Many of you will be aware that yesterday the EU’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier wrote to UK opposition parties saying the EU is open to a two-year delay. However, UNN can reveal that Mr Barnier’s British counterpart David Frost is insisting that the deadline of the end of the year remains. Mr Frost has reasoned that the UK needs “political and economic freedom”.
Mr Frost has announced that it remains the “firm policy of the Government that we will not extend” and that “we would not agree to it” even if this is formally offered. The reason given for this for Mr Frost said is that: “I think we have always put a lot of emphasis on economic and political freedom at the end of this year and on avoiding ongoing significant payments into the EU budget”.
As UNN’s Oliver Down has repeatedly said, under the terms of Britain’s withdrawal from the EU, an extension to the transition period cannot be requested or agreed after July the 1st. Reports this morning are suggesting that Prime Minister Boris Johnson will personally hold crunch talks with EU leaders next month in order to outline an agreement that could be signed off before the July the 1st deadline.
This could be as a result of Mr Frost saying that said there is a “long way between” the two parties, due to disagreements on fishing in particular. Mr Frost also said: “To be fair, Mr Barnier has given a few public signals that he thinks this may not be a completely realistic position and we’ll have to see if they can move forward on that. Clearly, it’s not a runner for us”.
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Current Affairs Correspondent | My name is Oliver Down I am 22, and a staunch brexiteer. I am a Bristolian lad who studied politics in Leicester. I believe in free speech and accurate journalism and I won’t be afraid to give you “the other side” of the story!
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