Johnson: No deal will be a good outcome

● Government ramps up pressure on EU over sticking points in trade negotiations

Leaving the European Union without a trade deal would still be a “good outcome” for the UK, according to the Prime Minister.

Boris Johnson, in comments due to be made today, will tell Brussels that if no agreement can be reached by the October European Council, both sides should be prepared to “accept that and move on”.

T h e p r ono un ce ment s a r e the latest in a series of state - ments from senior Government figures outlining a hardening stance towards the EU.

T h e U K ’s n e g o t i a t o r L o r d ( D av i d ) Fr o s t a n d Fo r e i g n Secretary Dominic Raab both used inter views at the weekend to vow not to back down o n t h e r e m a i n i n g s t i c k i n g points.

Mr R aab said the negotiations had been “boiled down to t wo outstanding bones of contention” – control of UK fishing waters and the level of taxpayer support the Government will be able to provide businesses – and argued that neither “principle” could be “haggled away”.

L o r d Fr o s t i s d u e t o h o l d another round of negotiations in London with the EU’S chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, this week, as they look to find a solution to the remaining issues in order to have a deal readied for when the transition period comes to an end on December 31. But the Prime Minister will make clear today that time is running out if the two sides are to ratify an agreement in time for 2021.

“We are now entering the f i n a l p h a s e o f o u r n e g o t i a - tions with the EU,” Mr Johnson is expected to say.

“T h e E U h a v e b e e n v e r y clear about the timetable. I am too.

“There needs to be an agreem e n t w i t h o u r E u r o p e a n friends by the time of the European Council on October 15 if it’s going to be in force by the end of the year.

“If we can’t agree by then, then I do not see that there will be a free trade agreement b et ween us, and we should both accept that and move on.”

Mr Raab said yesterday that he would prefer to leave with a deal and that there would be “damaging impacts” felt on both sides of the Channel if no deal was reached.

It was reported that Downing Street has created a transition hub, with handpicked officials across Government d e p a r t m e n t s w o r k i n g t o ensure the UK is ready to trade without a deal when the transition period ends.

“I want to be absolutely clear that, as we have said right from the start, that would be a good outcome for the UK,” the Cons e r v a t ive P a r t y l e a d e r w i l l declare.

“As a Government we are preparing to be ready for it. We will have full control over our laws, our rules and our fishing waters. We will have the freedom to do trade deals with ever y countr y in the world. And we will prosper mightily as a result.”

But Mr Johnson will say that there is “still an agreement to be had”.

“Even at this late stage, if the EU are ready to rethink their position and agree, I will be delighted,” he is expected to add.

“But we cannot and will not compromise on the funda - mentals of what it means to be an independent country.”