How confident are you in a good deal for the UK?

Even if France re opens its borders, hauliers seen very nervous about entering the U.K. and many have decided to seek work other than driving to the U.K.

Retiredwell

growstuff

The French Government has said that 'in the next few hours' it will establish a 'protocol to ensure that movement from the UK can resume'.

Where did you see that reported Retiredwell?

It's not just France which has banned travel from the UK. Ireland has too. The effects might not be quite so dramatic, but it will have an impact on trade of fresh produce. Other countries have also imposed bans, as the UK did on Denmark.

It's on the front page of Sky News growstuff. They are only speaking on the movement of trucks and nothing else at this time. It seems impossible now to copy and paste a link from Sky News, at least on an Android device.

It will has come to something when it takes another government to tell the UK government how it should treat its workers when it comes to hygiene safety.

I meant a report about this:

It is being reported that it was seeing those awful unhygienic pictures on the media in the middle of a pandemic that determined the French government's decision to stop the flow of trucks from British Ports.

Because it’s coming up to Christmas and they don’t want to be stuck here, but at home with their families, just as lorry drivers from the UK want to do.

I haven’t seen that paragraph either growstuff so perhaps it
Comes from Retiredwell’s own thoughts.

lemongrove

Because it’s coming up to Christmas and they don’t want to be stuck here, but at home with their families, just as lorry drivers from the UK want to do.

In normal circumstances, they could easily fit in another return trip before Christmas.

With the new strain of Covid virus it’s not normal circumstances of course.

No, it isn't, which is one reason they might be reluctant to come back, but they were already saying that the UK wouldn't be worth the hassle with the extra paperwork and queues.

It is being reported that it was seeing those awful unhygienic pictures on the media in the middle of a pandemic that determined the French government's decision to stop the flow of trucks from British Ports.

I think that what is being referenced here is the recent pictures of pedestrianised London shopping streets completely chock a block with shoppers; very few of whom are wearing masks, when London has the fastest rate of spread in the UK and is closely associated with the mutant strain of c19.

Not a sight to fill surrounding nations, or, indeed, any nation, with confidence that the UK is doing all it can to stop the spread of the virus.

It’s two weeks before the transition arrangements come to an end. Europe are dealing with at least one new strain of a deadly virus that has basically shut most of the world down. I doubt they have any patience for us left and frankly I don’t blame them.

Whatever mess we’re in this time next year is entirely of our own doing.

The very least our hopelessly incompetent government should do is to beg the EU for an extension to the transition period - the longer the better, in the hope that they can be replaced with a government that actually cares about the future of our country, and not just helping their corrupt friends to make a killing at our expense.

twitter.com/ukiswitheu/status/1341108476119007233...

did they really laugh and giggle, when asked by Peston. This is truly sick

Merry Christmas to all Europeans

The principles agreed. The transactional arrangements only remain.

Johnson is moving towards the EU demands with regard to the fishing access.

It may be sufficient to unlock the negotiations.m

Rose colored spectacles?.

David0205

Rose colored spectacles?.

Don’t know but that is what is being reported in my paper.

Johnson has moved from 65% solely for U.K. fisheries to 35%, the EU are saying 25% so this may be sufficient movement to unlock the entire deal.

As I have said previously, the deal is done, it is simply the transactional arrangements.

There is the issue of the French election of course, but with a fair wind ..........

Quite why we are so hung up on fisheries is a mystery.

To be clear, the offer is that the EU will hand back 35% of its quota back over 5yrs.
(Source Daily Mail)
That’s a massive climb down from the initial 85% then recently 65%. It should satisfy French fishermen, all that is needed is for parliament to agree, what could possibly go wrong,.

I cannot find any report on how the trade negotiations are progressing (or not) on the main online news channels. So, would anyone have a link to these reports?

With thanks.

I do not feel that Europe handing back 35% of its current quota over five years would get past the Tory party in the House of Commons. If Boris puts that forward it will be the end of him as Prime Minister.

My source is the Guardian. I’ll copy what they have written, as my original post was from memory, as DH was reading the paper when I posted.

But I’m no good with links.

“Downing Street has made a major counter-offer on access to British waters..........the British demand for a 60% reduction in the catch by value has been reduced to 35%. Far closer to the EU of 25%.

The report goes on to say that France will be the EU nation to be the sticking point.

My opinion is that Logically because of everything that is going on, most sensible governments would seek an extension, but we have a government who is neither logical nor sensible.

Retiredwell

I do not feel that Europe handing back 35% of its current quota over five years would get past the Tory party in the House of Commons. If Boris puts that forward it will be the end of him as Prime Minister.

I’m not sure. I think if Labour voted for the deal it would be sufficient to push the deal through.

Whether Johnson would then be under threat from the ERG element is a mute point as I’m not clear that they have sufficient support in the Tory party to get their way.

I am hoping that they reached peak influence last year and their star is now diminishing.

I appreciate your point Whitewavemark2, but I feel that fishing has become the "sacrosanct" point for the Brexiteers.

It is for them the very symbol of "Britain Taking Back control". Nothing short of absolute sovereignty over British fishing water will satisfy them.

Retiredwell

I appreciate your point Whitewavemark2, but I feel that fishing has become the "sacrosanct" point for the Brexiteers.

It is for them the very symbol of "Britain Taking Back control". Nothing short of absolute sovereignty over British fishing water will satisfy them.

I think you are right unfortunately.