[ad_1]
Boris Johnson has said “there is a lot to do” with the EU on trade, but says the bloc is currently insisting on terms that no prime minister could accept.
Johnson spoke at the prime minister’s questions before traveling to Brussels for final talks with EU President Ursula von der Leyen just before the end of the transition period on December 31.
In response to a question from fellow Brexiteer Sir Edward Leigh, he tried to assure his colleagues that “there is still a lot to do” with the EU.
Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
The prime minister cautions that he does not believe that any British leader should accept the current EU terms.
But, describing the difficulties currently facing the final talks, he added: “Our friends in the EU are currently insisting if they pass a new law in the future that we do not comply with, they have the automatic right to punish us.”
“And they are insisting that the UK should be the only country in the world that does not have sovereign control over its fishing waters.”
“I don’t think those are terms that any prime minister of this country should accept.”
He again insisted that the UK would “prosper tremendously” with or without a deal, a claim that has been disputed by economic experts, including the Office for Budget Responsibility and the Governor of the Bank of England.
Sir Keir Starmer said the prime minister had told the British people that “the chances of not reaching a deal were absolutely nil” and questioned why anyone should believe what he says about Brexit.
But Johnson said he had not misled the people as the government “had a ready-to-bake agreement that was the Withdrawal Agreement.”
He added: “Whatever happens from January 1, this country will be able to continue with our immigration system by points that we have put into law in compliance with our manifest commitment, we will be able to continue with the establishment of free ports.” Low, duty-free ports in places where jobs and growth are most needed across the country.
“We will be able to keep our promise to the British people and institute higher standards of animal welfare, and we will be able to make free trade agreements and we will also get our money back.”
Sir Keir also asked how many of the promised 50,000 customs officers would be on duty on January 1, but the prime minister did not respond directly, saying that the government has “invested £ 1 billion to prepare this country for any commercial relationship in on January 1 “.
Johnson added that the UK will become a “magnet for foreign investment” whether there is a deal with the EU or not.
