We were elected on a promise to #GetBrexitDone just over a year ago. That’s what I did last year when I and my colleagues voted for the Prime Minister's Withdrawal Agreement.
In just nine months a trade deal with the EU has been done that delivers on our commitments to the British people. Many said it couldn't, and yet we've delivered the first free trade agreement ever agreed by EU with zero tariffs and zero quotas. It delivers certainty and we were absolutely right to push on with negotiations despite the enormous difficulties of this year, and is our 62nd trade deal signed. Now is the time for our country to come together, heal old divides, and move forward together to secure the brightest future for our great nation.
I will be reading the detail of the deal over the coming days and spoke to the Prime Minister's team on Christmas Eve.
The Prime Minister has released this statement:
Everything that the British public was promised during the 2016 referendum and in the general election last year is delivered by this deal
—We have taken back control of our money, borders, laws, trade and our fishing waters
—The deal is fantastic news for families and businesses in every part of the UK. We have signed the first free trade agreement based on zero tariffs and zero quotas that has ever been achieved
—The deal is the biggest bilateral trade deal signed by either side, covering trade worth £668bn in 2019.
—The deal also guarantees that we are no longer in the lunar pull of the EU, we are not bound by EU rules, there is no role for the European Court of Justice and all of our key red lines about returning sovereignty have been achieved. It means that we will have full political and economic independence on 1st January 2021.
—A points-based immigration system will put us in full control of who enters the UK and free movement will end
—We have delivered this great deal for the entire United Kingdom in record time, and under extremely challenging conditions, which protects the integrity of our internal market and Northern Ireland’s place within it.
—We have got Brexit done and we can now take full advantage of the fantastic opportunities available to us as an independent trading nation, striking trade deals with other partners around the world.
