PM in danger of becoming Billy No Mates
Johnson accused of pushing UK to brink of economic war with Europe and the US
BORIS Johnson has been accused of pushing Britain to the brink of an economic war with Europe and the US as Brexit talks go to the wire.
The Tory leader is holding last- gasp discussions with EU counterparts as the likelihood of a no-deal end to the one-year postBrexit transition period grew sharply.
Former Labour prime minister Gordon Brown warned of the danger of failing to secure a trade deal.
He told Sky News: “We would be in an economic war with Europe that would cost us very dearly.
“Food, drugs and everything else would find it difficult to get into the country without tariffs and hold-ups.
“But we would also be in an economic war with America because there would be no chance of a trade treaty with America.
“So Boris Johnson is going to end up as the most isolated Prime Minister in peacetime history, with no friends around the world.
“He’s simply chosen a path of confrontation when everybody knows it’s in Britain’s economic interests – maybe not in Brexiteers’ ideological interest – but it’s in Britain’s economic interest to get a deal and to get a deal now.”
UK negotiator Lord David Frost, a former CEO of the Scotch Whisky Association, and EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier tried to reignite negotiations yesterday after they broke down on Friday.
Johnson claimed last year that his Brexit deal was “oven-ready” but sources say odds of an agreement are “no better than 50-50”.
The PM is pressing ahead with plans to vote on a law in the House of Commons today that would allow him to shelve sections of the deal he struck with the EU in January.
No10 has discussed the possibility of him confirming no deal in a televised address this week.
Much of a deal is agreed but there are said to be “significant differences” on fishing rights, the “level playing field” of following EU standards, and how any deal will be policed in the future.
Only 24 days remain until EU trade rules expire on December 31.
Johnson and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen have ordered a push to defeat differences.
The leaders – who spoke for more than an hour on Saturday – are due to speak again this evening to assess if an agreement is possible.
In a grim round of TV interviews yesterday, Environment Secretary George Eustice was left to admit what would happen if Britain leaves without a post-Brexit trade deal.
Eustice was unable to say if he would be able to keep promises made to the fishing industry and farmers, and he noted there will be an “impact” on food prices.
Fishing is a major stumbling block and is a vital part of the talks for Scotland’s future.
Eustice told the BBC he can’t “wire in” continued EU access.
He also attempted to downplay the impact of up to 20 per cent more tariffs on exports.
Labour’s Rachel Reeves said: “Government sources overnight are saying it’s the last throw of the dice – I say to the Prime Minister, this is not a game of snakes and ladders.
“This is about people’s jobs, about people’s livelihoods, the Government has got to deliver on the promises they have made and we’ll hold them to it.”
A senior ally of Labour leader Keir Starmer said the party could abstain on any deal.
But Unite’s general secretary Len McCluskey said Labour should back a post-Brexit trade deal if one is agreed.
He said: “Everybody wants Brexit done and the quicker we get it out of the way, the better.”
He will be the most isolated peacetime PM GORDON BROWN ON JOHNSON IF THERE IS NO DEAL