PM claims EU deal ‘there to be done’

ABrexit deal with the EU remains “there to be done”, Boris Johnson has said, as trade negotiations resume today.

The prime minister said “the broad outlines are pretty clear” and that European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen “totally agrees”.

Mr Johnson added there is also “a good chance” of the UK securing a trade deal with the United States following Joe Bid en’ s presidential election win.

It comes as the prime minister and Ms von der Leyen agreed during a phone call on Saturday to “redouble efforts” to reach a UK- EU trade deal and signed off on talks continuing this week.

Downing Street said the prime minister had told his Brussels counterpart there remained “significant differences” in the UK-EU negotiations, with the two sides continuing to be apart on their positions over fishing rights and a level playing field agreement.

The call follows two weeks of intensified talks between the UK’s chief negotiator Lord Frost and his European Union equivalent Michel Barnier.

Speaking about the negotiations, Mr Johnson said: “I’ve always been a great enthusiast for a trade deal with our European friends and partners, I think it is there to be done.

“The broad outlines are pretty clear, we just need to get on and do it if we can.

“I’ve said that to Ursula von der Leyen just yesterday and she totally agrees with me.

“On the trade deal with the US, I am a keen student of the United States trade policy and they’re tough negotiators, and I’ve never believed this was going to be something that was going to be a complete pushover under any US administration.

“I think there is a good chance we’ll do something – Liz Truss and her team’s made a huge amount of progress – and we’ ll get on.”

Earlier yesterday, Dominic Raab said he was “confident” the Northern Ireland hurdles could be overcome to ensure the UK achieves a trade deal.

The foreign secretary added he believed the UK Government would be able to allay American fears and navigate the Northern Ireland issue to satisfy allies in the US following president- elect Biden’s victory.

Mr Rabb told BBC1’s Andrew Marr Show: “We’ve been very clear we are absolutely committed to respect the Good Friday Agreement but our argument is, and it was good to have the opportunity when I was in Washington to explain, it is the EU who has put pressure on that with the approach it has taken.

“We want to resolve all those issues with the EU – obviously the negotiations are ongoing, there is a good chance of a deal if we get the flexibility from the EU on fisheries and levelplaying field.

“I’m confident we will navigate all of those issues sensitively, correctly and, as I said, we listen very carefully to our American friends, particularly on the Hill and in the Irish lobby – they feel very invested in the Good Friday Agreement, we understand that and I pay tribute to what George Mitchell and Bill Clinton did – but it is not the UK which is putting it at risk, it is the approach of the EU.”

Asked whether a trade deal could be secured with the EU by the end of the week, the foreign secretary added: “What I would say is that it still boils down to two basic issues.

“There is progress being made but we’ve got to see whether it is enough to get us over the line.”

CONFIDENT: Prime Minister Boris Johnson on his way to the Cenotaph ahead of the Remembrance Sunday Service.