We’re getting close to Brexit deal
BREXIT Secretary David Davis said yesterday he is increasingly confident of getting a good deal with the EU – and the chances of leaving without agreement have “receded significantly”.
He gave his verdict in a formal Government response to a report by the Commons’ Foreign Affairs Select Committee about the implications of a no-deal Brexit.
In a note published yesterday Mr Davis described progress so far with Brussels on settling key issues.
He wrote that the EU had now agreed talks could move on to detailing future relations with Britain.
And he said: “In the light of these milestones I am increasingly confident we will secure a positive and mutually beneficial deal with the EU, and that the prospect of a ‘no deal’ outcome in March 2019 has receded significantly.”
However, his department stressed the Government was bringing forward legislation and had allocated money “to prepare for all exit scenarios, including ‘no deal’.” The department also stressed, in response to concerns Parliament could vote against any final deal, that the Government was clear it would not withdraw its Article 50 notification of Britain leaving next March.
The department said: “The British people voted to leave the EU and we will deliver on their instructions.
“We are confident that we will get a good deal with the EU, one that Parliament will want to support.”
Separately, in Prime Minister’s Questions, Theresa May said talks with Brussels were progressing “with purpose and good intent and goodwill on both sides”.
She curtly dismissed an MPs’ claim she did not “have a clue” how to solve the Irish border issue.
The Brexit department and Mrs May’s confident assertions came amid ongoing doubts about what customs arrangements the UK will have with the EU.
Downing Street insists work continues on two main options, Mrs May’s preferred customs partnership or socalled maximum facilitation.
Meanwhile in Chile, the Foreign Secretary and leading Brexiteer Boris Johnson declared: “Article 50 makes it absolutely clear that the terms of the withdrawal have to be seen in the context of the future relationship.
“I just remind you of the basic fact of all negotiations, that is: “Nothing is agreed until everything is agreed.”
Mr Johnson’s hopes that Britain can quickly agree a trade deal with Chile after Brexit were given a boost by talks with his counterpart Roberto Ampuero.
The two met in the capital Santiago on the final day of Mr Johnson’s diplomatic tour of South America.
And at a news conference afterwards Mr Ampuero said that a post-Brexit trade deal was “a situation where we all should be benefiting”.
Mr Johnson also visited a hospital built by British private healthcare giant Bupa in Santiago and met youngsters involved in a computing skills project by the British Council.
‘In the light of these milestones in talks I am increasingly confident’
AMID all the turmoil and hysteria that so often surrounds our Brexit negotiations with the EU, it is deeply reassuring to sense a degree of confidence and stability and that is what Brexit Secretary David Davis is bringing to the table today. Mr Davis has reassured us that not only is the prospect of no deal fading, but that he believes we are on the way to reaching a positive and mutually beneficial deal with the EU.
That is exactly what we want to hear at this stage of the proceedings and Mr Davis is the right man to pull off such a deal. Led by our resilient Prime Minister, the Brexit team is working towards what is right for Britain. Now if they could only inject a little positivity into their everyday demeanour, all would be perfect.