[ad_1]
At the beginning of a week that Downing Street sources have called “the last hurray” in talks with the EU, sources close to the Prime Minister made it clear that there will be no prospect of abandoning the government’s key principles. There was a positive sign that deals can be made with Europe when Interior Minister Priti Patel struck a landmark deal to combat illegal immigrants crossing the English Channel. But firm words on Brexit mean the UK will not back down from the EU’s demands that it be allowed to continue looting British fishing waters or accept the so-called ‘level playing field’ demands left by British regulations ruled by Brussels. . The hard line came when British negotiator Lord Frost and Michel Barnier from the EU met yesterday in London to start a last intensive round of negotiations.
Yet even as the negotiating teams sat across from each other, high-ranking Conservative MPs and newly elected representatives from former Labor Red Wall seats made it clear that the prime minister will face a major rebellion if he betrays the referendum vote. .
Writing for the Sunday Express, former Conservative leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith urged Johnson to embody the spirit of Henry V in conversations.
Quoting Shakespeare’s play on the conquering English king, he said: “Boris must ‘imitate the action of the tiger; Harden the tendons, summon the blood, disguise the beautiful nature with a highly favored rage, and prevail.
He added: “A real Brexit, the kind that I support, the public supports and, yes, Boris supports, it will help us get back on our feet by freeing us from the dead hand of the EU and allowing us to move on. in the world again with your head held high. “
READ MORE: UK and France agree landmark deal to STOP canal crossings
He added that the people of this country “voted to leave because they wanted to restore what they consider to be our ancient birthright: sovereignty, the right to rule over our own country, especially in a country with Britain’s long and glorious past. . It’s as simple as that “.
Rother Valley MP Alex Stafford warned the prime minister that the outcome of the talks was a vital matter of confidence for many voters.
He said: “Millions of British people trusted the Conservative Party in the last election.
“Our Manifesto made it clear that a Conservative government would take the entire country out of the EU as one UK. He said that any deal should get us out of the customs union, allow us to set our own tariffs and make our own trade deal and pass our own laws and ensure that they are enforced by our courts.
“Our Manifesto promised a new relationship with the EU based on free trade and friendly cooperation, not on EU treaties or EU law.
“He promised that there will be no political alignment with the EU. We made it clear that a conservative government would secure a deal that would mean that the UK would be out of the single market and that the Court of Justice of the European Union would no longer have jurisdiction.”
He added: “We promised the British people that a Conservative government would secure an agreement that would regain control of our laws, regain control of our money, control our own trade policy, introduce an Australian-style point-based immigration system and ensure we have the total control of our fishing waters.
“The British people have waited patiently for four and a half years for Brexit to occur. I have full faith that our Prime Minister will deliver on the Brexit deal he promised to the British people. “
DO NOT MISS
Brexit negotiators said: “Grow up, admit you can’t reach a deal!” [INSIGHT]
EU ‘spoiled’ calls for end to attempts to seize British waters [ANALYSIS]
Brexit supporters lash out after Barnier offered the UK 18% of its own waters [REPORT]
With the coronavirus vote and spending review votes next week with possible conservative rebellions, Downing Street last night was eager to quell any Brexit fears among supporters of what could be a watershed week for the Prime Minister.
A high-level source insisted that the British side “is making it clear that it is not about to abandon its principles to reach an agreement.”
They pointed out that the UK would be fine if it accepted Australia’s rules without a formal agreement and an agreement with the EU was worth no cost.
“While we would prefer to reach an agreement, we can only do so if the EU recognizes our independence. Arguably, no deal is undervalued. “
The source also noted that Barnier’s offer to return 15 to 18 percent of its own fish to Britain showed that the two sides still have “major gaps” on difficult issues.
A government source said: “These figures are laughable, and the EU knows very well that we would never accept it.
“It appears that the Commission has failed to internalize the scale of change needed as we become an independent nation.”
The EU catches almost half of the fish in British waters and Barnier’s team has been told repeatedly that there must be a change in that situation in the future and that is something Britain intends to ensure.
“The UK team will settle for nothing less than a lot for UK fishing communities, ensuring for the first time in almost 50 years that we have control over our waters,” said the source.
There is also a high level of frustration in the British team over the EU delaying tactics which have meant that the text was only considered at the end of October, after many wasted months.
British negotiators have pointed out that the EU still does not seem to understand that Britain cannot accept a deal that undermines our new status as an independent country.
A source close to the negotiations added: “In the coming days we will continue to negotiate with creativity and intensity. We hope that the EU will come up with new ideas because what we have seen so far is not enough. They must understand that we are not going to sell our sovereignty ”.
[ad_2]
