UK parliament approves Brexit trade deal with EU as both sides look to future

[webfact]

UK parliament approves Brexit trade deal with EU as both sides look to future

By William James and Gabriela Baczynska

 

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson reacts during a debate at the House of Commons in London, Britain December 30, 2020. UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor/Handout via REUTERS

 

LONDON/BRUSSELS (Reuters) - British lawmakers approved Prime Minister Boris Johnson's post-Brexit trade deal with the European Union on Wednesday, as both sides looked to begin a new chapter of relations just days before their divorce becomes a reality.

 

Britain and the European Union signed the deal on Wednesday and the British parliament will finalise its implementation, ending over four years of negotiation and safeguarding nearly a $1 trillion of annual trade.

 

Both sides said it was a chance to begin a new chapter in a relationship forged as Europe rebuilt after World War Two, but which has often seen Britain as a reluctant participant in ever-tighter political and economic integration.

 

Johnson, in a specially convened sitting of parliament, said he hoped to work "hand in glove" with the EU when its interests aligned, using Britain's new-found sovereignty to reshape the British economy.

 

"Brexit is not an end but a beginning," Johnson said. "The responsibility now rests with all of us to make the best use of the powers that we regain, the tools that we've taken back into our hands."

 

Parliament's lower house voted 521 to 73 in favour of the deal.

 

Britain's Queen Elizabeth gave final approval to the legislation which enabled the government to implement and ratify the UK's trade deal with the European Union. The so-called Royal Assent was effectively a rubber-stamp for the law which passed through parliament.

 

"House of Lords is notified of Royal Assent to the European Union (Future Relationship) Act," the House of Lords said in a tweet after midnight.

 

The deal has been criticised on several fronts since it was agreed on Dec. 24. The opposition Labour Party say it is too thin and doesn't protect trade in services, fishermen rage that Johnson has sold out their interests, and Northern Ireland's status remains subject to much uncertainty.

 

Nevertheless, Johnson has won the support of his party's hardline Brexiteers - delivering a break with the EU far more radical than many imagined when Britain shocked the world in 2016 by voting to leave.

 

Long-time eurosceptic lawmaker Bill Cash said Johnson had saved Britain's democracy from four decades of "subjugation" to Brussels: "Like Alexander the Great, Boris has cut the Gordian knot."

 

Johnson said he hoped to end the "old, tired, vexed question of Britain's political relations with Europe" and instead become "the best friend and ally the EU could have."

 

NEW CHAPTER

Earlier, against a backdrop of EU flags, top EU officials signed the treaties struck on Dec. 24 to preserve Britain's tariff- and quota-free access to the bloc's 450 million consumers.

 

"It is of the utmost importance for the European Union and the United Kingdom to look forward, in view of opening a new chapter in their relations," the EU said in a statement.

 

A British Royal Air Force brought the documents, which bear the EU's golden stars on a blue leather folder, to Johnson who signed them sitting at a desk in front of his own backdrop of British flags.

 

"Have I read it? The answer is yes," Johnson quipped, holding a copy of the full 2,000-page document aloft.

 

Britain formally left the EU nearly a year ago and the new partnership agreement will regulate ties from Jan. 1 on everything from trade to transport, energy links and fishing.

 

After both sides have signed, the deal will be in place until the end of February, pending final approval by the European Parliament to make it permanent.

 

(Reporting by Gabriela Baczynska and William James; Additional reporting by Aakriti Bhalla, Editing by Guy Faulconbridge, Giles Elgood, Nick Macfie and Richard Chang)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-12-31

 

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[sanuk711]

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Edited December 31, 2020 by sanuk711

[Kinnock]

I heard The Queen had to stay up until the early hours of the morning because Boris was late with his homework.

 

And now the panic biying can start ..... are toilet rolls imported?

[Phuketshrew]

Well done Boris and team. Now the UK can look forward to a brighter future without the EU albatross impeding its growth.

[Loiner]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

The opposition Labour Party say it is too thin...

What is it with the  Remainers? The deal is too thin and Brexiteers are too thick?? 

 

They’ve never really understood the whole concept of Brexit, but still will not shut up about it. 

[candide]

It seems to be a good deal for the EU. EU manufacturers can go on exporting products without tariff and UK export of services to the EU will not be as easy as before. UK is kept as a peripheral actor with no more influence on EU's decisions.

A large share of fishing rights is protected for some time and we will still be able to use Netscape! ????

[CorpusChristie]

3 minutes ago, candide said:

. UK is kept as a peripheral actor with no more influence on EU's decisions.

 

 

  Thats the view from your side of the Channel , we view it as the E.U not longer telling us what we should be doing 

[puipuitom]

54 minutes ago, candide said:

It seems to be a good deal for the EU. EU manufacturers can go on exporting products without tariff and UK export of services to the EU will not be as easy as before. UK is kept as a peripheral actor with no more influence on EU's decisions.

A large share of fishing rights is protected for some time and we will still be able to use Netscape! ????

"As the British voter overwhelmingly in a land slide voted for" was always told by the Brexiteers, as.. there is a Brexit.

Good luck.

[RuamRudy]

1 hour ago, Loiner said:

What is it with the  Remainers? The deal is too thin and Brexiteers are too thick?? 

 

They’ve never really understood the whole concept of Brexit, but still will not shut up about it. 

 

Facts are facts - as they say, you can't polish a turd no matter how hard the spin doctors try.

[CorpusChristie]

6 minutes ago, puipuitom said:

"As the British voter overwhelmingly in a land slide voted for" was always told by the Brexiteers, as.. there is a Brexit.

Good luck.

 

   Pardon, could you say that again ?

[fangless]

11 minutes ago, puipuitom said:

"As the British voter overwhelmingly in a land slide voted for" was always told by the Brexiteers, as.. there is a Brexit.

Good luck.

Enjoying Brexit slightly early perhaps are we?

[vogie]

11 minutes ago, RuamRudy said:

 

Facts are facts - as they say, you can't polish a turd no matter how hard the spin doctors try.

Especially when the remainers keep putting their foot in it.

[RuamRudy]

[CorpusChristie]

14 minutes ago, RuamRudy said:

 

   Should post that in the "Jokes" thread, it will probably get deleted from this thread 

[Loiner]

2 hours ago, Loiner said:

 

They’ve never really understood the whole concept of Brexit, but still will not shut up about it. 

You can easily tell by the number of 'confused' reactions they leave. They are permanently confused by the whole business.

[CorpusChristie]

5 minutes ago, Victornoir said:

Congratulations to Mr. Barnier who led these long negotiations with masterful hand. Finally, he did not let go.

Wishes of success for our "liberated" neighbors who will have to submit to European rules without the right of veto. Also undergo our goodwill for their essential supplies, losing the passport for financial services Congratulations to Mr. Barnier who led these long negotiations with masterful hand. Finally, he did not let go.
Wishes of success for our "liberated" neighbors who will have to submit to European rules without the right of veto. Also undergo our goodwill for their essential supplies, losing the passport for financial services golden egg goose, newly handicapped for their exports and ultimately all trade.
We will be able to assess the results in a few years but the forecasts tend to go from pessimistic to catastrophic.
Happy new year anyway newly handicapped for their exports and ultimately all trade.

We will be able to assess the results in a few years but the forecasts tend to go from pessimistic to catastrophic.

Happy new year anyway..

 

   Hi Europe , Happy New year to you as well .

We are very sorry that we will not be able to attend your New years eve celebrations this year , we have been invited to attend a party  with USA , Australia , India , Japan , all of Sothern Africa , Vietnam , Canada and quite a few others .

   Happy new year , all the same 

[Laughing Gravy]

1 hour ago, RuamRudy said:

Yes so is Alex Salmond's, wonder why!????

[Laughing Gravy]

A brexit thread and after 7 hours only a couple of anti brexit posts. After 4 and a half years finally some progress.

 

I wonder if finally people actually realise that the UK has left the EU and the shouting, sulking, screaming, stamping their feet and name calling has finally stopped and reality has set in.

 

Happy new year world. Good luck to those EU countries, you are going to need it in my opinion.

 

 

 

Edited December 31, 2020 by Laughing Gravy

[candide]

1 hour ago, CorpusChristie said:

 

   Hi Europe , Happy New year to you as well .

We are very sorry that we will not be able to attend your New years eve celebrations this year , we have been invited to attend a party  with USA , Australia , India , Japan , all of Sothern Africa , Vietnam , Canada and quite a few others .

   Happy new year , all the same 

Most of them have already been invited to EU parties for some time! Happy New Year!

Edited December 31, 2020 by candide

[welovesundaysatspace]

2 hours ago, candide said:

It seems to be a good deal for the EU. EU manufacturers can go on exporting products without tariff and UK export of services to the EU will not be as easy as before. UK is kept as a peripheral actor with no more influence on EU's decisions.

A large share of fishing rights is protected for some time and we will still be able to use Netscape! ????

As always, a good job from our negotiators. As for Little England, well, they’ve been told from the beginning. And they quickly realized, when their narrative changed from “we’ll be holding all the cards and have our cake and eat it” to “We don’t want an FTA, because Brexit isn’t about economic benefits”. Congrats for the blue passports and the sufferinity. 

[vogie]

Wow, there's more Euro sour grapes tonight than any Thai vineyard could ever produce.

[jesimps]

7 hours ago, Kinnock said:

I heard The Queen had to stay up until the early hours of the morning because Boris was late with his homework.

 

And now the panic biying can start ..... are toilet rolls imported?

Why panic buying? It isn't a no-deal Brexit.

[jesimps]

3 hours ago, Loiner said:

What is it with the  Remainers? The deal is too thin and Brexiteers are too thick?? 

 

They’ve never really understood the whole concept of Brexit, but still will not shut up about it. 

To see the reactions of the parties of the left, it's a good job it wasn't a no-deal, otherwise they'd be jumping off Big Ben.

[jesimps]

3 hours ago, candide said:

It seems to be a good deal for the EU. EU manufacturers can go on exporting products without tariff and UK export of services to the EU will not be as easy as before. UK is kept as a peripheral actor with no more influence on EU's decisions.

A large share of fishing rights is protected for some time and we will still be able to use Netscape! ????

"UK is kept as a peripheral actor with no more influence on EU's decisions."

 

The EU never listened to our opinions anyway, so things haven't changed there. In fact, the Continental European countries  never even conform to their own decisions.

[jesimps]

2 hours ago, puipuitom said:

"As the British voter overwhelmingly in a land slide voted for" was always told by the Brexiteers, as.. there is a Brexit.

Good luck.

Not a landslide for Brexit, but it was by a clear majority.

[jesimps]

2 hours ago, RuamRudy said:

 

Facts are facts - as they say, you can't polish a turd no matter how hard the spin doctors try.

The SNP look so pretty when they're angry.

[jesimps]

2 hours ago, RuamRudy said:

Don't recall Nigel Farage ever mentioning his desire to be included in the honours list. He can just sit back and be smug now that he has achieved his aim of Brexit.

[jesimps]

1 hour ago, Victornoir said:

Congratulations to Mr. Barnier who led these long negotiations with masterful hand. Finally, he did not let go.

Wishes of success for our "liberated" neighbors who will have to submit to European rules without the right of veto. Also undergo our goodwill for their essential supplies, losing the passport for financial services goose that lays the golden egg, newly handicapped for their exports and ultimately all trade.

We will be able to assess the results in a few years but the forecasts tend to go from pessimistic to catastrophic.

Happy new year anyway

 

Wishful thinking. You can carry on thinking that whilst you're mired in your own red tape. I lived in France for a couple of years and never in my life have encountered so much bureaucracy. Be nice also not to have to see Barnier's miserable French face every time I watch the news, always looks like he's just been sucking a lemon. Maybe he'll depose Macron and we'll still be lumbered with the pillock.

[kingdong]

10 minutes ago, jesimps said:

 Be nice also not to have to see Barnier's miserable French face every time I watch the news, always looks like he's just been sucking a lemon. 

Probably the ones he keeps finding in the bottom of his glass.

[Loiner]

49 minutes ago, vogie said:

Wow, there's more Euro sour grapes tonight than any Thai vineyard could ever produce.

Note to future winos: Don't buy any European 2020 vintages, they are sure to be sour.