Boris Johnson has told ministers to prepare for the strong possibility of a no-deal Brexit.
After hours of negotiation with European Commission chief, Ursula von der Leyen, Boris Johnson has warned his ministers to prepare for the very vivid possibility of a no-deal Brexit.
No-deal Brexit is now on the table, Boris Johnson said
The risk is that UK will be “locked in in the EU’s orbit”. The three-hour discussion with Ursula von der Leyen has not bridged any of the gaps between EU and UK. In particular, Johnson finds EU’s offer unacceptable, since it seems it wants to treat UK like its twin.
“It was put to me that this was kind of a bit like twins, and the UK is one twin the EU is another, and if the EU decides to have a haircut then the UK is going to have a haircut or else face punishment. Or if the EU decides to buy an expensive handbag then the UK has to buy an expensive handbag too or else face tariffs.
“Clearly that is not the sensible way to proceed and it’s unlike any other free trade deal. It’s a way of keeping UK kind of locked in the EU’s regulatory orbit.
“I do think we need to be very, very clear. There is now a strong possibility that we will have a solution that is much more like an Australian relationship with the EU than a Canadian relationship with the EU“.
This Australian option is an expression for trading with EU on WTO terms, meanings tariffs being imposed on a wide range of goods. In the meanwhile, EU Commission has published its no-deal guidelines. EU will allow UK airlines to operate flights across its territory and keeping roads open to British trucks for six months, only if Britain reciprocates.
