the future, which is unprecedented in terms of its scope and complexity. 0ver these four and and complexity. 0ver these four and a half years, the European Union has shown unity. That is its strength unity and solidarity between Member States and with the European Parliament. It has been a great honourfor me to parliament. It has been a great honour for me to be parliament. It has been a great honourfor me to be part parliament. It has been a great honour for me to be part of this european unity. Thank you very much, we can now take some questions, could you kindly raise your hands in the system, as you now, if you wish to put a question . I see David Barrett is first, so let me give the floor to him. Translation good afternoon, can you hear me . Thank you very much. Studio well, as the floor is opened up studio well, as the floor is opened upfor studio well, as the floor is opened up for questions, we will come away briefly to show that picture of downing street, the microphone, the podium, already Boris Johnson downing street, the microphone, the podium, already borisjohnson due to address the media in the next little while. I will go to gavin lee in a moment, but i want to put on our screen before that what Boris Johnson, the british Prime Minister, has already tweeted. We had at number ten statement, but he has also tweeted a picture, and that statement that was released a little earlier, basically saying that everything the British Public was promised during the 2016 in the referendum, and in the general election last year, is delivered by this deal. I mentioned that he also released a picture in the last little while, arms aloft, saying the deal is done, so borisjohnson releasing that picture a little while ago. We will show you that just as soon as we get it. But lets bring on our european correspondent, gavin lee, who is in brussels for us in the studios there. Gavin, you we re in the studios there. Gavin, you were listening there to european leaders, and obviously satisfaction with the details and a deal that has been done, but both of them, Michel Barnier and ursula von der leyen, making the point that, normally, at the end of successful negotiations there isjoy, the end of successful negotiations there is joy, but the end of successful negotiations there isjoy, but this the end of successful negotiations there is joy, but this time only satisfaction and relief. As Michelle Barnier was stood there with his boss, the words we will rememberfrom this with his boss, the words we will remember from this are six. The clock is no longer taking, from mr barnier, which came his catchword co nsta ntly barnier, which came his catchword constantly for the last four and a half years at various stages of the deals were brexit itself. Going back over that, there was poetry in there and ursula von der leyen quoting romeo and juliet, she also put ts eliot in there. This is about, as well as framing it to say there are positives in this, this is a bare relationship, she said. There are tools agreed to respect competition so it is not distorted. Talking about having access and if britain wa nts ta riff about having access and if britain wants tariff free access, you cannot distort the rules. It was about in the last five minutes, the benefits of the deal, about being satisfied, because not just of the deal, about being satisfied, because notjust you and i watching, but the european capitals and other governments must look at this now and sign off on it themselves to send it back to ursula von der leyen. It needs European Parliament approval by the end of year and they say it will not happen as there is not time. If they sign off on it, 2000 pages also in brief, they will be briefed along the way, and then ursula von der leyen gives it the final ministerial statement to say it has approval and then it can go ahead. Looking at other details talking about how ursula von der leyen says there will be basically ape island half year period of full predictability for fishing communities, but she says have been agreed. She says we can achieve more than we do apart. They were first to it in terms of the optics of explaining the deal to the world. There was also detail about the Free Trade Agreement that they have managed to negotiate without tariffs, quotas, that absolutely at the core of everything, but also pointing out the areas where they will be continue to cooperate. Lots of positives in there from both of them. It is interesting, Michelle Barnier typically diplomatic, thinking the other negotiating teams but also talking about his regrets. He regrets that britain did not take pa rt he regrets that britain did not take part in university schemes, the erasmus scheme is of having education shared around europe, but also of not timely text when it came to the security of citizens and data for terrorism projections and so forth. There are issues he had and he makes it clear to say that this is not the deal that it could have been. The benefits of being inside the Single Market, in the eu, he was clearly sad to say this was not the same relationship, but by the sound of it, is the best they could have achieved. It is interesting because looking happy downing street statement, talking about being away from the lunar pole of the eu and making sure there is no room for the Eu Supreme Court ofjustice, how do you match that with the eu saying that we have not had the devil in the detail . That is the coming hours and days ahead. We will come back to you in the next little while. I will show our viewers to gain the scene in downing street, because we are not far away from hearing from Boris Johnson. Those questions, well, they did not take too many there in brussels, because the podiums are now cleared. A couple of questions, and of course the text, the agreement, detail, all of those pages, as we lose that shot, that is what, of course, those reporters will need to work their way through before getting to some of the pertinent questions that flow out of this agreement. Chris morris is still here with me. Chris, we heard from Michelle Barnier. It was interesting, amongst all the other detail, talking about the fact that this deal will not replicate what came before and underlining to people watching that still, come january 31 first, there will still be a huge out of change. Yes, and how people are trading and travelling across borders and on the relationship or broadly. The uk will not take part in the erasmus scheme in the future, that is for Educational Opportunities for stu d e nts to Educational Opportunities for students to study abroad, and the other thing is for agreements on foreign policy. He said they regret that the uk decided not to take part. The key point from ursula von der leyen was that this is her perspective, and we will hear the suddenly different way from downing street, eu rules and standards will be respected, she said, and we have effective tools to react if their competition is distorted, and that impact our trade. It is important to remember how big a deal that is, because as we heard from the statement from downing street, this is the biggest bilateral trade deal at either side has ever signed. It is worth £668 billion in 2019, bilateral trade, which is why so extraordinary that in the last few hours they have essentially been haggling over £60 million worth of fish. But when the uk wants to diverging the future, it now has the freedom to do so. The way the eu can respond to that and how truly way that gives two British Governments to do that, if it then has a negative impact on the businesses. Stay with me, little while ago, i tried to show you a picture that number ten had tweeted, there it is. That is the picture tweeted by Boris Johnson, with the words, the deal is done, after hearing that that free trade deal with the eu had been clenched beyond the 11th hour. We still await for those thousands of pages of the documents to be delivered and go through the detail in so many different areas of life Going Forward. That is where people will scrutinise the deal. And they will scrutinise the deal. And they will actually reflect underside, at the end of the day, it is a good deal. All of the focus for the last few months and year has been about the negotiations, about whether we would get a deal, whether they would be no deal, the consequences, and i suppose, at some stage, we will tilt our scrutiny to try and work out whether indeed what has been agreed between the eu and uk represents a good dealfrom between the eu and uk represents a good deal from both between the eu and uk represents a good dealfrom both perspectives. After downing street and helen is with us. We have had that picture on the screen and the podium already for the british Prime Minister, because so much detail to go through. We have learned a little there from what we heard in brussels and one of the things, fisheries, which was a last minute hitch. We know that for the next five and a half years, there will be a set agreement. There are those in the british fishing industry that wanted it looked at every 12 months. That does not appear to be in the final agreement. Now, and fisheries was one of the points that the negotiations were stopped on. You should picture Boris Johnson negotiations were stopped on. You should picture borisjohnson with his arms in the air and that marks exactly how big a moment this is. If you think about this and how much this has dominated uk politics for the last four or five years. Not that bad. Overnight, but the fact they have managed to reach this agreement in nine months, is the biggest deal either side has signed and there are no tariffs. They have managed to reach an agreement, that isa managed to reach an agreement, that is a big big moment. That is what we are seeing reflected here. There is the detail about fishing to go through and it will be incredibly important to look at the real detail of this deal as it comes through, to see what it does and does not do and where each side has given and who has won and lost on each side, at the moment, looking at the Bigger Picture, the fact there is one that will come into fails on the 1st of january when the uk leaves the Single Market and Customs Union,. Does not mean there will not be changes, but it will change less thanit changes, but it will change less than it would have done if we had left without a deal. Taken through the mechanics. Parliament must vote on what has been agreed. When will that happen . We are expecting that mps will be recalled at some point next week. It usually takes about two days also to get them put back, so we are thinking next week that will happen. December 31 is the last av uk is in the Single Market and Customs Union, so will have to be before then. There will be a lot to digests, 2000 pages is a lot for them to digests with the festive turkey and mince pike. They will have to look at that and then they will be called back to westminster next week to vote on it. There were some positive noises from Boris Johnson from some of his brexiteer mps who have been briefed on the detail. They were making some pretty positive noises about supporting it. Labour has also strongly suggested that it would need to look at the detail but that it was minded to support a deal as that was more in the National Interest than no deal. It is not looking like there will be any significant parliamentary hurdle when recall, but that is something that will happen next week and eve ryo ne that will happen next week and everyone will be going through it with a fine tooth comb. Nicola sturgeon has said, scotlands future is as an independent european nation. The agreement, even there we have reached it, is further adds to the stresses on the union, doesnt it . Yes, and as i was saying, because we have a deal, but does not mean that all of the issues that have so dominated uk politics for the last few years are going to go away, and particularly we have seen that in terms of the stresses and strains put on the union and scotlands position regarding the eu in contrast to what the government here in westminster has been saying all along. There are scottish elections next year so we will expect to see that to keep on dominating when it comes to the political agenda there. These issues will not go away overnight and they have brought up some really fundamental things about the uk and politics within the uk. That sort of thing does not just politics within the uk. That sort of thing does notjust disappear. The fa ct we thing does notjust disappear. The fact we have a deal to get through to the next bit, that is a big moment for now. Yes, we had ursula von der leyen talking about sovereignty, the issue that has dominated so much here in the uk and they spoke about what they thought sovereignty meant. Boris johnson a p pa re ntly sovereignty meant. Boris johnson apparently just approaching the microphones in number ten, so lets put the picture up and stand up and hear from the put the picture up and stand up and hearfrom the prime put the picture up and stand up and hear from the Prime Minister. They voted to take back control of their money, quarters, and leave the European Union. Earlier this year, we fulfilled the promise and left on january the 31st with that oven ready deal. Since that time, we have been getting on with our agenda, enacting a points based immigration system that you voted for and will come into force onjanuary one, doing free trade deals with 58 countries around the world, and preparing the new relationship with the eu. And they have been plenty of people who have told us that the challenges of the covid pandemic ad made this work impossible and that we should extend the transition period and in care yet more delay. I rejected that approach precisely because beating covid is our Number One National priority. I wanted to end any extra uncertainty and give this country best possible chance of bouncing back strongly next year. And so i am very pleased to tell you this afternoon that we have completed the biggest trade deal yet with £660 billion a year, a comprehensive canada style free trade deal between the uk and eu, a deal that will protectjobs across this country. It will allow goods uk goods and components to be sold out tariffs and without quotas in the eu market. A deal which will, if anything, allow companies and exporters to do even more business with our european friends. And yet, it achieves something that people of this country instinctively knew it was doable, but which they were told was doable, but which they were told was impossible. We have taken back control of our laws and our destiny. We are taking back control of every jot and tittle of our regulation in a way that is complete and u nfettered. A way that is complete and unfettered. From january one, we are outside the Customs Union and outside the Customs Union and outside the Customs Union and outside the Single Market. British laws will be made solely by the british parliament. Interpreted by ukjudges sitting british parliament. Interpreted by uk judges sitting in british parliament. Interpreted by ukjudges sitting in uk courts. And the jurisdiction ukjudges sitting in uk courts. And thejurisdiction of ukjudges sitting in uk courts. And the jurisdiction of the eu ukjudges sitting in uk courts. And thejurisdiction of the eu court ukjudges sitting in uk courts. And the jurisdiction of the eu court of justice will come to an end. We will be able to set our own standards, to innovate in the way we want, originate frameworks for the sectors in which this country meets the world, from sciences to Financial Services, Artificial Intelligence and beyond. We will be able to decide how and where we are going to stimulate new jobs decide how and where we are going to stimulate newjobs and new hope, with three parts, new green industrial zones. We will be able to cherish our landscape and our environment in the way you choose, backing ourfarmers, british food and agricultural production. And for the First Time Since 1973, we will be an independent coastal state with full control of our waters. With the uks share of fish in our waters rising substantially from roughly half today to closer to two thirds in five and a half years time, after which there is no theoretical limit beyond those placed by science or conservation on the quantity our own fish that we can fish in our waters. And to get ready for that moment, those fishing communities will be helped with a big £100 Million Programme to modernise their fleets and the Fish Processing industry. I want to stress that of course the arguments with our european friends and partners were sometimes fierce, they say is, i believe, a good deal for the whole of europe, for our friends and partners as well. Because it will not be a bad thing, in my view, for the eu to have a prosperous and dynamic and contented uk on your doorstep, and it will be a good thing, it will drivejobs uk on your doorstep, and it will be a good thing, it will drive jobs and prosperity across the whole continent, and i dont think it will bea continent, and i dont think it will be a bad thing if we in the uk do things differently or take a different approach to legislation, because in so many ways our basic goals are the same. And in the context of this giant free trade zone that we are jointly creating, the stimulus of regulatory competition well, i think, benefit us competition well, i think, benefit us both. And if one side believes it is somehow being unfairly undercut by the other, then subject to independent Third Party Arbitration and provided the measures are proportionate, we can, either of us, decide to protect our consumers or businesses. But this treaty explicitly envisages that such action should only happen infrequently, and the concepts of uniformity and harmonisation are banished in favour of Mutual Respect and mutual recognition and free trade. And for swearing that circle, for finding trade. And for swearing that circle, forfinding the trade. And for swearing that circle, for finding the philosophers stone that has enabled us to do this, i wa nt to that has enabled us to do this, i want to thank ursula von der leyen, president of the European Commission, our brilliant negotiators, led by lord frost, Michel Barnier on the eu side, as well as all of that lewis, tim barrow, lindsey appleby, and many others. Their work will be available for scrutiny, followed by a parliamentary vote, i hope, on december the 30th. This agreement, this deal, above all means certainty. Certainty for the Aviation Industry and the hauliers who have suffered so much in the covid pandemic, it means certainty for the police, borderforces, security services, all those we rely on across europe to keep us safe. It means certainty for our scientists, who will be to Work Together, continue to Work Together on great collective projects, because although we want in the uk to be a science superpower, we also want to bea science superpower, we also want to be a collaborative science superpower. And above all, it means certainty for business from a Financial Services to our world leading manufacturers, our car industry, certainty for all those who are working in high skilled jobs and infirms who are working in high skilled jobs and in firms and factories across the whole country. Because there will be no palisade of tariffs on january the 1st, and there will be no non Tariff Barriers to trade. Instead, they will be a giant free trade zone of which we will at once bea trade zone of which we will at once be a member and at the same time be able to do our own free trade deals as one uk, whole and entire, england, Northern Ireland, scotland, wales together. And i should stress, this deal was done by a huge negotiating team from every part of the uk, and it will benefit every pa rt the uk, and it will benefit every part of our United Kingdom, helping to unite and level up across the country. And so i say again, directly to our eu friends and partners, i think this deal means a new stability and a new certainty in what has sometimes been a fractious and difficult relationship. We will be yourfriend, your and difficult relationship. We will be your friend, your ally, and difficult relationship. We will be yourfriend, your ally, your supporter, and indeed never let it be forgotten, your number one market. Because although we have left the eu, this country will remain culturally, emotionally, historically, strategically, geologically attached to europe. Not least, of course, through the 4 million eu nationals who have requested to settle in the uk over the last four years and to make an enormous contribution to our country and lives. And i say to all of you at home, at the end of this toughest of years, that our focus in the weeks ahead is of course on defeating the pandemic and on beating coronavirus and rebuilding our economy and delivering jobs across the country. And im utterly confident that we can and will do it. Buy today, we were vaccinated almost 800,000 people. And weve also would today resolved the question that has bedevilled our politics for decades, and it is up to us all together, as a newly and truly independent nation, to realise the immensity of this moment and to make the most of it. Happy christmas to you all. Thats the good news from brussels. Now for the sprouts actually, it is now for the media, lets go to the media, laura kuenssberg, over to you, lets go to the media, laura kuenssberg, overto you, laura. Thank you very much, Prime Minister. We are yet to see the text of this deal, which we understand runs to some 2000 pages. You have presumably had the benefit of poring over every word or perhaps not every single word, but can you tell the public honestly, where did the uk give the most ground, and where did the eu compromise the most, do you think . |j compromise the most, do you think . think it would. It is readily intelligible, i think. Think it would. It is readily intelligible, ithink. It think it would. It is readily intelligible, i think. It would think it would. It is readily intelligible, ithink. It would be fairto intelligible, ithink. It would be fair to say that we wanted. We wa nted fair to say that we wanted. We wanted to make sure, for instance, that we got access, complete control of our fisheries from the get go, and thats just to say we had annual negotiations on fisheries within the shortest possible delay. The eu began with, i think, wanting a transition period of 14 years. We wa nted transition period of 14 years. We wanted three years, weve ended up at five years. I think that was a reasonable transition period, and i can assure great fish fanatics in this country, we will, as a result of this deal, be able to catch and eat quite prodigious quantities of extra fish. So that is why we are going to have to make these investments in the fishing sector. Thanks very much, laura. Lets go to Robert Peston of itv. Sorry, robert, you need to unmute. Prime minister, you need to unmute. Prime minister, you said all along he you want a canada you said all along he you want a ca na da style you said all along he you want a canada style deal, but what you have agreed means that we, the uk, have to follow eu laws on subsidies, tax, workers rights, the environment, or potentially incurred the imposition of tariffs that is right, isnt it . We just heard ursula von der leyen say she got her level Playing Field, which you explicitly rejected all the way through. You also just said there would be no nonTariff Barriers, but that is not right, from january to first, as a result of leaving the Customs Union, and michael gove has been warning about this, there is a tonne of new bureaucracy on British Businesses, lots of new nonTariff Barriers. That is not to say it is a bad deal, but you are not selling it correctly, are you . You are not selling it correctly, are you . You you are not selling it correctly, are you . You are mis selling it. Well, i will respectfully disagree with you, because there is indeed a clause in the deal which is nothing like as damaging as it was and it is, in my view, neutralised, which says that if either country feels that the other is in some way undercutting or dumping in some way, then subject to arbitration and provided the measure is proportionate, and by that i mean independent arbitration, not by the European Union court ofjustice, but independent, they can, if they really choose, but on tariffs to protect the consumers and their businesses, and to give you an example of the kind of thing where that might occur, for instance, in the uk, we wanted to go further on Animal Welfare standards, and it might be that we do things, for instance, on how you rear pegs, banning sauerkraut and so on, that would incur extra costs for our pig farmers. On how you rear pigs, banning sow crates. We might, if the eu were at risk of undercutting us, consider imposing tariffs, highly unlikely, and it would have to be subject to arbitration, it would have to be proportionate, according to the arbitrator, and under no circumstances would we be in any way constrained, legally or otherwise, by anything that the eu did or chose to do themselves, no, furthermore, would there be any role for the European Court of justice. Would there be any role for the European Court ofjustice. And for people at home who have zoned out while i have been talking about this, let me tell you, this is a very long days march from where we we re very long days march from where we were a few years ago. You will remember, robert, when we were talking about having basically a common rule book with the eu, and having dynamic alignment with eu laws so that the uk was forced to keep step, and that has gone from this treaty in so far as the eu wa nted this treaty in so far as the eu wanted it, and there is no role for the European Court ofjustice whatever. So i think it is a great treaty, and as for your point about nonTariff Barriers, yes, i think it is important to stress what i am talking about is barriers on the grounds of, you know, your plugs wont work in our country, therefore they are banned or whatever. That kind of technical barriers to trade. There is a lot in the treaty to try to reduce all that kind of thing, make sure that doesnt happen. That isa make sure that doesnt happen. That is a good thing for businesses and consumers, and in that sense it is a great free trade deal, but i must stress to people getting ready for january the 1st that, you know, there will be change, so people will need to get on the government website, exporters will need new forms and everything else. People should be aware of the change that is coming, but it is also an opportunity, because for british exporters now, the whole world will be treated the same for export purposes, and i think that will actually galvanise our exporters to think more positively and dynamically about the opportunities that they have. So i must respectfully disagree with both the points that you made. This is a john bell canada style Free Trade Agreement of exactly the kind that this country needs. Jumbo. I think it resolves a long standing and very difficult problem. People said you couldnt be part of the free trade deal with the eu without being obliged to follow eu laws. If you remember, ithink being obliged to follow eu laws. If you remember, i think we were told we couldnt have our cake and eat it, that kind of thing. Im not going to claim that this is a cakeist treaty, robert but it is, i believe, what the country needs at this time and the right way forward for the uk. Lets go to sam coates of sky. You say this is an unprecedented deal that delivers your red lines and promises to the country. Can people trust that life will be better as a result of the deal and i want to be disruption, even in the short term . And can you guarantee the government wont end up guarantee the government wont end up reopening elements of the new relationship in years to come . Well, sam, really good questions. I mean, short term, as i said just now, there are things we have to get right, processes that maybe people asked to do that they need to be aware of, and i am going to say that that really is worth reinforcing. I do believe that the freedoms that this treaty wins us basically a new independence from the eu are worth having. But, you know, and so freeports, free trade deals, being able to do, as i say, to look after your livestock differently, improving your landscape in a different way, doing all sorts of things differently, regulating Financial Services differently, chemicals, all sorts of things where we may want to do things differently and better. But we may want to do things differently and better. But i would just say to people watching this, and im sorry for disturbing cars three, by the way two people watching this, i would say it is wanting to get freedom, winning freedom is a fantastic thing, and this is an important element of what we have done, but it is how we use it, how we make the most of it, that is what is going to matter in the months and yea rs is going to matter in the months and years to come, i have no doubt that we can do things with this treaty and with this new relationship, which i think will be stable and prosperous for both sides. Lets go to Tom Newton Dunn of times radio. Good afternoon, Prime Minister, and thank you. A couple of quick questions if you do not mind. Every deal means both sides have to compromise. Do you accept that you have compromised throughout the last months, particularly the last 11 days, perhaps your absolutist positions, but compromise is not a dirty word, do you agree with that . And can you address services . I have not heard you say much about that. 80 of the uk economy, you say some British Companies will do more trade with the evil. Woolly British Service sector, particularly the financial one, be able to do more or less trade . First of all, compromise is not a dirty word and unquestionably there are things that we have done to help our friends and partners to move things forward. I mentioned to laura where we got to on fish, we started out wanting a very short transition period of three years. They wanted a longer one of 14 years. We have compromised one of 14 years. We have compromised on that, five and a half. And on the Vital Services sector, yes, of course. They feature in this deal quite rightly, they is some good language about equivalents for Financial Services, perhaps not as much as we would have liked, but it is, nonetheless, going to enable our dynamic city of london to get on and prosper as never before. There is some good stuff about barristers, solicitors, lawyers being able to practice around the European Union. We will be able to continue to have massive and growing economic interpenetration, about the need for what i have always talked about, the lunar poll of eu law, and as i say, this is something that i think can benefit people on both sides of the channel. A healthy, dynamic and productive, happy stable relationship. That is what we are aiming for. Lets go to George Parker of eft. You mention the changes brought on january the 1st, i wondered if there was anything in this deal with the two sides have agreed to introduce any flexibility at the border to ensure no chaos at dover calais onjanuary at the border to ensure no chaos at dover calais on january the 1st . We both used to be reporters in brussels and have covered deep psychodrama of british eu relations for the decades. Nigel farage said today the war is over. Do you see it in those terms . No, i think, festival, on the border and measures, there are also measures in the treaty about trusted trader schemes and special measures on sanitary recognition and thanks to make sure steps to make sure that things flow as smoothly as they can. I stress there will be things people have to do. One of the rate. The eu was and is an extraordinary concept and was borne out of the agony of the second world war. It was founded by idealistic people in france and germany and italy, who never wanted those countries to go to war with each other again. And other countries. Belgium, holland, and others. In many ways, it was and isa and others. In many ways, it was and is a very noble enterprise. I do not recognise that the kind of language you talk of, and i think that the uks own relationship with it was a lwa ys uks own relationship with it was always difficult. We were always finding some of the language out an ever closer union, the idea of this political, this very dense idea of this ideology of endless integration, and found quite hard, george, and as a fellow brussels reporter, you will remember that there was quite a lot of friction involved. I think that what we have got here is the basis of a new long term friendship and partnership that basically stabilises that relationship. And, insofar as the uk needs to be and always must be, a great european power, a great european power, we are now outside the main body of the eu, but with us as an friend and supporter, but as a flying buttress, if you like, to make sure, as we have done so money times in the last couple of hundred yea rs, times in the last couple of hundred yea rs , we times in the last couple of hundred yea rs, we are times in the last couple of hundred years, we are able to amend our voice when it is needed and will be of value to our european friends and partners in a strategic way. That is what the uk will obviously continue to do. But i think the very dense programme of integration was not right for the uk. That is why it was right for the uk. That is why it was right to take back control in the way that we have. I think that this deal expresses what the people of the country voted for in 2016, and i think there was a wisdom in what they decided and i think that we will be able to go forward on this basis. Lets go to Gordon Rayner of the telegraph. Thank you, Prime Minister, and Merry Christmas for tomorrow. Can i just minister, and Merry Christmas for tomorrow. Can ijust ask, probably half the people watching this right now would have voted remain in the referendum in 2016, do you have a particular message for them . People today are tweeting that this is a bad deal, it is not what they wanted, they would rather have stayed in. What is your message to them . But i also ask you, we have had more figures today on covid and you mentioned it earlier, can you rule out another National Lockdown after christmas . Well, gordon, thanks. My message to everybody on both sides of the divide is, on that argument in 2016, i think it is now argument in 2016, i think it is now a long time behind us. I think most people i talked to, whichever way they were inclined to vent back then, just want it settled and want us then, just want it settled and want us to move on. I think this gives us the platform, the foundation for a really prosperous new relationship. I would be very excited now by this deal. This european question has been going on for decades, exactly what relationship we should have. This is a great new free trade deal, a trading relationship and partnership that i think will bring prosperity to both sides of the channel. And on coronavirus and the struggle there, obviously we face a very considerable, and from the new variant of the speed which it has been spreading, we believe that we will have to get through this tough period now if, as i have said many times, very tough restrictions with tough tiering and you will have seen what has been announced over the last day also about that. And much asi last day also about that. And much as i regret that, i think it is necessary for us as i regret that, i think it is necessary for us to grip this virus now to stop it running out of control in january, now to stop it running out of control injanuary, because we need to buy ourselves time to get the vaccine into as many arms of the elderly and vulnerable as we can. That is real way in which we will defeat the virus. It is tough tiering, community testing, and rolling out the vaccine, and will continue with that approach. I know that it has been very very tough over the last few weeks and i must tell people, it will continue to be difficult, not least because of the speed with which the new variant is spreading. But vaccine is going into peoples arms and there really is now, i think, peoples arms and there really is now, ithink, hope, and certainty that we will have it defeated, as i say, by the spring. That is what scientists still believe they are so confident of that. Thank you very much, gordon. Lets go to harry cole of the sun. Thank you, Prime Minister. Can you give us a more detailed are the security arrangements with the eu . Will be as safe next week with your new Security Partnership as we are today ona given Security Partnership as we are today on a given that brussels is saying they will lock us out of the light you data bases . Given they will lock us out of the light you databases . Given you have a lot of solar, how do you suggest we celebrate leaving the eu . You have locked us all up. celebrate leaving the eu . You have locked us all up. I leave that to you and i think i have done quite enough bass people around or recommending this or that over the last ten months also. But on security and Police Cooperation, i am absolutely confident that this is am absolutely confident that this is a deal that protects our Police Cooperation and ability to catch criminals and share intelligence across the european constant in a way we have done many years continent. I do not think people should have fears on that score, or indeed on any score. That could have a steward of the guardian. Lets go to helen stuart. Michelle barnier said that we decided to leave the erasmus scheme, that sent thousands of students to the eu every year. What would you say to young people who feel their opportunity to go to the eu and live and study there is been taken away from them . What is your message to keir starmer, who will have to decide whether to whip mps from labour to support your deal . En erasmus, it was a tough decision. The issue, really, was, as you know, the uk is a massive net contributor to the Higher Education in comic, because over the last decades, we have had so many eu nationals which has been a wonderful thing, but our arrangement basically means that financially the british exchequer loses out on the deal. Erasmus was all so extremely expensive. We are producing a uk scheme for students to go around world and it will be called featuring scheme and will mean stu d e nts featuring scheme and will mean students have the opportunity to go to European Countries at universities and other universities in the world. Alan turing scheme. Wa nt in the world. Alan turing scheme. Want people to experience the immense intellectual stimulations of europe, but also of the whole world. You also asked about how the opposition should vote on this. It is obvious. The opposition should vote for this excellent deal and i would strongly courage everybody to do the same. Thank you very much, everybody. Happy christmas to all. Thank you. Studio well, there, borisjohnson concludes that use conference. Starting by saying he was pleased to tell people we have completed the biggest trade deal yet. He talked about £660 billion. It means certainty, he said. We resisted the invitations to extend this transition period because of coronavirus and we have got what he described as a jumbo canada style deal. Thats straight back to downing street and helen is there. A clearly delighted Prime Minister, but concluded his initial statements by underlining that the uk would be the friendly ally, the supporter, your number one market, so trying to perhaps repair some of the damage over sometimes quite fractious negotiations over the last year. Yes, he talked about the uk still being emotionally and geologically connected to europe, even though we are leaving the Single Market and Customs Union next week. These negotiations have gone on for some time now and the referendum in 2016, this has been absolutely dominant. At times, the relations had been pretty fractious. He will be pretty relieved that not only has a agreement has been reached, a big moment, and we have had nine months to reach it, the biggest one either side has ever signed, zero tariffs and zero quotas, there is that relieved. But also, you can tell from both sides and the noises coming out, friendly and amicable. Borisjohnson said, we will still be deal with europe or the time and will notionally be connected to them. That be so much easier to do now they have found a common agreement and are effectively parting on good terms. It is not like the uk is walking away from europe entirely. They will be deal with each other on good terms because the agreement has been reached by both sides. Helen, he spoke for about half an hour and took questions, but for any viewers joining hour and took questions, but for any viewersjoining us on bbc news we have been watching a News Conference first from brussels and then downing street as the eu and uk conclude that brexit trade deal. A deal has been done, an Historic Deal that comes into effect onjanuary the 1st, so that deal has been done. Lets go back to downing street and to helen. In terms of the text, because we have the two leaders talking about the deal, when will we actually see the text . We dont have actually see the text . We dont have a timeframe for that yet as far as i know but that we expect in the coming days, because of course the Uk Parliament will need to be recalled and we expected to be recalled and we expected to be recalled next week to vote on the deal ahead of the 31st of december which is the last day that the uk is in the Single Market and the Customs Union, so they will need to see this before they can do that. There is quite a lot of text we expect, between 1000 and 2000 pages which will have a lot of the detail and we have heard what either side have to say about the deal with Boris Johnson saying it does deliver on all of the promises made in the referendum and in last years general election. You heard ursula von der leyen say from the eu perspective it delivered on what they wanted as well after these negotiations, so both sides are selling it as a victory and a lot of people will be looking at the fine detail of that 2000 pages, as to where each side has given ground and making their own whether they agree with that over the coming days. Their own mind with that over the coming days. Theirown mind up. With that over the coming days. Their own mind up. No immediate timescale on that but we expect it pretty soon. Boris johnson said in the early comments when he arrived at the podium that people said it was impossible but we have taken back control and the ecj jurisdiction will come to an end and he also said we will set our own standards which is a reference to the level Playing Field but he was pushed in questioning on that because we heard earlier from brussels that they were satisfied and confident that their eu rules had been set and if there was any divergence there would be swift ta riffs divergence there would be swift tariffs imposed. Yes, this was one of the key arguments in the latter stages of the negotiations, what should be done if the eu, if the uk wa nted should be done if the eu, if the uk wanted to move away from the current rules or diverged, as you put it, and the eu felt that was somehow undercutting them then how could they respond by smart there had been they respond by smart there had been the idea of imposing lightning tariffs. If the eu considered that the uk had moved too far, they could impose tariffs elsewhere. What Boris Johnson said when he was pushed on thatis johnson said when he was pushed on that is there is an ability to impose tariffs but that would not be unilaterally decided by the eu and it would be done by Third Party Arbitration, so they do have a mechanism but it is not an automatic one, so that sounds like the sort of areas where they might have reached areas where they might have reached a compromise and again we should get more detail on that when the documents come out. We also got a sense on some of the other compromises made particularly around fishing and we mentioned several times the idea of the transition period forfishing times the idea of the transition period for fishing that the uk wa nted period for fishing that the uk wanted it to be three years and the eu wanted it to be 14 and they hit on five and a half, and we have a sense on where the sites have moved to make this deal come together. The detail will come out in the coming days and we will see a lot more about that but to take a step back they have reached an agreement that will come into force onjanuary the 1st and we did leave it on the 31st of january and this is about a new trading agent from the 1st of january. It will not continue as it is now, and it will be harder to trade with the eu than it has been, but significantly less hard than if there wasnt a trade deal in place, so there wont be, for example, ta riffs so there wont be, for example, tariffs or taxes on goods brought in from the eu would have been if no free trade deal had been agreed and there will still be things like paperwork. Helen, i will come there will still be things like paperwork. Helen, iwill come back to you because ijust want paperwork. Helen, iwill come back to you because i just want to paperwork. Helen, iwill come back to you because ijust want to bring the latest in terms of the labour opposition here in the uk because they have put out a statement saying that since the election the labour party has urged the government on the eu to secure a trade deal because of the National Interest and we will be setting out our formal response to the steel in due course. They are due to have a meeting later in the afternoon to this deal. In terms of the mechanics, when he is the Uk Parliament going to vote on this. We dont have a set date yet but the expectation is that mps will be recalled to westminster at some point next week and of course there isa point next week and of course there is a finite deadline which is the 3ist is a finite deadline which is the 31st of december, which is the last day we are in the Single Market in the Customs Union so the vote would need to happen before then. We are expecting mps to be recalled, but as yet we dont know exactly which day that will be. Thank you for the latest air in downing street. For the last hour or so we were listening to the british Prime Minister borisjohnson who tweeted a photo earlier after those details that negotiations had concluded, with his arms aloft, saying it was done and we saw all of the questions in the News Conference they are before that we heard from the eu side and they held a News Conference first with ursula von der leyen and Michel Barnier making the statement of the details as they saw it, of course, the 27 members of the eu will have to ratify this deal. Lets hear a little of what ursula von der leyen hear a little of what ursula von der leye n ha d hear a little of what ursula von der leyen had to say. It is very important in this agreement, line by line, chapter by chapter, the Single Market will be fair and remain so. The e market will be fair and remain so. Theeu market will be fair and remain so. The e u rules and standards will be respected. We have effective tools to react if fair competition is distorted and impacts our trade. Secondly, we will continue co operating with the uk in all areas of mutual interest, for example, in the field of Climate Change, energy, security and transport. Together, we still achieve more than we do apart. And thirdly, we have secured five and a half years of full predictability for our fishing communities and strong tools to incentivise to remain so. Of course, this whole debate has always been about sovereignty. But we should cut through the sound and ask ourselves, what sovereignty actually means in the 21st century . For me, it is about being able to seamlessly do work, travel, study and do business in 27 countries. It is about pooling our strength and speaking together ina our strength and speaking together in a world full of great powers, and ina time in a world full of great powers, and in a time of crisis, it is about pulling each other up instead of trying to get back to your feet alone. And the European Union shows how this works in practice. And no deal in the world can change reality or gravity in todays economy and todays world. We are one of the giants. The European Union is well prepared for brexit. Obviously we are aware of the fact that this agreement is not going to resolve all problems, and we have been working closely with authorities and business in europe to ensure that they are well prepared. In our new budget there is 5 billion euros ring fenced to help people and companies that are very much affected by brexit. It is now time to turn the page and look to the future. The United Kingdom is a third country, but it remains a trusted partner. We are long standing allies. We share the same values and interests, whether it be the Climate Change summit in glasgow or the upcoming uk g7 and italian g20 presidencies, the European Union and the United Kingdom will stand shoulder to shoulder to deliver on our common global goals. A little of what ursula von der leyen had to say an hour or so ago. Lets go to our euro correspondent, gavin lee, who has been listening to that, and save to summarise that by saying satisfied but with a heavy heart . Yes for brexit watches and the history books, to let you know that 2 44pm this afternoon was the day the deal was done, 144 in the afternoon and they had been rallying around working at the time for the press conferences and we had some time to set this up. Listening to ursula von der leyen it is clear that she was trying to balance a tone which talked about fair and balanced, but saying she felt relief, quoting Shakespeares Romeo saying she felt relief, quoting sha kespeares romeo and saying she felt relief, quoting Shakespeares Romeo and juliet, parting being such sweet sorrow, quoting ts eliot, and saying we can finally put brexit behind us and the eu can move forward. All of the deals, they are presenting this with glass because it still has to be signed off by the cabinets and governments of the 27 other Member States who are yet to see the detail and she said there continues to be compromise, im sorry, continues to be co operation on transport, energy, Climate Change and there will be five and a half years of stability for the fishing industry because after that there will be a decision on a year on year quota. Michel barnier, the chief negotiator, probably took the six words people will remember, that the clock is no longer ticking. And he spoke as well to say that there were bits of the deal that he thought was the best that could have been reached but it wasnt anything like the uk had before and he said there we re the uk had before and he said there were two particular points of regret. One was the scheme for stu d e nts to regret. One was the scheme for students to go to different universities, the erasmus programme, but the uk decided not to participate and also for signing some of the security and justice details, he said the data sharing, he said that was crucial for him. So very different analysis from those two compared to the enthusiasm we heard from boris and to round up, we are having eu reaction and we heard first from the austrian chancellor saying that he welcomes the decision and will start to analyse it and then we heard from the dutch Prime Minister saying it was excellent news and he is going to want to look at the detail now and also the European Parliament, because this is the next stage and the president of the next stage and the president of the European Parliament saying that they have to scrutinise this because they have to scrutinise this because they have to agree to it. The idea was they would agree to it before a week tomorrow when the new terms start and it will have to be retroactive, but what happens now is the Member States need to agree and this goes back and will be what is called the provisional agreement which the council and European Commission have to agree on and will be written off, a written statement by ursula von der leyen probably in a few days time and we are even told there is a meeting tomorrow for all eu ambassadors on Christmas Day at 930 in the morning. Briefly, just to add to that, the italian Prime Minister saying the deal between the eu and the uk is good news and the interests and rights of european businesses and citizens are guaranteed in the uk and will be a central partner and ally for the eu and italy. You were talking about the ratification process and i suppose it has been greatly helped by the fact that right the way through Michel Barnier has been at pains to keep the 27 right up to date. It is unlikely to be very many surprises in the text. Thats a really good point, especially given that there wont be 23 translations for the official eu languages for the government to see. It will be legal text in english, so it does help that for months we have had groundhog weeks and months of similar issues and they have been co nsta ntly similar issues and they have been constantly briefed by Michel Barnier so they will have to be briefed on the latest overnight but it matters most for those eight Member States with coastal waters looking specifically at the fishing issues. We do expect that to be pretty much straightforward and we have just in the last couple of minutes heard from one of those leaders who is still in self isolation with covid, the portuguese Prime Minister, saying that he welcomes this as the uk is saying that he welcomes this as the ukisa saying that he welcomes this as the uk is a strong ally and partner and friend and we will also look at this deal. So i think the days to come, starting on Christmas Day for the eu side to get this prison visually ratified before next week. Provisionally ratified. ratified before next week. Provisionally ratified. I will be talking to liam fox the former trade secretary for the uk in a moment too but i want to speak to chris morris who has been sitting with me listening to those News Conferences and listening to borisjohnson in particular and was quite keen to just pick up on a few of the things that you heard. Chris, what particularly caught your eye . The deal is off very good news and huge relief for the businesses who felt and fear the consequences of no deal if they trade across the border, no ta riffs if they trade across the border, no tariffs is very good news for them. But mrjohnson said if anything the deal will allow British Companies to do more business in the future with our european friends. That ignores the fact that there will be more barriers to trade. There will be more bureaucracy at borders whether it is filling and Customs Declarations or safety certificates or Animal Health checks. There will be more bureaucracy and more difficulty. And in services in particular, a lot of the focus in the talks and negotiations has been about the trading goods but the british economy is predominantly a Service Economy and not all of those are export based, but those that are export based, but those that are will look at this deal and think there is no longer Automatic Access to our biggest market and nor is there automatic recognition of professional qualifications. That means if you are an accountant or a chef, or whoever, no means if you are an accountant or a chef, orwhoever, no longer can means if you are an accountant or a chef, or whoever, no longer can you automatically go on working every other country in europe so there more barriers to trade and both the bank of england and the office for budget responsibility have said that a deal of this kind will mean that the uk economy grows more slowly thanit the uk economy grows more slowly than it would have done if we stayed in the eu. So a relief for businesses but im not quite clear where the argument comes that they can do even more business in the future as a result of this deal compared to what they have now. Brief final question because you wrote a fascinating piece in the hours ahead of the deal being announced of ten things to watch out for and we covered quite a few already but areas like individual movements and what happens, any extra checks or insurances, data, product standards, security, just ta ke product standards, security, just take us through a few of those things in terms of what to look out for and what you have heard. A lot of the really detailed questions means we need to see the document, whatever it is, 1500, 2000 pages and until we see the detail written down we cannot answer those questions. One of the questions is on fishing and mrjohnson said in his press conference, correctly, that the uk share of fish in uk waters will rise over five and a half years from roughly half to roughly two thirds but what he said after that caught my eye. After that he said there is no theoretical limit and that is the point, it is theoretical. The uk has won the freedom to diverged from eu rules or the agreement it has with ee you if it chooses to do so but the key point is there will be a price to pay for that and potentially punishment or tariffs imposed in other areas of the economy. Just briefly, one of the thing, security, big issue for Police Forces around the country. Again, we dont know what has been agreed but we will no longer have the Automatic Access to all of the eu databases the Automatic Access to all of the eu data bases on the Automatic Access to all of the eu databases on things like fingerprints, criminal records, bulletins for wanted or missing people. I think both sides will try as hard as they can to move towards as hard as they can to move towards a situation which suits both of them. Obviously, as much cooperation as possible but it wont be quite the same as being inside the tent. Chris, thank you very much for both being with me and giving us that analysis. As promised, lets speak to liam fox, former International Trade secretary for the uk. Welcome to bbc news. Your reaction to what we have been seeing playing out both in brussels and here in downing street . Finally brexit gets done and it shows that the wisdom of applying a timetable to this. If we had extended the limitation period there would be further uncertainty for not just British Business but different sectors of the uk, so it has been wise that the Prime Minister set a deadline and we have got an agreement. I was always a constitutional lever. I always wa nted constitutional lever. I always wanted to leave the European Union because i believe people in the United Kingdom should determine who makes their laws and i think that is the fact that we now have no role for the European Court and that delivers on that very core promise which was central to the referendum. Interesting listening to ursula von der leyen address that and give her reflections on how she viewed sovereignty. For people watching both in the uk and abroad, what fundamentally now, Going Forward, will be different . I thought it was an interesting point you made about the Commission President who i thought was extremely gracious and balanced today. She said that her view of sovereignty was, and i quote, to seamlessly be able to do business, to travel, and that is not what we meant by sovereignty. The sovereignty argument of the United Kingdom was that we should be able to choose those of us who live under the law those who make the law and not be answerable to court beyond our borders. That has always been from the beginning of the heart of the european debate and that is now sorted. Will we cooperate . Of course we will. We will have huge areas of overla p we will. We will have huge areas of overlap in interest with the European Union and i think over the past few years theres been so much emphasis on the elements where we had differences that we have failed to focus on those areas of commonality, in the areas of trade as you mention, we have huge areas of overla p as you mention, we have huge areas of overlap in wanting to see reform in the world trade organization, liberalisation and Global Services and the uk will be a very useful partner with the eu and vice versa in pushing those global interests, so there is a lot for us to do and a great deal of reason to be optimistic following this agreement today. A really simple question. Will we be better off in the uk or how long will it take to get to the position where the economic hit is actually work through . Well we will be better off because we will be free. No, economically better off. When economically will be the uk better off . In terms of the economics it will depend, how quickly will the european economy grow to the rest of the Global Economy . How well will britain rise to the challenges of exporting more to the challenges of exporting more to the challenges of exporting more to the faster growing markets the world in asia and in africa . They will be the areas where our prosperity will be determined. Europe is a minority of our trade at the present time and is likely to shrink further as a proportion if britain rises to those challenges, so how prosperous will we be . That lies in our own hands and that is one of the great elements of self determination. One of the great elements of selfdetermination. That sounds like a punter. No, its not. How well he would be be in the European Union . That made assumptions about growth in the European Union itself as a proportion of global trade and assumptions about what was happening elsewhere. I never agreed with most of those assumptions. I think the proportion of the Global Market outside of europe is likely to grow now or stop how much will britain be able to take advantage of that . That will be determined by British Businesses getting out and seeking those markets overseas and the British Government through the department for International Trade giving them assistance, but this is a traditionally free trading country and we need to look to those expanding Global Markets is that is where our prosperity lies. Its great we have an agreement, tarot free, quota free with the European Union, negotiated an 11th months, a world record tariff free. Canadas agreement took 15 years. The agreement with the us and the European Union started in 2013 and is still not finished. We have achieved a quota and tariff free agreement in 11 months which is something that both sides should be proud of. It is a world record. A lot of territory to get through so let me get through some of it. In terms of what happens now because no doubt about it, we are right at the whisker of time running out to actually get to this deal. Should there be some form of implementation period to allow businesses to get themselves in the right place with whatever the new regulations that are due to take effect . whatever the new regulations that are due to take effect . I dont think thats necessary but we are waiting to see the detail and one thing we can be sure of this we will be spending the rest of our Christmas Holiday reading it and doing a great deal of reading and we will want to look at the text on both sides and we have agreed we should go ahead now because we have the agreement and we have had time to prepare for a lack of tariffs and for the limitation of tariffs which is not now happening. We now need to get that information to bit business as quickly as possible so they get used to the new trading environment none of us are quite yet aware of what the small print looks like and we will have to do have a good look at that over the next few days. totally understand that and i suspect virtually everyone i talk to in the next couple of hours will say the same thing. Ijust want in the next couple of hours will say the same thing. I just want to clarify in theory whether you were against any sort of period of grace and then implement the changes that they have to do. Would you be against it even in theory . We dont need the implementation period extended because that would require legislation in the uk and agreement between britain and all 27 governments and that will not happen in the timescale. So we willjust have to work our way through that. The level Playing Field, in those final weeks, an area of some dispute in negotiations, they have got to a place where the European Court is not involved in arbitration but ursula von der leyen absolutely clear in terms of the rules, the eu rules that would be stuck to and that there would be swift tariffs if there was diversions. Now that seems to bea there was diversions. Now that seems to be a little different to what the uk position was a few weeks ago. Again we will want to see the small print on that. What has been very clear and many others have argued forfor a long time is that clear and many others have argued for for a long time is that you cannot have frictionless trade with the Single Market unless you are in the Single Market unless you are in the Single Market unless you are in the Single Market. The question is how do you minimise that and you minimise that by staying close to those eu rules and the access price for getting into the Single Market. Should we decide to divert, you would expect the eu to then apply a price for continued access to the Single Market. You heard what chris morris was saying about fisheries. The five years is mapped out but after that it is theoretical. That does come into play, because so much fish goes into the eu market and they are talking about swift tariffs if we diverge markedly from their rules. Again, what i understand from it is there is a five and a half year deal where every year uk fishermen will be allowed a greater share than they have at the present time and after that period we would look at it again and it would be entirely possible for the uk to determine that only uk fishermen can fish in our waters but there are a number of practical elements against that. One is the size of the fishing fleet we have which wouldnt really be capable of doing that, and secondly most of the fish we catch in british waters is sold into the european market, not to the british market, because we have slightly different taste in fish and of course, these are elements that will be decided later on but thats perfectly normal in a trade agreement, there is time to implement change. In some of the areas where the variables might change during gnabry period. So our fishermen get more than they have got otherwise during that period. Despite what the snp say, we will get a bigger share of fishing over the next five years than we would have got if we had stayed in the eu. That is very clear. In terms of what happens more or less immediately, do you accept what chris morris says that there will be more checks and more bureaucracy for businesses trading into the eu bloc Going Forward in a weeks time . Well, yes because although there are no ta riffs because although there are no tariffs and quotas, yes, there will be some nonTariff Barriers and that is inevitable if you are outside the Single Market. But in return britain gets control of our legal basis. We gets control of our legal basis. We get our implementation of a point system for immigration which we promised and we are not subject to eu contributions, so the things promised in the referendum and were more importantly in the general election last year have been delivered and borisjohnson has ensured that brexit finally gets done. Liam fox, we are out of time, but thanks for joining done. Liam fox, we are out of time, but thanks forjoining us here on bbc news and giving us your snapshot reaction since the deal has been announced. Lets go from london to berlin and speak to our correspondent damien mcguinness. Since the details have been announced, or the headliner deal was done, what official reaction have you have there . Angela merkel has released a statement saying that she is delighted that the deal has been done. She described it as historic and she said she is very confident that the German Government will agree because as you mentioned earlier, the next stages that all Member States of the eu will have to go through the ratification process with their own respective parliaments. Now, Angela Merkels government will do this on monday. The cabinet will hold a telephone conference and that is the point at which, presumably, over the conference and that is the point at which, presumably, overthe next conference and that is the point at which, presumably, over the next few days they will look at the details and wading through these hundreds of pages of text and then on monday they will discuss their position. In this statement Angela Merkel said that she is confident the girl german guy will pass the deal because the commission has kept the Member States on site the German Government. And they have been kept informed every step of the way. And she said governments are not starting from zero looking at this, and the fact she was so positive about the deal and that she really has, even though shes not been negotiating herself, she has certainly been involved in the detail of what is in that agreement, soi detail of what is in that agreement, so i think we can safely say that next week germany will at least do the first stage of the process of ratifying the deal and i think you can sense in germany a sense of relief that a deal is there. Because of course, german exports and business has a lot of trade links with britain and if tariffs are introduced, that would hit the German Economy and headlines here already talking about a christmas miracle that a deal has been done. So it shows there will be relief in germany from the economic point of view but also from frankly the political point of view and this whole political headache which for most germans is just another problem ina long most germans is just another problem in a long list of problems, but that is now hopefully over and Angela Merkel also said that this deal forms a foundation of the next chapter of the relationship between britain and the eu which she said would still be close, whether or not britain is in the eu, it will be a close relationship. We will talk to Ian Blackford in a moment. One more quick question to squeeze in because borisjohnson was asked at the News Conference why one of the journalist, would people in the uk be safer . What is the view in germany in terms of those security arrangements Going Forward . germany in terms of those security arrangements Going Forward . I think generally it is seen in germany that any sort of brexit deal is less good than what was before, because britain is seen here in germany as a key security player and germany really wa nted key security player and germany really wanted to keep britain in the eu partly economically, but also for security, and germany will certainly be pushing for a close deal when it comes to security because britain is seen as a comes to security because britain is seen as a heavyweight here and germany is aware that without britains military heft the eu is wea ker britains military heft the eu is weaker and that is something germany is aware of, so looking forward, there will be other negotiations now when it comes to other issues such as security and certainly Angela Merkel will have that as a priority. Thank you for that. Lets talk to Ian Blackford, leader of the snp in the house of commons. Ian, welcome to our programme here, your snapshot reaction to a deal being done . M to our programme here, your snapshot reaction to a deal being done . It is a disaster for us reaction to a deal being done . It is a disasterfor us in scotland, we are being taken out of the Single Market and the Customs Union. Brexit has a ready cost us jobs and there is no question this will be something that will be detrimental to our interests. Lets remember 80 of our economy is service based, and there is no dealfor services here. Of course a deal was better than a no deal but lets not lose sight of the fact this is a hard brexit. We we re the fact this is a hard brexit. We were told way back in 2014 when we had a referendum on Scottish Independence of we stayed in the uk and our rights as eu citizens would be respected. That has ended as a consequence of this deal today, and of course i think there is real sadness that young people who have benefited in the past from the erasmus project are no longer going to be able to do so. The opportunity of social and Educational Opportunities to work collaboratively across europe to get an education in europe are being stopped, and that is the deliberate choice of the uk government. The membership of erasmus was there for the uk if they wanted to take it and they refused to do so, and it is a sad day for pan european cooperation, and it does mean for us in scotland that if we want to protect our identity and our rights as eu citizens then the only way we can do that is my scotland becoming an independent country. can do that is my scotland becoming an independent country. I will come back to that point because Nicola Sturgeon tweeted that more or less immediately after news of the deal was announced. But in terms of your overall assessment of what has been agreed between the uk and the eu, you are very negative about it, clearly, but isnt that pre emptive . We havent seen the text, we dont know the sufficient detail, do we, to make that judgment . Know the sufficient detail, do we, to make thatjudgment . You are right, we havent seen the detail, and there hangs a tale in itself because the devolved administrations havent been given any of the details. Where is the respect agenda we are supposed to be adhering to from the uk government . It is not there. But one of the things we do know from the communications that have come out already is that those in scotland who produce potatoes will be locked out of this trade deal. That will be devastating to many farmers up and down scotland and it is just many farmers up and down scotland and it isjust a demonstration many farmers up and down scotland and it is just a demonstration of the kind of challenges we will face. When we think about our seafood industry, just think about the form filling that is going to take place. We know from the seafood industry itself that the additional cost of that will be somewhere between seven and £50 million for that sector alone. Although there is a trade deal, this is not one where there are no barriers to trade across europe. Of course there are, and businesses i just about to see the impact on the cost of that. And in terms of fisheries, from what you can read between the lines, and i do understand about no one actually having view and site of the text, but do you think borisjohnson has sold out fishermen or safeguarded fishermen . Well, i think they have been somewhat naive in the way they have approached this with the talk about taking back control of our fisheries and full control of the seas. That was never going to happen, so i think borisjohnson and the scottish conservatives have said this will be a deal breaker for them, they have some explaining to do, because i think they have rather overplayed their hand as far as that is concerned. This was was going to be multifaceted and at the end of the day we need to make sure that our producers are looked after, but also not just our producers are looked after, but also notjust the producers but the processors, and those producing shellfish as well. This has never been as black and white as the uk government has made it out to be. We need to make sure that we say to the fishermen there is a Better Future for all of them collectively working together back in the European Union. You are never going to get what youve asked for from the uk government and that is what has been demonstrated in the deal today. You talk about the damage done to scotla nd talk about the damage done to scotland and scottish industries by leaving the eu, and yet in the next breath you talk about leaving the uk. How does that make sense . think what we have seen over the course of the last few weeks has been a recognition of the importance of not having a border in the island of not having a border in the island of ireland. The good friday agreement has led to the Northern Ireland protocol, and it does demonstrate that where there is a political world there is a political way to resolve these kind of issues. We are not talking about leaving the United Kingdom, we are talking about political independence. The trading relationship we have had within these islands will continue, because these islands will continue, because the opportunities for us to work collectively with our friends in europe, that is important, the door that has been close to many of these opportunities that we have to find a way back. It was interesting that ursula von der leyen was talking about sharing sovereignty across the 27 nations. Well, my message to europe is to leave a light on fast, because we want to be that 28 member, we certainly want to make sure we can benefit from the size of the european market, seven times the size of that of the uk. Having said that, i mean, it is potentially, theoretically, quite an elongated process tojoin theoretically, quite an elongated process to join the European Union. Exactly how that would work we dont actually know, but in terms of your representation in the westminster parliament, lets talk about that, because i know the labour opposition, they are meeting at the moment, they are due to have a News Conference in the next five or ten minutes, and that is the question facing the labour party. For the snp, how are you going to vote, in terms of when this deal comes to the commons floor . This is a deal that is not good for scotland, it is a deal that has already costjobs, it is going to cost opportunities, it freezes us out from the european market, texas out of the customs market, texas out of the customs market, stops freedom of movement, no question it is a bad dealfor scotland. Isnt the alternative no deal, which would be even worse . M is not, the alternative is staying in the singles market and the in the Single Market in the Customs Union. The deal we have. We have announced what we are going to do as we head into next week but lets be absolutely clear this is a bad day for scotland. We have been taken out of the European Union, now taken out of the European Union, now taken out of the European Union, now taken out of the Single Market and Customs Union, this is not in our interest and if we want to protect scotlands interest there is only one way to do that, by becoming an independent country in finding a route map back into europe. If the labour party doesntjoin you on the indications are they wont, it leaves you no where in terms of a parliamentary route at westminster, doesnt it . The fact of the matter is over the course of the last few years labour has been found wanting when it has come to challenging this government over brexit and the cost it would have to communities up and down the country. I think when you look back to the last election in scotland, we won 48 of the 59 seats, there is a very clear won 48 of the 59 seats, there is a very clear message won 48 of the 59 seats, there is a very clear message from the people of scotla nd very clear message from the people of scotland that we want to stay in the European Union. There is a way for us to do it. We will have to find our way. The labour party will do what it will do over the course of the next week, ourjob is to give leadership to the people of scotland, thats what we intend to do, and scotland, thats what we intend to do, and i want to say to everyone in scotland, for 21 years of devolution, i think what brexit has shown, what covid has shown, if we wa nt to shown, what covid has shown, if we want to protect our interests we need the power of independence. Our parliament has done well in giving leadership to the people of scotland and navigating your way through the covid crisis can see that in the Approval Rating of our first minister as opposed to Boris Johnson, it is time to find our own destiny as a european nation. We have to leave it there. Thank you for joining have to leave it there. Thank you forjoining us in giving us your immediate reaction. I mention the labour party, the main opposition here in the uk, they are due to give a News Conference of the next five or ten minutes, was the indication we we re or ten minutes, was the indication we were getting. Lets see if that timeline plays out but as soon as they start we will obviously take that life for you and see what their position is likely to be in the coming days. Lets pause because a lot of ramifications for businesses up lot of ramifications for businesses up and down the uk and internationally. With all the latest developments on that, over to you. Business groups, many of the uk business groups have been calling for a deal, so they have got that, the thing they really wanted to avoid was a no deal brexit. That seems to have been averted but now the devil is in the detail. Whether this deal will work for business across the land is something we need to look at in more detail, and we will talk to tagine you david, our global trade correspondence. On the face of it it seems like good news, in terms of actually we have a deal over the line. Yes, it is interesting, at this point, on christmas eve, we should normally be enjoying some christmas cheer. Instead of which the overriding mood in business seems to be relieved that there are certain more clarity about the trading arrangements in just eight days time. But obviously, as you say, they are going to have a look at the detail, and theyve got lots of questions. What we do know is that there will be no tariffs on goods crossing borders. That comes as a major relief and it will mean there will be less disruption, less impact on prices for example than there would be if they had not been a deal. There are things we dont know. For example, how much of a compromise has been made to get those things through. We dont know as well how wide this deal is. I mean, there are areas perhaps around services where there may not actually have been very much achieved at all. Financial services for example, many already expressing disappointment they are not seeing permanent guarantees of wider access, but having even this deal makes that easier to go about. And there is of course the longer term impact as well. Two things the Prime Minister said which have caused some raised eyebrows in the business community, first of all there will be no nonTariff Barriers to stop he mayjust have meant there will be no quotas on the number of staff you can put across borders, but when you talk about nonTariff Barriers, you tend to mean things like red tape and form filling, and of course the uk is leaving the Customs Union and the Single Market, so Customs Union and the Single Market, so there will be more of those, and they will have to contend with that, likely to mean extra bumps when it comes to trading, and that could impact growth and it could of course impact growth and it could of course impact activity further down the line. But the overriding mood as we go into Christmas Day is of relief, but they do want to see more detail. They are urging for a reduction to the red tape and also a grace period to help smooth out these arrangements, to make sure they have time to bed them in properly, dont forget longer term as well we have to think about the fact this gives them certainty to invest, and thats what we need, and for the economy as a whole, if we are going to recreate some of thosejobs a whole, if we are going to recreate some of those jobs that have been lost this year. The Prime Minister said it is a 660 billion deal in pounds, and it will be a massive boost to the uk economy, but in reality though, this is as he put it a canada plus style deal, but that still means the economy will grow more slowly than it would have done if we had remained in the European Union. How do you think business will react further down the line, 2021, 2022, how will we see the economy shaping up . That is a really crucial point. We had the Prime Minister talk about the fact that, if anything, this gives us more opportunity for us to do our business with our neighbours or our friends or however you want to put it, but in actual fact you are creating more hurdles as you say to doing trade. So yes, it is relatively speaking, it is going to be harder to do business than it is today, it is not going to be as hard as under a no deal, so there is that relief element, which means that growth will not be impacted by as much, but economists out there, and this includes i should say the bank of england and the governments own scenarios in the past, have admitted that under even these arrangements, even though they iron out the worst possible risks of disruption, and ensure possible risks of disruption, and ensure somewhat of a smooth trading relationship, it is not as smooth as it is right now, and that will hinder growth in the years to come. When you are hindering growth from you talk about hindering frankly profits, and may evenjobs. So it is not the case that all businesses would have got exactly what they wa nt would have got exactly what they want in this pre christmas stocking, but ultimately at the end of the day they are all aware it could have been much worse. But we did see a rather muted reaction from the markets before they closed for christmas. They too know it is not quite as good as perhaps we are seeing right now. Exactly full stop one of the things ursula von der leyen pointed out is that europe is ready for brexit. Our businesses across europe ready for brexit as well . There will be a lot more form filling for them as well if they wa nt to filling for them as well if they want to bring goods into the uk too. It is. It is very much a two way street and it is really fascinating when you look at the European Commissions statement they have put out, and it is up there in black and white. There will be changes, and those changes will be big, and, you know, that is something that businesses on both sides have her to prepare for. If you look at the estimates of our own tax office here in the uk, hmrc, they are saying that could add roughly £7. 5 billion, thats what, about 10 billion to the total cost of businesses on both sides of the border when it comes to all the extra admin and form filling they are going to have to do, so this is something businesses have been aware they are going to have to prepare for. There were always going to be changes, deal or no deal. Some of them said we simply dont know what we were meant to be preparing for, we have done as much as we can come and even the government, there are some concerns come and even the government, there are some concerns from the government because my own watchdog that perhaps the government hasnt done enough to make sure that those borders can actually operate smoothly. But i guess we just have to watch and wait at this point. Eight days and counting, and of course in the meantime we will have a look at the detail of that deal. Perhaps, who knows, it may even come in time to enjoy it alongside our christmas turkey. A lot of reading for you in the next few hours. One point only brought up was we have started to do a trade deal with the European Union, we have done trade deals with many other countries in the last few months but our biggest trading partner is the us. Samir hussein is in new york. How soon can we expect a us uk trade deal to sort of help us overcome some of the issues we might be facing now . M really does take a very long time to negotiate these kinds of big trade i understand brexit gorse . Gorse gbm fast within 11 or so months, these kinds of by country trade deals do ta ke kinds of by country trade deals do take a long time to come to fruition, and all of this comes at an interesting time here in the United States because it is the last few weeks of the Trump Administration, and then of course it is the incoming biden administration. What we know from president elect biden is that he is really going to focus more on domestic issues here in the United States, he is going to focus on Us Manufacturing and rebuilding the american economy, so negotiating a trade deal with the uk is not really going to be at the top of his agenda. That said, we did hearfrom the American Government from the Trump Administration in an exclusive interview to the bbc that they are trying to negotiate a small trade deal between the United States and the uk, something to sort of get them over this hump, and they are really hoping to get this done in the next few weeks. Of course, the challenge is, like it is for this brexit deal, it needs to be ratified by both houses of parliament for brexit and here in the United States any trade deal would mean it would need the certification of congress, which may be hard to do in such a short time period. Thank you very much. Matthew, that is the reaction from business. Studio thanks very much, we will get more reaction in just a moment here, with adam marshall, the director general of the British Chamber of commerce. He is waiting to talk to us but before that we will speak to anna, a green mep from germany and the chair of the committee on the internal market in consumer protection. Thank you very much for being here with us. Your reaction to a deal finally being done on trade . Yes, on the one hand i am really, really happy that we have a deal, because i think it is the best for the citizens and businesses on both sides, absolutely, but of course i need to look into the details of the deal. We as the European Parliament need to look into the detail, because we havent seen the text yet, we cannot release if it is a good deal or not but from what ive heard, i think we can say it is probably good, a good deal. We have christmas coming up obviously which will add further delay. It could well be that actually in all the various capitals people dont really get to scrutinise, go through the text, look at the detail, find the weaknesses, the strengths, for a number of days. Yes, we as the European Parliament have already said already a couple of days ago that now the time is too short for really properly scrutinising it, so we said we have to do it injanuary, and february even, if this means a provisional application, which we are not so fond of, but i think it is important everyone involved that all amal all of the parliamentarians discuss the text because it is one of the major deals we re because it is one of the major deals were doing at the moment and of course the European Parliament is representative of the european people so we need to properly scrutinise the text. What are in your view the key downsides . The upside is obvious, that Going Forward there wont be tariffs, quotas, what are the things you will be looking out when you look at the text to see, oh, that is a problem, potentially . For the European Parliament since the beginning it is very important that we have a proper functioning mechanism for the so called level Playing Field for fair competition. For me as a green parliamentarian this was especially important when it comes to environmental standards, social standards, that we dont have a downward spiral in the future, but you have equal standards on both sides of the channel. We will look very closely in this mechanism, both ursula von der leyen and Boris Johnson basically said today there is level Playing Fields in the deal, so is level Playing Fields in the deal, soi is level Playing Fields in the deal, so i trust them but of course i want to really look in very close detail at the mechanism, how it is really written in the text to see if it is functioning in the end. Were you reassured that ursula von der leyen said very clearly that the rules, they have won out in terms of sticking to the eus rules as they have said all the way through, and if there is divergence, there is the potential for swift tariffs to be imposed. Did that reassure you . think we have to check how swift, because i know it from other trade deals that it might take a very, very long time if so called penalty ta riffs very long time if so called penalty tariffs are imposed, so i think we need to make it clear and sure that if there is a divergence from these standards, from the level Playing Field, that there is really a fast mechanism to put these penalties all these tariffs in place, and i think this is a crucial question for us. How important do you think, Going Forward , how important do you think, Going Forward, will the issue of trust be, because you have that whole flurry a couple of months ago and it was suggested the uk would be prepared to break international law. Did that delay actually getting this deal, does that have any lasting issue around trust, which will be important Going Forward . around trust, which will be important Going Forward . I mean, indeed, this was a moment of great shock to a lot of people in the European Union because we have the feeling, 0k, European Union because we have the feeling, ok, if we cant even, or if borisjohnson feeling, ok, if we cant even, or if Boris Johnson cant even feeling, ok, if we cant even, or if borisjohnson cant even obey one of the older treaties we did already, how can we be sure that in the future he will basically respect a new treaty . But i think the last weeks have probably increased the trust again. I think it is very important we have the deal now. This moment alone also increases the trust, and i really hope that, yes, we can now look into the future, into future cooperation and leaves these difficult negotiations behind. What is your gut instinct Going Forward . What is your gut instinct Going Forward . I what is your gut instinct Going Forward . I know what is your gut instinct Going Forward . I know there is no real scientific way of determining this, but what is your gut instinct about whether both sides can actually flourish Going Forward, the eu bloc without the uk, and the uk without the sort of arrangements weve had now for the last four decades . Ok, i still think of course that brexit is bad for the majority of people and businesses but i also know at the moment there is no return on that, but lets be clear that i still think it is the worst option to have basically the brexit. But nevertheless with this deal happening now, we properly have a good basis to work on future cooperation and probably in the future of the uk will decide to rejoin the erasmus programme, because it was really value added four students all over basically europe and also within the uk. I hope that probably people in britain but also politicians in britain will find out that some of the cooperation with the eu is actually very valuable and probably negotiate some future cooperation in other areas. We have to live it there but thank you for talking to us so quickly after that news has emerged that a deal has finally been done. Before we move on, ijust want to show you some pictures, because i have been talking about in the last little while the main opposition here in the uk, the labour party, due to give a News Conference. That is the podium all set up for keir starmer to come to the microphone to give their view. Of course both of the eu and the uk, this agreement has to be ratified by the various parliaments, and of course the issue for the labour opposition as to which way to go to actually back this deal, or to vote against it . That is what they have been grappling with and perhaps we might getan grappling with and perhaps we might get an inclination of the way forward when keir starmer comes to that microphone. The shadow cabinet had been meeting in the last couple of hours to dry adjust what we have learned from to die adjust what we have learned from downing street and brussels and i suspect they want to see the text which so far nobody has seen, but that is the scene, we are expecting to go there anytime soon are expecting to go there anytime soon live. Lets speak now whilst we wait to adam marshall, the director general of commerce. Waiting to talk to me. Thanks for joining us here on bbc news. Your reaction to a deal finally being done . I think businesses will give a muted and weary cheer after about four years of being on a brexit roller coaster. For a lot of them, there is still a huge amount of detail outstanding. They need to understand what these many hundreds if not thousands of pages of text mean for the way they trade across borders, and they got very little time in order to make the adaptations that are required, because of course all this needs to happen in the next seven or eight days. I was asking liam fox this, do you think there should be a period of grace to allow that implementation to take effect, for businesses to consume and understand what the deal actually means for them and then get themselves into a place . Well, chambers of commerce have been arguing for some time that we need to see easements and supplications from both sides to help businesses trading both in the uk and the eu settle into the new relationship. We need a period of weeks if not months when businesses get a little bit of an easier passage through customs, when they get help with some of the forms and additional paperwork they are going to have to deal with, because of course there are new and very significant nonTariff Barriers to trade that have come along with the change we are facing. So my hope is that the uk and the eu can look at sensible easements that help us through the next few months as we adjust to this new relationship. Borisjohnson was asked a Pretty Simple question in that News Conference, well wed be better off . What do you think . The uk has fantastic businesses and will do well over the long term and any kind of trading arrangement but there are some very significant barriers coming for business that they did not have to face in their trade with the eu. That of course represents 43, 40 4 of the uks overall trade, so 43, 40 4 of the uks overall trade, so this is not an insignificant trade, and there will be some businesses for whom it is very difficult. That is too early to say whether the uk will be better off or worse. It is not too early to say that businesses and many consumers and individuals too are going to face change from first january. Adam marshall we have to leave it there. Thank you for your snapshot assessment in terms of British Business after the deal announced both in downing street and brussels. You are watching bbc news with continuing coverage. It is time to just pause from all of that. I will be back in only a couple of minutes with the latest details from a variety of european capitals to get political reaction, to find out more what businesses think, what individuals think, but we are going to pause and catch up with a little bit of weather details here, and lets cross to that. Fine weather out there for most of us today. The clear sky this evening and overnight is going to lead to a widespread frost right across the country, so that means that Christmas Day is going to start crisp and cold for most of us. Heres the gap in the clouds. This is the weather front that brought the rain yesterday but we are in a window of quiet weather, cold air also streaming in temporarily from the northern climes, but Stormy Weather out in the atlantic is coming our way come boxing day. This is what it looks like in the short term, still a few showers, may be some wintry ones close to the north sea coast, but the large majority of us have the clear skies and the widespread frost, look how cold it is, down to 6 across parts of Northern England on Christmas Morning and a frost right down to the south coast of england as well. But lots of crisp, sunny weather on Christmas Day. However clouds are increasing in the north west of the country, and that heralds a change, and a big change, which is coming our way the following day. So fine on Christmas Day but boxing day looks like this. This is a big atla ntic looks like this. This is a big atlantic storm, a powerful one by them, called storm ella, named by them, called storm ella, named by the met office, and it will be approaching first the north west of the uk early on saturday, the rain you can see spreading into Northern Ireland, scotland, Western Areas of the uk, milder, around 10 degrees, at the same time the winds were really will be freshening. Very Stormy Weather i think by the time we get saturday night into sunday, and a warning from the met office, gusts of wind 70 to 80 mph in the south of the country and widely across england and wales, 50 to 60 mph, so that they take care. This is saturday night. Look at that squeeze the isobars, saturday night. Look at that squeeze the isoba rs, and saturday night. Look at that squeeze the isobars, and those strong winds following these isobars and the heavy rain, it really will be a punch i think for many of us across the south. Then by the time we get to sunday, so the day after boxing day, right in the centre of this where the winds are much lighter, and it will turn a bit colder as well. Goodbye. The European Union adds uk have announced a post brexit trade deal has been agreed. We have finally found an agreement, it was a long and winding road, but we have got a good deal to show for it. It is fair, it is a balanced deal, and it is the right and responsible thing to do for both sides. is the right and responsible thing to do for both sides. I am very pleased to tell you this afternoon we have completed the biggest trade deal yet, worth