Brexit News Live: Latest updates when Gove warns of ‘disruption’ in the future

Michael Gove previously claimed that the creation of free ports would be “one of the most important practical things” the government would do as a result of the Brexit deal. But it is worth noting that the UK could create free ports as a member of the EU.

In fact, the UK created several free ports, an area with little or no tax, between 1984 and 2012 before they were phased out. And there are still free ports throughout the EU. But as Brussels correspondent Jennifer Rankin points out, the European Commission is against them for the risk of money laundering.

Nigel Farage says Brexit supporters have the right to “celebrate” this week, despite their own preference for a no-deal Brexit. “The grassroots campaign to regain independence from Great Britain has triumphed against the establishment of Westminster,” he writes in The Telegraph.

But it appears to be preparing the ground to complain in 2021. It says the deal that provides for a quota increase for UK fishermen, equivalent to 25 per cent of the value of EU catches in British waters “is even worse that I feared ”.

He added: “No one should underestimate the feeling of betrayal in our coastal communities that this has inspired … No peace is perfect and Britain must be vigilant in the weeks and months ahead. We must also be prepared when necessary to deviate from the terms of this agreement. ”

Michael Gove has been selling the merits of the Brexit trade deal. When asked to mention the main benefits of the agreement reached, the Cabinet Office minister said: “One of the most important is that we can establish new free ports.”

Gove told BBC Radio 4 Today program that Chancellor Rishi Sunak would soon be outlining how duty-free ports would work, as well as how to get more investment in “part of the country that has been economically neglected.”

The minister also rejected claims that British fishermen will be worse off as a result of the post-Brexit trade deal. “I don’t accept that. I think it is fair to say that we are in a stronger position than in the EU and in the common fisheries policy, ”Gove said.

“In the common fisheries policy we were only able to access about 50 percent of the fish in our waters. It is the case that now we are getting a significant increase in that number, so by 2026 we will have approximately two-thirds of the fish in our waters. ”

Gove also said that British companies must get in shape to overcome all the new red tape that comes into force when the UK leaves the customs union. “I am sure there will be difficult times, but we are there to try to do everything we can to pave the way.”

Spain warns of looming problems for workers, tourists and businesses if a new, independent agreement on the Gibraltar border is not reached before the Brexit transition period ends later this week.

Gibraltar was not included in the Brexit trade deal announced on Christmas Eve, and Spanish Foreign Minister Arancha González Laya said she fears the long lines of stranded truck drivers seen in the English Channel will be repeated if not. an agreement is reached.

González Laya told Spanish state broadcaster RTVE: “We don’t have much time, and the scenes of chaos in the UK should remind us that we have to keep working to reach an agreement on Gibraltar. The Spanish want one, the people of Gibraltar want one, now the UK needs one too. Political will is needed. ”

Gibraltar Prime Minister Fabian Picardo said the post-Brexit trade deal “is a great relief,” but added that his territory is still at risk. Picardo said: “The clock keeps ticking. We continue to work, hand in hand with the United Kingdom, to finalize the negotiation with Spain of an agreement for a proposed treaty between the EU and the United Kingdom in relation to Gibraltar ”.

EU chief negotiator Michael Barnier has said he will publish a book in spring on the crucial role in the Brexit process. Something that I look forward to.

Barnier has given an interview to the Figaro newspaper in which he suggested that future legal disputes with the UK under the deal were “obviously a risk”. The agreement describes 19 specialized committees and four working groups established to implement the agreement and prevent problems from escalating.

When asked if he was happy with the deal he helped forge just before Christmas, Barnier said: “Yes and no. Can you be happy with a divorce? “

Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove has said the government expects the phased reopening of schools in England to take place from January 4, and that primary schools will then reopen.

“With secondary schools, it will be the case that next week only 11 and 13 year olds… those [children] I’ll be back, ”he told Sky News. “And also children of key workers and vulnerable children. Other kids won’t be back for a week after that. ”

Gove also said that the GCSE and A-Level exams will continue “absolutely” into the summer of 2021.

So will the prime minister be able to downplay any rebellion over the Brexit trade deal? Boris Boris Johnson is reportedly set to hold a Zoom call with MPs in an attempt to persuade the undecided, advance the big debate and vote on Wednesday.

The European Research Group (ERG) hardliners will take another day to discuss details with their lawyers, before announcing on Tuesday whether they back the deal.

“If there had been something ghastly in the text, it probably would have already been detected,” said a Conservative MP. Politician.

However, the ERG has complained about something. The group wants MPs to have a chance to speak in the Commons in person on Wednesday, after the president advised them to stay home. An ERG figure said The Telegraph: “In what would be a historic occasion, it would be disappointing if parliamentarians could not participate on the spot.”

The great conservative Lord Heseltine urged MPs and peers to abstain when voting on the Boris Johnson trade deal, warning that it will inflict “lasting damage” on the UK.

The former conservative deputy prime minister said he “will in no way share support for the legislation” but will not vote against it because the consequences of a non-agreement would be even more serious.

But it is still likely to go through both houses, as Labor leader Keir Starmer has ordered his MPs to vote for the “thin” treaty because the only other option is a chaotic exit without a trade deal.

Reports this morning suggest that Starmer is facing a rebellion from dozens of his MPs, who would prefer to abstain or vote against the deal. A couple of junior shadow ministers are said to be hesitating on the issue.

Fishermen will be “absolutely worse off” as a result of the Brexit trade deal, the president of the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organizations has said. Andrew Locker said the industry had been “betrayed” by Boris Johnson.

“I am angry, disappointed and betrayed. Boris Johnson promised us the rights to all the fish that swim in our exclusive economic zone and we have a fraction of that, ”he told BBC Radio 4. Today Program.

“We are absolutely worse. When we were inside the EU, we used to trade fish with the EU. We used to trade things we didn’t use for fish they didn’t use and that allowed us to put together an annual fishing plan.

“What we have now is a fraction of what we were promised through Brexit. We are really, really going to struggle this year. ”

Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove has urged UK citizens to take out comprehensive travel insurance to cover health costs and to check their mobile roaming policies to avoid charges if they travel to the EU.

He also warned companies that time is “too short” to make final preparations before the UK begins negotiating with its largest trading partner and downplay what it said would amount to “some disruption” from January 1. .

“In just three days the Brexit transition period will end and we will finally have regained our independence,” he added.

A reminder of the disruption of the border seen before Christmas is not over yet. Around 200 truckers are still waiting to travel to France after a week of chaos on the English Channel border.