Brexit news latest – British patrol boat boards Irish trawler in first post-Brexit fishing clash

BORIS HAILS NEW DAWN FOR POST-BREXIT BRITAIN

Boris Johnson has promised a renewed Britain as the nation’s long-awaited Brexit finally became reality at the turn of the new year.

The UK cut the last ties with the EU and became an independent country for the first time in nearly 50 years on 31 December at 11pm.

In a New Year’s message to the nation, the PM heralded a new dawn which will see a free and turbocharged Britain.

He said we will now be an “open,  generous, outward-looking, internationalist and free-trading global” country.

CAN I STILL GO ON HOLIDAY TO EUROPE AFTER BREXIT?

Yes, after Brexit Brits will be able to travel across Europe without a visa for up to six months in a year, and a maximum of 90 days within a 180-day period.

However, if you're planning on taking a sunshine break next year, remember your freedom to travel could depend on coronavirus restrictions.

You should have at least six months left on your passport before you travel, as already advised by the Government.

From 2022, people from the UK will also have to stump up for a visa-waiver scheme to visit many countries in the EU.

The fee for that hasn't been decided yet - but it'll cover three-year periods and allow people to enter the Schengen Area for up to 90 days within any 180-day period.

TAMPON TAX SCRAPPED AFTER BRITAIN LEAVES THE EU

The 'tampon tax' has been scrapped across Britain after the end of the Brexit transition period.

The 5% rate of VAT on women's sanitary products was axed on New Year's Day - the first day when Britain's new Brexit deal officially kicked in.

The UK was previously blocked from reducing VAT below 5% - but Brexit will now allow for a zero rate of VAT for sanitary products.

NAVY WARSHIPS 'AN ACT OF DETERRENCE' FOR FOREIGN VESSELS

Former Navy head Admiral Lord West of Spithead has said the navy warships in the Channel are an act of deterrence.

He added: "We are not trying to have a punch-up with foreign vessels. We are signalling that these are our waters and we are responsible for looking after them.”

After Brexit, French and other EU boats may continue to fish in British waters — but a quarter of their quota will be transferred to the UK fleet over 5½ years.

A defence source said: “The plan was to have two offshore patrol vessels at sea and two in port and rotate them. But for day one of Brexit, the commanders wanted all four ships at sea as a show of resolve.”

FULL STEAM AHEAD

Four Navy warships have steamed into the Channel in a show of strength to French trawlers over new Brexit fishing rights.

A convoy of gunboats left Portsmouth hours before the Brexit deal came into force on New Year’s Eve.

The offshore patrol vessels, armed with cannon and machine guns, are under orders to protect the UK’s sovereign fishing grounds.

HMS Trent, a new £100million warship, led the flotilla followed by HMS Tyne, HMS Tamar and HMS Mersey.

All four River class vessels are assigned to fishery protection duties, historically known as the Cod Squad.

'NEW BEGINNING'

Boris Johnson hailed a "new beginning" as his Brexit deal was given Royal Assent by the Queen on Wednesday night to make it law.

The House of Commons passed the agreement 521 to 73, while peers gave the bill an unopposed third reading.

The bill was taken to Windsor Castle for the Queen to approve, and she gave it Royal Assent just after midnight.

PETER BONE MP SLAMS MACRON'S COMMENTS

Brexiteer MP Peter Bone told MailOnline: “The greatest democratic event in my lifetime, the EU referendum, saw more people vote in the UK than ever before. 

“There was genuine debate on a particular issue, it wasn't party political, it was across-parties and the people spoke. “

“I guess president Macron doesn’t like democracy.”

MACRON SAYS BREXIT WAS OUTCOME OF 'LIES'

Emmanuel Macron has sparked fury after claiming Brexit was the outcome of “lies and false promises”. 

The French President slammed the UK’s decision to leave the EU during his New Year’s address. 

Speaking from the Elysee, he told the French public: “A few days ago, we reached an agreement to organise our future relations, defending our interests, our industries, our fishermen and our unity.

“The United Kingdom remains our neighbour but also our friend and ally. 

“This voice of leaving Europe, this Brexit, was the child of European malaise and lots of lies and false promises.”

More on the story here

DRIVER CHECK

Customs officials scan a driver's phone as he passes check-in for the train through the Eurotunnel.

NEW DEPARTURES

The first boats and ferries depart the port of Dover on January 1 as the UK began its life outside the EU.

SERVICES RUNNING SMOOTHLY

Eurotunnel spokesman John Keefe said on Friday that services are running "very, very smoothly".

Mr Keefe was on the scene on Thursday night to watch the first lorry pass through following the switchover.

He said: "It was really quite strange... very quiet, very tranquil.

"Everybody was holding their breath as to what was going to happen and it just went as it was meant to."

UK GOVERNMENT STATEMENT ON SCOTLAND

A UK Government spokeswoman said: "Scotland, and all parts of the UK, have a bright future outside of the EU.

"We have struck a great trade deal with the EU. It allows Scottish businesses to continue trading with the EU tariff-free, and puts in place the arrangements we need on security, travel, energy, health and social security.

"But outside the EU, Scotland's businesses will also reap the benefit of new export opportunities as we add to the trade deals we are signing around the world."

DAVID FROST POINTS TO 'GREAT FUTURE' AFTER BREXIT

The UK's chief Brexit negotiator Lord Frost has said "we have a great future before us" as the transition period with the EU came to an end.

He tweeted: "Britain has just become a fully independent country again - deciding our own affairs for ourselves.

"Thank you to everyone who worked with me (and) @BorisJohnson to get us here in the last 18 months.

"We have a great future before us. Now we can build a better country for us all."

20 NEW TESTING CENTRES FOR HAULIERS GOING TO FRANCE

More than 20 new Covid-19 testing centres for hauliers heading to France are being set up in the next few days, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said.

Mr Shapps revealed that 10 of the sites would open on Saturday, with a further 10 on Sunday, and more being added during the week.

The Government is also offering help to firms that wish to set up a testing location at their own premises.

Testing kits will be made available to companies free of charge under the initiative.

The move comes after restrictions were put in place on hauliers by the French government following the identification of a new strain of coronavirus in the UK.

'CALM BEFORE THE STORM'

The smooth start to post-Brexit border operations may be the "calm before the storm", industry bosses have warned.

The first day of January marked the first day of a new trading relationship between the UK and the EU.

There had been fears it would create chaotic scenes at ports, with outbound lorries now subject to new customs checks - but the new era arrived without disruption.

STURGEON ASKS EU TO 'KEEP LIGHT ON' FOR SCOTLAND

Nicola Sturgeon has asked the EU to "keep the light on" for Scotland and that it will be "back soon".

The first minister tweeted the message shortly after the Brexit transition came to an end at 11pm on New Year's Eve.

Scotland's trading and travel relationship with EU countries will now be governed by the deal agreed by London and Brussels on Christmas Eve.

TAMPON TAX SCRAPPED

The tampon tax has been abolished - slashing the cost of sanitary products for women.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak said he was “proud” to deliver on the key election and Vote Leave pledge.

He said: “I’m proud that we are today delivering on our promise to scrap the tampon tax.

"Sanitary products are essential so it’s right that we do not charge VAT.

“We have already rolled out free sanitary products in schools, colleges and hospitals and this commitment takes us another step closer to making them available and affordable for all women.”

The EU forces all its members to slap a 5% tax on tampons.

More on the story here

SCOTLAND RELEASES VIDEO TO CELEBRATE RELATIONSHIP WITH EU

BORDER CONTROL RULES

At border control, you may need to:

• show a return or onward ticket
• show you have enough money for your stay
• use separate lanes from EU, EEA and Swiss citizens when queueing

HESELTINE URGES PRO-EUROPEANS TO 'FIGHT BACK' OVER EU MEMBERSHIP

Tory grandee Lord Heseltine has called for pro-Europeans to "fight back" and battle to rejoin the EU.

The former deputy prime minister cited the stance of the SNP in pushing for another referendum on Scottish independence as the way forward for Remainers, despite the UK formally leaving the Brexit transition arrangements on New Year's Eve.

Lord Heseltine insisted that as the 52%-48% decision to quit the EU was so close, pro-Europeans must not "lie down", but follow the example of the SNP.

The ex-Cabinet minister told Times Radio: "You have got a country which is deeply divided and it is very important to give hope and keep alive the aspirations of the younger generation.

"Of course we must fight back.

"There are millions of people who feel just as strongly as I do, and we are not going to lie down."

'SHOW OF RESOLVE'

A defence source said: “The plan was to have two offshore patrol vessels at sea and two in port and rotate them.

“But for day one of Brexit, the commanders wanted all four ships at sea as a show of resolve.”

FOUR NAVY WARSHIPS PATROL CHANNEL

Four Navy warships have steamed into the Channel in a show of strength to French trawlers over new Brexit fishing rights.

The offshore patrol vessels, armed with cannon and machine guns, are under orders to protect the UK’s sovereign fishing grounds.

HMS Trent, a new £100million warship, led the flotilla followed by HMS Tyne, HMS Tamar and HMS Mersey.

All four River class vessels are assigned to fishery protection duties, historically known as the Cod Squad.

You can read more here

HALF OF BRITS THINK BBC DOESN'T REPRESENT THEIR VALUES

Almost half of Brits think the BBC fails to represent their values, new research suggests.

A YouGov survey found 44 per cent of people felt the BBC represented their values badly, with 48 per cent of older people saying it did not adequately fit their views.

The research, conducted for , showed levels of dissatisfaction were higher in the north, with 51 per cent in northern England and 47 per cent in Scotland feeling badly represented.

Among those who voted for Brexit, 58 per cent were unhappy with the corporation's overall stance.

Over the past year, only 4 per cent said the Beeb's values had become more like theirs while a third (33 per cent) said it had become less like theirs.

Click here to read more

BUILDING A BETTER COUNTRY

NEW DAWN

Boris Johnson has promised a renewed Britain as the nation’s Brexit became reality.

When Big Ben bonged at 11pm on December 31, the UK cut the last ties with the EU and became an independent country for the first time in nearly 50 years.

In a New Year’s message to the nation, the PM heralded a new dawn which will see a free and turbocharged Britain.

He said we will now be an “open,  generous, outward-looking, internationalist and free-trading global” country.