By Ben Kerrigan-
Prime minister, Boris Johnson, has told Britons to prepare for a no-deal Brexit unless the EU makes a fundamental change in its approach to the stalemate trade and security talks.
In a televised statement, the prime minister prepared the Uk for a no-deal scenario on 1 January, while accommodating talks to continue next week as suggested by the EU’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier.
Johnson said he was making the decision to prepare for no deal with “a high heart”.
“A lot of progress has been made on such issues as social security and aviation, nuclear cooperation, and so on,” he said, but “for whatever reason, it’s clear from the [EU] summit that after 45 years of [UK] membership they are not willing, unless there’s some fundamental change of approach, to offer this country the same terms as Canada”.
He said that given there were only 10 weeks left until the transition period ended, he had to make a judgment about the likely outcome and to prepare the country.
“I concluded that we should get ready for 1 January with arrangements that are more like Australia’s – based on simple principles of global free trade,” he told reporters in a pooled broadcast statement.
“So, we have high hearts, and with complete confidence we will prepare to embrace the alternative and we will prosper mightily as an independent free-trading nation, controlling our own borders, our fisheries and setting our own laws.”
Johnson’s spokesman said the only basis in [the EU chief Brexit negotiator] Michel Barnier coming to London next week” if he undertook talks on the basis set out by Johnson, or would discuss practicalities over industries such as travel and haulage.
The spokesman said: “The trade talks are over. The EU have effectively ended them by saying that they do not want to change their negotiating position. The EU can either fundamentally change its position or we can leave on Australian terms.”
Johnson wants EU leaders to make the first compromise over the key battlegrounds of state aid and fisheries.
“[There] doesn’t seem to be any progress coming from Brussels so what we’re saying to them is only, you know, come here, come to us if there’s some fundamental change of approach.”
Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European commission, tweeted that the EU “continues to work for a deal, but not at any price. As planned, our negotiation team will go to London next week to intensify these negotiations.”
Georgina Wright, the Brexit lead at the Institute for Government thinktank, said: “This really isn’t news … Next week will be crucial”.
Manufacturing Northern Ireland, said moving to a no-deal Brexit was “reckless” and the public deserved better than “political games”.