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

JOHNSON PROMISES TO 'TURBOCHARGE' UK OUTSIDE THE EU

Leaving the European Union's trading arrangements offers the chance to "transform our country", Boris Johnson claimed as UK businesses adjusted to the new bureaucracy.

There was little sign of disruption at the border as freight travelled to France and Ireland on a quiet bank holiday after the new arrangements came in at 11pm on New Year's Eve.

The Prime Minister said leaving the single market and customs union meant the UK has "taken back control of our money, our laws and our waters".

Lower trade volumes on the New Year's Day bank holiday meant there was little disruption from the additional red tape that now applies on exports to the EU.

FRANCE TO BE 'VIGILANT' ON BREXIT IMPLEMENTATION

France will be vigilant over the implementation of a post Brexit trade deal reached last week between Britain and the European Union, French European Affairs minister Clement Beaune said on Friday.

"This deal begins its life today. It will last years, possibly decades. Our demand is that each party respect its commitments," Beaune told a news conference held in the port of Calais, hours after Britain's final exit from the EU's orbit.

"This deal must be very strictly respected and it must also contribute to develop our cooperation with Britain in all sectors, including fisheries," he added.

The transition period for Britain's exit from the EU ended on Thursday night.

UK ABOLISHES 'TAMPON TAX' AFTER BREXIT

Britain abolished the so-called tampon tax on Friday, eliminating sales taxes on women's sanitary products.

The move was widely praised by women's rights campaigners as well as proponents of the country's departure from the European Union.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak had committed to ending the widely unpopular tax on tampons and pads in his budget statement in March but the change could only come into effect on Friday after Britain had finally left the economic orbit of the EU.

EU law had prevented member states from reducing the rate of value-added tax below 5 per cent, meaning the period products were treated as luxury items and not essentials.

"Sanitary products are essential so it's right that we do not charge VAT," said Sunak. "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."

BREXITEERS DIDN'T WANT IRISH BORDER - SAYS ERG

David Jones, deputy chairman of the European Research Group (ERG), which is made up of Eurosceptic Tory MPs, said the customs barrier between Northern Ireland and the UK had not been something Brexiteers had wanted.

Asked whether he had expected Britain's exit from the European Union to lead to a "de facto border down the Irish Sea", the former minister told BBC Radio 4's World At One: "Certainly not. It was not what we expected and it is something that the European Research Group has always expressed concern about.

"Sadly, however, that is what has been agreed with the European Union and, of course, we are going to have to find a way to work through this problem.

"But absolutely not, a border in the Irish Sea was something that we did not expect, nor did we approve of."

He added: "It is a customs barrier which operates in one direction from GB to Northern Ireland - the other way round is not affected, at least not anywhere near to the same degree.

'UK HAS TAKEN BACK CONTROL' - JOHNSON

The UK has begun a new future outside the European Union's trading structures, with Boris Johnson saying it offers the chance to "transform our country".

There will be disruption as a result of the increased bureaucracy between the UK and its largest trading partner, but there was little sign of the chaos some had feared on January 1.

And the Prime Minister said the UK has "taken back control of our money, our laws and our waters" after the Brexit transition period with the European Union came to an end at 11pm on December 31.

Johnson said the decision to leave the single market and customs union ended a "47-year experiment" of European Union membership.

He said the EU had provided the UK with a "safe European home"; during the 1970s, but the country has now "changed out of all recognition" with global perspectives.

The UK is "free to do things differently, and if necessary better, than our friends in the EU" in 2021, he said in a video message to mark New Year.

TRUCKS CROSS BORDER AFTER BREXIT

Trucks rolled off ferries and trains on both sides of the English Channel on Friday, a quiet New Years Day after Britain finally left the EU.

The busy goods route between southeast England and northwest France is on the front line of changes now that the UK has fully left the bloc.

"For the majority of trucks, they wont even notice the difference," said John Keefe, spokesman for Eurotunnel, which transports vehicles under the Channel.

"There was always the risk that if this happened at a busy time then we could run into some difficulties, but it's happening overnight on a bank holiday and a long weekend."

A new UK-EU trade deal will bring restrictions and red tape, but for British Brexit supporters, it means reclaiming national independence from the EU and its web of rules.

'SCOTLAND WILL BE BACK SOON, EUROPE' - STURGEON

Nicola Sturgeon has said Europe should "keep a light on" as Scotland will be "back soon".

The First Minister tweeted just after the Brexit transition period formally ended at 11pm on December 31.

Scotland's trading and travel relationships with EU countries will now be governed by the agreement announced by the UK Government on Christmas Eve.

Ms Sturgeon reiterated the SNP's call for an independent Scotland to join the EU.

Tweeting a picture of the words Europe and Scotland attached by a loveheart, she said: "Scotland will be back soon, Europe. Keep the light on."

IRISH HAULIERS WARN OF 'MAYHEM' AT PORTS AS UK OFFICIALLY LEAVES EU

Irish hauliers have warned of "mayhem" at ports after the UK formally left the EU.

After 48 years as a member of the European Union, the UK left the bloc at 11pm on New Year's Eve, becoming a third country for trade purposes and customs declarations.

New documentation and red tape is now required between EU member states and Britain, which is anticipated to cause massive delays at ports.

While a small number of ships were arriving on Thursday evening, they were expected to be covered by the previous arrangements.

The first boats to face the additional requirements are expected to arrive early on New Year's Day.

SIMON COVENEY SAYS BREXIT IS 'FOR ME NOT SOMETHING TO CELEBRATE'

Irish foreign minister Simon Coveney said: "UK relationship with EU & IRE will be different from now on, after #Brexit Transition.

"For me it's not something to celebrate, but we have an agreed basis for future relations & will now focus on building a strong new relationship with our closest neighbour.

"We wish them well!"

PM: THE STATE WILL NEED TO LEAD BY INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Thursday that in the post-COVID-19 future the state would need to lead by investing in infrastructure, education and technology, the Daily Telegraph reported.

"Sometimes we will need to regulate differently or better, and that may mean taking advantage of Brexits freedoms; and we will also need the state to lead, to make the investments in infrastructure, education and technology that will create the framework for business to invest," Johnson wrote in the newspaper

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Here’s to 2021…

To all readers of The Sun – stay safe and be kind to one another!

FIRST LORRY PASSES THROUGH CONTROLS AT EUROTUNNEL AFTER UK LEAVES SINGLE MARKET

The first lorry has gone through controls at the Eurotunnel as it heads for Europe, following the UK's historic departure from the single market.

Driver Slavi Ivanov Shumeykov smiled and waved as his HGV was processed by officials late on New Year's Eve.

His Eddie Stobart vehicle went through Eurotunnel controls in Folkestone, Kent just after 11pm.

Scenes in Dover have been quiet as many hauliers have been staying away to avoid being the first to test new border controls.

There had been fears of disruption in Kent as the UK counted down to 11pm and the end of the Brexit transition period, following chaos on the roads last week.

NIGEL FARAGE SAYS 'TIME TO RAISE A GLASS' TO BREXIT

Prominent Brexiteer Nigel Farage tweeted: "This is a big moment for our country, a giant leap forward.

"Time to raise a glass. #BrexitAtLast."

STURGEON TELLS EU: 'SCOTLAND WILL BE BACK SOON'

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said Scotland will be "back soon, Europe" as the Brexit transition period ended.

She tweeted: "Scotland will be back soon, Europe. Keep the light on."

DAVID FROST POINTS TO 'GREAT FUTURE' AS TRANSITION COMES TO AN END

The UK's chief Brexit negotiator Lord (David) 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."

NI ENJOYS 'SPECIAL STATUS' AS BREXIT TRANSITION ENDS

Northern Ireland enjoys a special relationship with Europe after the Brexit transition period ended.

It remains in the EU single market for goods.

It will also apply the bloc's customs rules at its ports, even though the region is still part of the UK customs territory, to prevent the return of a hard border with the Irish Republic.

To avoid disrupting cross-border trade and a return of checkpoints along the politically sensitive Irish border, the EU and UK agreed to move new regulatory and customs processes to the Irish Sea.

That means checks are focused on trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

THE TRANSITION PERIOD IS OVER - THE UK GOES IT ALONE FROM EU

The UK has now officially left the transition period - meaning it is no longer part of the EU's orbit.

We formally left the EU at 11pm on today after 48 years of bloc membership and we will become a third country for trade purposes and customs declarations.

LORD ADONIS FACES BACKLASH OVER MUNICH AGREEMENT COMPARISON

Remainer Peer Lord Adonis faced a backlash for comparing it with the Munich Agreement from 1938 - seen as a capitulaiton to the Nazi dictator.

He said in the House of Lords yesterday: "I will therefore begin by saying what everybody would like to ignore or forget, but which must be stated, that ''we have sustained a total and unmitigated defeat''.

"Those were Winston Churchill's words in the House of Commons on the Munich agreement 82 years ago.

"Alas, they apply word for word to the Brexit agreement we are being asked to rubber-stamp today."

But Brexiteers hit back, and Tory MP Michael Fabricant told MailOnline: "I think Ursula von der Leyen will regard his views with the same contempt that the majority of the British population regard his views. Lord Adonis has become renowned for an extremism expressed in his own way. Fortunately few now choose to pay any real attention to anything he has to say."

EUROPE SHOULD 'LEAVE A LIGHT ON FOR SCOTLAND' - SNP

The SNP has said Europe should "leave a light on for Scotland" as the Brexit transition period comes to an end. The party's Westminster leader Ian Blackford said Scotland would "be back" to rejoin the EU as an independent country.

However, the Conservatives accused the SNP-run Scottish Government of spreading "propaganda" about the Brexit deal on its official channels.

The Scottish Conservatives objected to a video on social media which they described as "one-sided Nationalist distortion". Scotland will leave the European Union despite Holyrood refusing to give legislative consent for the Prime Minister's Brexit agreement.

The transition period formally comes to an end at 11pm on Thursday, meaning Scotland's trading relationship with EU countries will be governed by the new agreement.

On Thursday evening, Mr Blackford said: "I ask our European friends and neighbours to leave a light on for Scotland. Scotland will remain a European nation, we will continue to build strong links, and we will be back to take our place as an independent member of the EU."

TIMELINE: THE STORY OF BREXIT – FROM THEN TIL NOW

MIDNIGHT BREXIT SWITCHOVER AT EUROTUNNEL WILL BE 'SEAMLESS'

The switchover at the Eurotunnel when the UK leaves the single market and customs union at 11pm will be "seamless", a spokesperson for the shuttle service said.

John Keefe told PA: "For the majority of trucks they won't even notice the difference.

"There was always the risk that if this happened at a busy time then we could run into some difficulties but it's happening overnight on a bank holiday and a long weekend.

"There is a much lower level of traffic going across the Channel than a regular night."

He added that there was "no residue" left from the huge queues of lorries in Kent caused by France effectively shutting the border with the UK earlier in December amid fears over Covid-19.

WATCH: BORIS HAILS NEW FOUND FREEDOM ON BREXIT DAY

BORIS JOHNSON A 'LOUSY UNIONIST' WHO HAS 'BETRAYED' NORTHERN IRELAND

Boris Johnson has proved himself a "lousy unionist" with his Brexit "betrayal" of Northern Ireland, a leading Orangeman has said.

Rev Mervyn Gibson said the region had been left a "place apart" from the rest of the UK as a consequence of the Brexit achieved by the Prime Minister, with the creation of economic barriers with Great Britain.

Speaking in a personal capacity, Rev Gibson, who is Grand Secretary of the Orange Order, said unionists should focus not on protests but on strengthening the Union going forward - and acknowledged that the consequences of new trading arrangements agreed in the Brexit Withdrawal deal would see Northern Ireland's economic orientation shift toward Dublin.

"I think we've been betrayed, there's no other way to say it," said Rev Gibson. Sadly we trusted Boris Johnson when he said there would be no border down the Irish Sea, that we wouldn't be any different, that we leave Europe as one United Kingdom.

"Sadly that is not the case. He has made Northern Ireland a place apart, he has given up some sovereignty to Europe, you'll have Europe making certain laws and enforcing certain things in Northern Ireland and we've no representation at the European Parliament, so he's abandoned us in that way."

NIGEL FARAGE HAILS BREXIT DAY AS 'A MOMENT TO CELEBRATE'

Former Ukip leader Nigel Farage said December 31 is a "moment to celebrate 2021 as an independent United Kingdom".

He told PA: "It's a big moment in our national story and the end of a very long road for tens of thousands of us who fought against the establishment.

"We celebrated on 31 January when we left the European Union - tonight we leave the single market and the customs union.

"Yes, we spare a thought for Northern Ireland and our fishermen, but this is a moment to celebrate 2021 as an independent United Kingdom. It's a shame the pubs aren't open."

TORY MP AND BREXITEER GROUP LEADER SAYS BREXIT DAY "IS INDEPENDENCE DAY"

Peter Bone, Tory MP and leader of the Brexiteer group Grassroots Out, told The Sun that tomorrow would truly be “independence day”.

Looking back at the campaign, the 68-year-old added: "We have taken on the establishment and we are going to beat the establishment.

"Me and my partner will be celebrating at 11pm with a bottle of champagne.

“We will raise a glass to all those people who did it."