Johnson hails new business chances

Leaving the European Union’s trading arrangements offers the chance to “transform our country”, Boris Johnson claimed as UK businesses adjusted to the new bureaucracy.

There was little sign of disruption at the border as freight travelled to France and Ireland on a quiet bank holiday after the new arrangements came into force at 11pm on Hogmanay.

The prime minister said leaving the single market and customs union meant the UK has “taken back control of our money, our laws and our waters”.

Lower trade volumes on the New Year’s Day bank holiday meant there was little disruption from the additional red tape that now applies on exports to the EU.

Eurotunnel spokesman John Keefe said yesterday that services are running “very, very smoothly”.

Four truck drivers were turned away but all as a result of failing to produce corona virus test certificates, rather than new customs rules.

The Port of Dover said that “everything is running smoothly”.

It was a view echoed in Calais on the other side of the Channel.

Mr Johnson said the decision to leave the single market and customs union ended a “47- year experiment” of European Union membership.

The EU had provided the UK with a “safe European home” during the 1970s, but the country has now “changed out of all recognition” with global perspectives, he said.

Mr Johnson said the “great new deal” with the EU secured on Christmas Eve honours the “most basic promises” of the 2016 referendum.

Ireland’ s foreign minister, Simon Coveney said: “We’re now going to see the 80 billion euro (£ 71.2 billion) worth of trade across the Irish Sea between Britain and Ireland disrupted by an awful lot more checks and declarations, and bureaucracy and paperwork, and cost and delay.”

Ferry operator Stena Line said six freight loads destined for Ireland had been turned away at Holyhead due to incorrect paperwork.

The Northern Ireland Protocol means Northern Ireland remains in the EU single market for goods and will apply EU customs rules at its ports, even though the region is still part of the UK customs territory.

In other developments, Nicola Sturgeon said the EU should be ready to welcome an independent Scotland back into the bloc. The first minister said: “Scotland will be back soon, Europe. Keep the light on.”

French president Emmanuel Macron used his new year’s message to say that while the UK remains a “friend and ally”, B rex it was born of a European malaise and “many lies and false promises”.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak abolished the “tampon tax”, removing VAT on sanitary products, something which was not possible under EU rules.

Under the new arrangements, freedom of movement rights end and, while UK citizens can still travel for work or pleasure, there are different rules.

Passports must be valid for more than six months, and visas or permits may be needed for long stays.

The automatic right to live and work in the EU also ceases, and the UK will no longer take part in the Erasmus student exchange programme.

UPBEAT: Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the UK had “taken back control of our money, our laws and our waters”.

Lorries arriving at the Port of Dover on New Year’s Eve.