21 Dec 2020
Around 30 Brexiteer Conservative MPs could vote against or abstain over Boris Johnson’s trade deal with the European Union, if the prime minister agrees to a soft Brexit, or ‘Brexit In Name Only’.
Talks between London and Brussels are going down to the wire, with the transition period set to end on December 31st, 2020. Disagreement remains over issues including access to Britain’s lucrative fishing waters, with nations like France demanding the continued unfettered access the had under the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy before Brexit.
The Sunreports sources saying that the two sides had managed to whittle down the demand for a decade-long transition on fishing down to six years, but the UK’s negotiators are pushing for four. Despite the European Parliament setting a deadline for Sunday for a deal to be agreed, the “tortured” weekend for talks ended with an agreement to continue discussions on Monday.
Image: Talks have been continuing in Brussels over the weekend
With just hours before the latest deadline for a deal - midnight on Sunday - set by the European Parliament, Mr Barnier issued another update, again revealing little progress and continuing stalemate on fishing.
In a tweet, he said: In this crucial moment for the negotiations, we continue to work hard with David Frost and his team. The EU remains committed to a fair, reciprocal and balanced agreement. We respect the sovereignty of the UK and we expect the same. Both must have the right to set their own laws and control their own waters. And we should both be able to act when our interests are at stake.
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