GOVE: UK FINALLY TO STAND ON OWN TWO FEET
A 24- HOUR monitoring centre that will help Britain “take back control” of its borders is being launched today.
Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove said the multi- million pound intelligence hub would keep track of people and goods travelling in and out of the country.
Mr Gove has told the Daily Express Britain “will finally stand on its own two feet” when the country breaks free of the European Union’s control next month.
He said: “Since leaving the EU in January, we have been in the Brexit transition period. Now that’s about to end.
“In just a month’s time big changes are coming, whatever the outcome of our current talks with the EU. The UK will finally stand on its own two feet.”
Mr Gove, who was confronted by an anti- Brexit campaigner in London yesterday, added: “We are taking back control of our borders, laws and money, and leaving the EU single market and customs union.” The Government
‘ Whatever the outcome the UK will finally stand on its own two feet’
admits changes to the way the UK trades with the EU mean it is likely there will be some disruption early next year.
But it says the Border Operations Centre will help smooth the flow of passengers and goods as well as improve security.
Over time, the centre will build up data that allows officials to analyse patterns and use them to work out how to target problems.
The Government insists that will make it easier for businesses and travellers crossing the border.
It will also help crack down on organised crime, terrorism and abuse of the immigration system.
Brexit transition arrangements end by December 31 but talks on the system to replace them are still taking place.
Fuelled by France, demands for widespread access to the UK’s fishing waters remain the main stumbling block.
Downing Street insists its negotiating position will not change.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s spokesman said: “We want to try and reach a free- trade agreement as soon as possible. But we have been clear we won’t change our negotiating position and we have been clear what that position is.”
However German Chancellor Angela Merkel has warned failure to secure a deal would set a “rather poor example for the rest of the world”.
Insisting the bloc should focus on securing an agreement rather than speeding up plans for a nodeal Brexit, she has urged European capitals to support EU talks chief Michel Barnier to broker an acceptable trade- off for fisheries and state aid rules. Mrs Merkel said: “Michel Barnier has been negotiating and [ European Commission president] Ursula von der Leyen has been increasingly involved in the negotiating process so we do hope that we’ll get a positive conclusion to this.
“Some member states are now becoming impatient. There’s not much time left. Governance level playing field plays a large role.
“Perhaps for some the most tangible are concrete questions, from the British point of view access to energy markets, from our view access to British fishing grounds.” Meanwhile the Government is stepping up calls for businesses to prepare for the end of the transition period.
Business Secretary Alok Sharma has written to nearly five million companies setting out the next steps to take to be ready for the changes and seize the opportunities leaving the EU will bring.
He said: “I have written to firms across the UK outlining the top actions they need to take and reminding them that the Government is here to support them as the transition period ends”.