The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Brexit secretary will call for deal ‘like no other in history’
Politics: David Davis to launch talks for Britain’s exit from European Union
Brexit secretary David Davis will call for a “deal like no other in history” as he heads to Brussels to launch negotiations for Britain’s exit from the European Union.
Talks with the European Commission’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier will focus on the status of expats, the UK’s “divorce bill” and the Northern Ireland border.
But officials insisted the UK would continue to push for an agreement on trade relations to be dealt with alongside a deal on the withdrawal process.
It comes as Philip Hammond warned failing to secure a Brexit deal would be “very, very bad” for the country and insisted there must be transitional arrangements to avoid a “cliff edge”.
Mr Davis will be accompanied by a nine-strong negotiating team which includes the most senior civil servants at the department, officials from the Treasury and Home Office and Mark Sedwill, the national security adviser to the prime minister.
The Brexit secretary is expected to say: “Today marks the start of negotiations that will shape the future of the European Union and the United Kingdom, and the lives of our citizens.
“We want both sides to emerge strong and prosperous, capable of projecting our shared European values, leading in the world, and demonstrating our resolve to protect the security of our citizens.
“I want to reiterate at the outset of these talks that the UK will remain a committed partner and ally of our friends across the continent.
“And while there is a long road ahead, our destination is clear – a deep and special partnership between the UK and the EU. A deal like no other in history.
“I look forward to beginning work on that new future today.”
The agenda for the meeting was agreed earlier this month following preparatory “talks about talks”.
The European Commission released a statement at the time saying discussions would focus on “issues related to citizens’ rights, the financial settlement, the Northern Irish border and other separation issues, as part of the sequenced approach to the talks”.
But the government still wants to negotiate its future trade relationship with the EU “alongside” talks on the terms for Brexit.
A spokesman for the Department for Exiting the European Union said: “We believe that the withdrawal process cannot be concluded without the future relationship also being taken into account.”
Mr Hammond indicated temporary exit measures could be put in place for a couple of years before a final deal is sealed.
The chancellor said: “We’re leaving the EU and because of that we will be leaving the single market.”
Next year’s Queen’s Speech is being ditched by the government to ease the way in parliament for new Brexit laws. In a highly unusual move, the parliamentary session is being doubled to two years.
Commons leader Andrea Leadsom said it would give MPs and peers the maximum time to scrutinise legislation taking the UK out of the EU. It means the government will not put forward a new legislative programme next year.