No-deal Brexit threat ramped up as No 10 says Boris Johnson will prioritise a clean break from EU
Downing Street has ramped up expectations of a no-deal Brexit by saying that Boris Johnson will prioritise a clean break from EU regulations and courts over smooth trade in upcoming talks with Brussels.
Mr Johnson’s official spokesman said there was “absolutely” no question of the prime minister extending talks on the future relationship with the EU beyond 31 December - after which the UK will crash out on World Trade Organisation terms if no deal has been agreed, with the potential for massive disruption to trade and travel.
The comments - which represent a significant hardening in Downing Street's position - came as France accused the UK of using the self-imposed deadline as a way of “blackmailing” the EU into accepting a bad Brexit deal.
The PM’s spokesman denied the blackmail allegation and said that there would be no extension to negotiations once the 11-month transition period agreed by Mr Johnson comes to an end.
“The UK’s primary objective in negotiations is to ensure that we restore our economic and political independence on 1 January 2021,” he said.
Asked later whether this meant that avoiding alignment with Brussels regulations and preventing any role for the European Court of Justice in ruling on future trade disputes were greater priorities than ensuring smooth trade after the end of this year, a senior No 10 source said: “Yes.”
The source added: “Our overriding objective in the negotiations is by 1 January to have taken back control and we won’t agree to anything that doesn’t deliver that. Which means no rule-taking form the EU and no role for the European Court of Justice.
“Our red line is we have to have taken back full control by 1 January.”
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