Boris Johnson says ‘freedom is what you make it’ as he promises to break free from EU rules after signing Brexit deal
BORIS Johnson has said “freedom is what you make it” and that he hopes the public are now reassured as he promises to break free from EU rules after signing a Brexit deal.
The trade deal was finally secured on Christmas Eve after four years of bitter wrangling between the UK and EU.
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MPs will vote on the deal on December 30 after the Government ordered Parliament to be recalled.
Now the Prime Minister has hinted that major changes are on their way in his first interview since signing the pact.
Speaking to , he said: “We can’t sort of suddenly decide that we’re free and then not decide how to exercise it.
"This Government has a very clear agenda to unite and level up and to spread opportunity across the country.”
'WE'RE FREE'
“What I say to my colleagues is free ports, yes; free trade deals, fantastic; changing animal welfare regulations, great; new stuff on data or chemicals, let’s have a look at it all.
“We will be wanting to see what we can take forward. We don’t want to diverge for the sake of diverging. But we’re going to want to do things differently where that’s useful for the British people.”
He added: “Freedom is what you make of it. It’s up to us now to seize the opportunities.
"We are going to do our best and I think it does present considerable advantages, but we have a very big challenge now with Covid.”
Mr Johnson is adamant that the deal delivers on what the public voted for back in 2016, but is now faced with convincing the more die hard Brexiteers that he is fulfilling the promises made.
He joked: “I think it will survive the toughest, most ruthless scrutiny by the scholiasts of the star chamber,” referring to the European Research Group (ERG).
'IT WILL SURVIVE'
The group hardline Brexiteers this week announced it will assemble a panel of lawyers to examine the 1,246-page text.
The ERG said it would reconvene its "Star Chamber" that reviewed Theresa May’s Withdrawal Agreement last year with veteran Eurosceptic Sir Bill Cash, 80, once again the chairman.
And to the cynics who believe a no deal Brexit was just an empty threat Boris had one thing to say.
He continued: “We made that clear to the EU. I really would have done it, believe me.”
Now after 4.5 years of political turmoil and wrangling with the EU Boris hopes the nation’s minds are at ease.
He said: “I hope people will be deeply reassured that they have now … a resolution of an issue that has bedevilled our politics for decades. And, I believe, it is the basis for a lasting new friendship and partnership.”
'SEIZE THE DAY'
Yesterday the PM told Brits to seize the day after striking free from the EU’s shackles.
He issued the directive — from Downing Street where he is spending the festive period — as experts predicted the UK economy will bounce back next year.
The PM said Brits must “embrace all the opportunities available to us as an independent nation” when the transition period ends at 11pm on New Year’s Eve.
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He was speaking as he unveiled details of a £110million Turing programme which will allow thousands of students access to the best educational institutions in Europe and across the world.
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He said the agreement, which eliminates the role of the European Court of Justice in the UK, was “one of the biggest and broadest ever”, ensuring the UK “sets its own laws again”.
He went on: “There’s no more role for the European Court of Justice, there’s no direct effects of EU law, there’s no alignment of any kind, and we’re out of the single market and the customs union just as the manifesto said we would be.”
