By Prime Minister expected to announce Brexit trade deal with EU
The announcement of a post-Brexit trade deal is expected this morning following a conference held by UK cabinet ministers late on Wednesday and talks between the UK and EU’s negotiating teams through the night to finalise the details of an agreement.
As the prospect of a post-Brexit trade agreement comes into sight just a week before the transition period ends on the 31st of December, MP’s are being “actively discouraged” from returning to Commons for the potential deal approval, as London and the surrounding areas sit in Tier 4.
Two senior parliamentary sources reportedly suggested that the 30th of December remains the most likely day for Parliament to meet and approve any Brexit deal, the date set for the next tier review.
The public have are being told to expect many virtual contributions and lots of voting by proxy.
Three “critical issues” still need to be resolved, those reportedly being:
Fishing rights, government support for industry and how a deal is enforced.
The two sides have one week to get any deal ratified in London and Brussels.
Irish foreign minister, Simon Coveney, told RTE Radio there had been “some sort of last-minute hitch” over the small print of the fishing quotas agreement, but that a deal was still expected later.
The prime minister is expected to speak to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyden by phone shortly.
Mr Johnson is then expected to hold a press conference in Downing Street to announce a deal.
