The transition period will not be extended despite reports that the coronavirus pandemic was threatening to disrupt negotiations with the EU, Downing Street has said.
The Prime Minister was adamant that an extension will not be requested, and the UK will leave the bloc at the end of the year.
The news follows after face-to-face negotiations on the future relationship were scheduled to be held in London next week but were cancelled because of Covid-19.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman dismissed the possibility of an extension when asked at a Westminster briefing on Friday, they said: “In UK law, a request for an extension is not possible.”
The Withdrawal Agreement that passed Parliament in December included a commitment that ministers will not request any further delay past the transition period that ends on December 31.
As the coronavirus worsened in Europe, the second round talks were cancelled in their planned form and officials were looking at alternative arrangements including videoconferencing.
Meanwhile, even over in Brussels the EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier said on Friday he had sent a draft treaty showing an “ambitious and comprehensive” future relationship is possible for member states.
This was leaked to various news outlets, days before the UK Government was expected to receive the finished version.
The draft stated that the UK must abide by Brussels’ state subsidy rules and the European Court of Justice (ECJ) would hand down rulings to UK courts, according to those who had seen it.
However, the government have rejected accepting any deal that would sacrifice the sovereignty of the United Kingdom, proclaiming that we are now an “independent coastal state”.
Officials in the UK privately made clear any document that required alignment or ECJ jurisdiction would not wash.
PM Johnson has ruled out any kind of alignment with Brussels or accepting any ECJ jurisdiction.
In other news, it has been confirmed that the UK will leave the European aviation safety regulator after the Brexit transition period.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said UK membership of the European Aviation Safety Agency, responsible for certifying the airworthiness of planes, would end on 31 December.
The Department for Transport said: “Being a member of the European Aviation Safety Agency is not compatible with the UK having genuine economic and political independence.
“We will maintain world-leading safety standards for industry, with the Civil Aviation Authority taking over these responsibilities, and will continue to work with colleagues in the EU to establish a new regulatory relationship.”
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Editor-in-Chief | Carl D. Pearson has been involved in British politics and media from an early age, with the key knowledge of what it takes to run a news organisation for the 21st century. Mr Pearson, as Editor-in-chief, is responsible for supervising the daily tasks of publishing media and content to UNN’s website and various platforms.
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