Brexit LIVE: Boris and VDL 48 hour countdown - PM hints no deal is 'likely and wonderful' - Daily Express

Contingency plans have been escalated on both sides as a no deal Brexit has become increasingly likely with the transition period due to end on December 31. Huge sticking points on fishing, state aid and governance still remain with the Ms von der Leyen concluding earlier this week the UK and EU were still "far apart" on those issues.

Despite this Mr Johnson has remained confident the UK with thrive with or without a deal, although he has stressed the former is more preferable.

The Prime Minister argued while leaving the transition period without a deal was not what he had “set out to achieve” it would allow the UK to “do exactly what we want from January”.

He told The Times: “Unfortunately there are two key things where we just can’t seem to make progress.”

“I’ve got to tell you that from where I stand now it is looking very, very likely that we will have to go for a solution that I think would be wonderful for the UK, and we’d be able to do exactly what we want from January.”

The European Commission president also told EU leaders yesterday morning a no deal Brexit was more now probable.

Ms von der Leyen said: “I will not give percentage odds but there is higher probability for no deal than a deal.”

She has also made “repeatedly made clear” to Mr Johnson “the principle of fair competition” which would requiring the UK to remain tied to EU equivalent trading standards was a deal-breaker for the Brussels side.

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8am update: Tory MP demands assurance from Boris Johnson

Reacting to the news the Royal Navy could intervene in a no deal Brexit, Daniel Kawczynski has urged the Prime Minister to give an “absolute guarantee” they will be deployed should talks fall through on Sunday.

Mr Kawczynski tweeted: “In the event of no deal with EU on Sunday we must receive absolute guarantee from Boris Johnson that British naval forces will be deployed from January 1st to prevent illegal French fishing in our waters.”

7.30am update: Former Australian prime minister tells Boris Johnson "be careful what you wish for" with EU trade deal

Malcolm Turnbull, who was Australian prime minister between 2015 and 2018, warned Boris Johnson there was no trade deal between his country and the EU which meant "large barriers".

Speaking on BBC Question Time, Mr Turnbull said: "Australia has a deal with the EU on WTO terms and there are really some very large barriers to Australian trade with Europe, which we are seeking to address as we negotiate a free trade agreement with Europe

"But Australians would not regard our trade relationship with Europe as being a satisfactory one.

"There are very big barriers to Australian exports of agriculture products in particular and a lot of friction in the system in terms of services."

7am update: A no deal Brexit could cost Scotland's food and drink industry £2billion, an industry leader has warned.

James Withers, the chief executive of Scotland Food and Drink, said the ongoing uncertainty over the UK's future relationship with the EU means some businesses are already stopping selling products there.

Coronavirus has also caused "huge losses for businesses who are way more fragile going into 2021 than they otherwise would have been", he said.

He warned Boris Johnson walk away without a deal on top of that could push some firms out of business.

Scotland normally exports about £1.2billion worth of food to the EU every year, he said, adding having to resort to World Trade Organisation terms will be a "living nightmare for a lot of food and drink businesses".

Mr Withers said: "The impact of tariffs could effectively end most of our red meat exports to Europe.

"Scotch lamb would face tariffs of between 40 percent and 50 percent, beef over 80 percent.”

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2020-12-12 07:55:00Z
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