Boris Johnson was today served with a warning by Right-wing Tory MPs not to “fudge” Brexit to get a last-minute trade deal with the European Union.
Backbenchers are understood to have lobbied No 10 to say it will not support any deal that breaks red lines on UK sovereignty.
Steve Baker, a former chairman of the European Research Group, said: “If Boris does what I expect him to, which is to stand firm on Brexit, solve Covid-19, and renew relations with backbenchers, then 2020 could be a very happy year indeed.”
Talks on the future UK-EU trading relationship were restarting in Brussels today with just six weeks to agree and ratify plans before Britain leaves the trading bloc on December 31.
Gaps remain between the two sides over the EU’s demand to share fishing rights, “level playing field” measures aimed at preventing unfair competition, including excessive state subsidies, and whether the European Court should have a role in policing a deal.
UK negotiator Lord Frost said there had been progress in a “positive direction” in recent days. Ireland’s foreign affairs minister Simon Coveney said on Sunday a deal was “very difficult, but, it’s also very doable”.
