Brexit deal propaganda war heats up as EU downplays UK's achievements in graphic while leaked government document claims Britain recorded more than twice as many wins
A propaganda war erupted today after the EU undersold the UK Government's achievements in the Brexit deal.
An EU graph claimed Britain had kept just two of the benefits of being a member of the bloc - visa-free travel for 90 days and zero tariffs or quotas for trade in goods.
However, a separate leaked UK document said areas that the EU had labelled as losses for Boris Johnson's negotiators were actually victories.
These included the creation of trusted trader schemes to slash red tape at the border, a new 'Turing scheme' to replace the Erasmus study abroad programme and the right for Britain to set its own standards on agricultural goods.
A leaked Government document today showed the real wins for Britons after the transition period ends on December 31. Pictured, Prime Minister Boris Johnson revealed a deal had been agreed yesterday
Issues such as free movement of people, trade and energy - which the EU labelled as losses for the UK in a graphic released yesterday - were actually wins, according to the table of UK victories
The UK government assessment said it had 'insulated financial services from cross-retaliation' in disputes about other areas of the agreement
Some experts cast doubt on the assessments in the UK document, pointing out that many of the 'wins' for the EU were in the crucial services sector of the economy. There is no deep provision for financial services from January 1
Analysis of the deal by the UK Government suggests it 'won' in talks on 43 per cent of the 'key issues' in the talks.
It labels a further 40 per cent at compromises for both sides, with just 17 per cent down as 'EU wins'.
The EU graph, meanwhile, painted a far more negative picture for the UK by comparing the outcome for Britain after the negotiations compared to what it enjoyed as a member state.
It claimed the UK was losing freedom of movement as Britons could no longer travel to the EU for more than 90 days without a visa.
Other benefits that would be taken away from Britons included the removal of roaming charges and frictionless trade.
However, the UK document pointed out that Britons will still be able to travel to the EU for up to 90 days without a visa and issues such as the restriction of family benefits for EU citizens coming to live in the UK were found in the UK's favour.
The UK has also labelled negotiations over telecoms as a win, with the document reading: 'The agreement encourages regulatory cooperation on mobile roaming, in line with EU-Japan.'
Later in the day, the EU released a graphic comparing the deal with the privileges enjoyed by member countries
The UK also insists it has achieved a number of 'wins' around trade.
The leaked document said: 'The text makes clear the UK’s right to regulatory autonomy, but at the same time contains helpful provisions on regulatory cooperation, which the Commission had resisted.
What happens next?
After a Brexit deal text was finalised, the next step is ratification by both sides - and there is not much time before the end of the transition period on January 1.
Christmas Day
Brussels will short-cut its own processes, with the EU Council of member states expected to grant 'provisional' implementation before the deadline, rather than the European Parliament approving it in advance.
This has angered many MEPs, as they will be under massive pressure to sign off the deal if it has already come into effect.
Wednesday
MPs will need to pass legislation putting the deal on the statute book
Because of Christmas Day, this is likely to happen next week. The Commons will be recalled from its festive break and potentially consider all the stages of a Bill in one day.
The package is virtually guaranteed to be approved, as Boris Johnson has an 80-strong majority and Labour has indicated it will at least abstain - if not support the deal.
January 1
The new trade terms - or WTO terms if something has gone wrong with the deal - come into effect.
'In specific areas such as our approach to conformity assessment (testing to ensure the safety of goods) the UK successfully resisted attempts to tie us to EU approaches.'
The UK also scored an agreement to cooperate on managing flow of 'roll-on roll-off' ports in Dover and Holyhead as wells as the possibility of 'sharing import and export declaration data'.
Fisheries, a sticking point for both sides, was labeled a 'compromise' by the UK document.
It read: 'Annual quota system returns after a five and a half year transition, during which access is fixed.'
Yesterday, Boris Johnson boasted that the UK would have 'prodigious' quantities of extra fish thanks to his Brexit deal - despite admitting he had made concessions to the EU.
The historic agreement struck with Brussels will mean Britain claws back 25 per cent of the bloc's existing catch over the next five and a half years.
And the PM said it will regain complete control of the fishing stocks once that transition period ends.
Ursula von der Leyen told her own briefing in Brussels that the terms were 'balanced' but that the bloc had negotiated from a 'position of strength' because No Deal would have been worse for Britain.
'We have finally found an agreement. It was a long and winding road but we've got a good deal to show for it,' she said.
She said the EU had protected its single market, and achieved 'five-and-a-half years of predictability for our fishing communities and strong tools to incentivise' for access to continue afterwards.
Ms von der Leyen said her overriding feeling was 'relief' rather than 'joy'. 'Parting is such sweet sorrow,' she added.
Referencing one of his mantras from the talks, Mr Barnier told reporters: 'The clock is no longer ticking.'
The confirmation had been repeatedly put back over the last 24 hours as the sides argued 'fish by fish' over the rules, with Ireland warning of a 'hitch', even though UK sources insisted there are 'no major issues'.
Ursula von der Leyen told her own briefing in Brussels that the terms were 'fair and balanced'
In a boon for Mr Johnson, Sir Keir Starmer announced yesterday he would order his MPs to back the deal - saying it was 'thin' but better than No Deal. The move effectively guarantees the measures will pass.
'At a moment of such national significance, it is not credible for Labour to be on the sidelines,' he said in an online press conference.
What happens next?
After a Brexit deal text was finalised, the next step is ratification by both sides - and there is not much time before the end of the transition period on January 1.
Christmas Day
Brussels will short-cut its own processes, with the EU Council of member states expected to grant 'provisional' implementation before the deadline, rather than the European Parliament approving it in advance.
This has angered many MEPs, as they will be under massive pressure to sign off the deal if it has already come into effect.
Wednesday
MPs will need to pass legislation putting the deal on the statute book
With Christmas Day tomorrow, this is likely to happen next week. The Commons will be recalled from its festive break and potentially consider all the stages of a Bill in one day.
The package is virtually guaranteed to be approved, as Boris Johnson has an 80-strong majority and Labour has indicated it will at least abstain - if not support the deal.
January 1
The new trade terms - or WTO terms if something has gone wrong with the deal - come into effect.
'That is why I can say today that when this deal comes before Parliament, Labour will accept it and vote for it.'
However, the battle to sell the package to voters and Tory MPs is already in full swing, as Mr Johnson rings round restive Tory backbenchers.
An internal government assessment insisted that the UK 'won' on 43 per cent of the major issues in the £668billion package, compared to 17 per cent where the EU came out on top.
There will be zero-tariff, zero-quota access to the EU single market - and Mr Johnson has maintained the ability to diverge from Brussels standards, with no role for the European Court of Justice. Disputes will be settled by an independent arbitration panel, similar to the structures already in the Withdrawal Agreement.
There is a get out clause after four years, when either side can axe the terms if they do not believe they are 'working fairly'.
The document boasts that concessions were secured on rules of origin for goods, customs streamlining and 'trusted trader' schemes, while the financial services sector has been 'insulated'. A deal will also avoid huge disruption on top of the coronavirus crisis.
However, the UK looks to have given ground on fishing rights, and secured little succour for the services sector.
For its part, France has started boasting that Mr Johnson made 'huge concessions' on fishing in the last stages as the mutant coronavirus variant underlined the vulnerability of UK borders.
Tory Brexiteers vowed to put together a 'Star Chamber' of experts to scrutinise the documents over Christmas. MailOnline understands that Mr Johnson was 'very straightforward' and did not try to give a 'hard sell' in his call with senior MPs.
One MP said subject to seeing the full text the outline was 'what we hoped'. 'Maybe it will be a happier Christmas after all,' they suggested.
Nigel Farage accused Mr Johnson of 'dropping the ball' - but he also stressed that it was 'progress' and the Brexit 'war is over'. He said pending seeing the text 'in principle' he would vote for the package if he were an MP.
There are fears that political 'landmines' in the text will inevitably be uncovered.
The FTSE 100 closed up just six points as a deal had been largely priced in, while the pound held on to recent gains and rose again slightly to 1.3547 against the US dollar.
Mr Johnson tried not to sound too triumphant as he addressed the nation, but was also bullish about what had been achieved.
'We have taken back control of every jot and tittle of our regulation in a way that is complete and unfettered,' he said.
Boris Johnson (pictured speaking to Ursula von der Leyen by video link today) said the UK could now take advantages of the benefits of Brexit
'From January 1 we are outside the customs union and outside the single market.
'British laws will be made solely by the British Parliament interpreted by British judges sitting in UK courts and the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice will come to an end.'
He added: 'This deal above all means certainty – certainty for the aviation industry, and the hauliers, certainty for the police and border forces, security services and all those we rely on across Europe to keep us all safe.'
He added: 'Above all, it means certainty for business – from financial services to our world-leading manufacturers, our car industry, a certainty for all those who are working in high-skilled jobs in firms and factories across the whole country.
In more evidence that Mr Johnson is bracing to sell a deal to voters, a leaked internal government document claims that the UK 'won' on 43 per cent of the major issues - compared to 17 per cent where the EU came out on top
Some experts cast doubt on the assessments in the UK document, pointing out that many of the 'wins' for the EU were in the crucial services sector of the economy. There is no deep provision for financial services from January 1
'There will be no palisade of tariffs on January 1, there will be no non-tariff barriers to trade.
Starmer says Labour WILL back Brexit trade deal
Sir Keir Starmer announced tonight that he will order his MPs to back the Brexit deal.
The Labour leader said the package was 'thin' but better than No Deal, and he would support it in the national interest.
The move effectively guarantees the measures will pass.
'At a moment of such national significance, it is not credible for Labour to be on the sidelines,' he said in an online press conference.
'That is why I can say today that when this deal comes before Parliament, Labour will accept it and vote for it.'
The move will cause disquiet among many Labour MPs, who were strongly in favour of Remain.
However, strategists fear that efforts to win back Red Wall seats from the Tories could be undermined if the party is seen as opposing Brexit again.
'Instead, there will be a giant free trade zone of which we will at once be a member and at the same time be able to do our own free trade deals as one UK.'
Labour's Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford said: 'It is appalling that it has taken until a week before we leave the transition period to give the first indication of the terms on which we will trade with our most important trading partner. This will only add to the enormous challenges facing our businesses.'
David Cameron, who called the EU referendum before losing and quitting as PM, said: 'It's good to end a difficult year with some positive news.'
Theresa May, who was also swept away by Brexit wrangling, said: 'Very welcome news that the UK & EU have reached agreement on the terms of a deal - one that provides confidence to business and helps keep trade flowing. Looking forward to seeing the detail in the coming days.'
There were positive early signs for Mr Johnson, as Brexit Party leader Mr Farage said the deal as he understood it was 'not perfect' - but he would back it 'in principle'.
'I'm worried that we're going to be too closely aligned to Eu rules,' he told Sky News, dismissing the idea it was a Canada-style agreement.
But he added: 'If we take the big picture… this may not be perfect, but it's a very very big day and a big step forward.
Asked if he would vote for it if he were an MP, Mr Farage said the Commons should have a vote in principle now and scrutinise the package more closely later. 'I'd need to see the detail, and I would not want to be bounced,' he said.
'In principle, given where we are right now, given this has been the most divisive issue in British politics… yes in principle I would.'
Boris Johnson's Brexit statement in full
It is four and a half years since the British people voted to take back control of their money, their borders, their laws, and their waters and to leave the European Union.
And earlier this year we fulfilled that promise and we left on Jan 31 with that oven-ready deal.
Since that time we have been getting on with our agenda - enacting the points based immigration system that you voted for and that will come into force on January 1.
And doing free trade deals with 58 countries around the world. And preparing the new relationship with the EU.
And there have been plenty of people who have told us that the challenges of the Covid pandemic have made this work impossible, and that we should extend the transition period and and incur yet more delay.
And I rejected that approach precisely because beating Covid is our number one national priority and I wanted to end any extra uncertainty and to give this country the best possible chance of bouncing back strongly next year.
And so I am very pleased that this afternoon that we have completed the biggest trade deal yet, worth £660billion.
A comprehensive Canada-style free trade deal between the UK and the EU, a deal that will protect jobs across this country.
A deal that will allow UK goods and components to be sold without tariffs and without quotas in the EU market.
A deal which will if anything should allow our companies and our exporters to do even more business with our European friends.
And yet which achieves something that the people of this country instinctively knew was doable, but which they were told was impossible.
We have taken back control of laws and our destiny.
We have taken back control of every jot and tittle of our regulation, in a way that is complete and unfettered.
From January 1 we are outside the customs union, and outside the single market.
British laws will be made solely by the British Parliament, interpreted by UK judges sitting in UK courts.
And the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice will come to an end.
We will be able to set our own standards, to innovate in the way that we want, to originate new frameworks for the sectors in which this country leads the world, from biosciences to financial services, artificial intelligence and beyond.
We will be able to decide how and where we are going to stimulate new jobs and new hope, with freeports and new green industrial zones.
We will be able to cherish our landscape and our environment in the way we choose.
Backing our farmers and backing British food and agricultural production.
And for the first time since 1973, we will be an independent coastal state with full control of our waters, with the UK's share of fish in our waters rising substantially, from roughly half today to closer to two-thirds in five-and-a-half years' time after which there is no theoretical limit beyond those placed by science or conservation on the quantity of our own fish that we can fish in our waters.
And to get ready for that moment those fishing communities we will be helped with a big £100m programme to modernise their fleets and the fish processing industry.
And I want to stress that although of course the arguments with our European friends and partners were sometimes fierce this is, I believe a good deal for the whole of Europe and for our friends and partners as well.
Because it will not be a bad thing for the EU to have a prosperous and dynamic and contented UK on your doorstep.
And it will be a good thing – it will drive jobs and prosperity across the whole continent.
And I don't think it will be a bad thing if we in the UK do things differently, or a take a different approach to legislation.
Because in so many ways our basic goals are the same.
And in the context of this giant free trade zone that we're jointly creating the stimulus of regulatory competition will I think benefit us both.
And if one side believes it is somehow being unfairly undercut by the other, then subject to independent third party arbitration and provided the measures are proportionate, we can either of us decide – as sovereign equals - to protect our consumers.
But this treaty explicitly envisages that such action should only happen infrequently and the concepts of uniformity and harmonisation are banished in favour of mutual respect and mutual recognition and free trade.
And for squaring that circle, for finding the philosopher's stone that's enabled us to do this I want to thank President von der Leyen of the European Commission and our brilliant negotiators led by Lord Frost and Michel Barnier, on the EU side Stephanie Rousseau as well as Oliver Lewis, Tim Barrow, Lindsay Appleby and many others.
Their work will be available for scrutiny, followed by a parliamentary vote I hope on December 30.
This agreement, this deal above all means certainty. It means certainty for the aviation industry and the hauliers who have suffered so much in the Covid pandemic.
It means certainty for the police and the border forces and the security services and all those that we rely on across Europe to keep us safe.
It means certainty for our scientists who will be able to continue to work together on great collective projects.
Because although we want the UK to be a science superpower, we also want to be a collaborative science superpower.
And above all it means certainty for business, from financial services to our world-leading manufacturers – our car industry – certainty for those working in high skilled jobs in firms and factories across the whole country.
Because there will be no palisade of tariffs on January 1.
And there will be no non-tariff barriers to trade, and instead there will be a giant free trade zone of which we will at once be a member.
And at the same time be able to do our own free trade deals as one UK, whole and entire, England, NI, Scotland and Wales together.
And I should stress this deal was done by a huge negotiating team from every part of the UK, and it will benefit every part of our United Kingdom, helping to unite and level up across the country.
And so I say again directly to our EU friends and partners: I think this deal means a new stability and a new certainty in what has sometimes been a fractious and difficult relationship.
We will be your friend, your ally, your supporter and indeed – never let it be forgotten – your number one market.
Because although we have left the EU this country will remain culturally, emotionally, historically, strategically and geologically attached to Europe, not least through the four million EU nationals who have requested to settle in the UK over the last four years and who make an enormous contribution to our country and to our lives.
And I say to all of you at home, at the end of this toughest of years, that our focus in the weeks ahead is of course on defeating the pandemic and on beating coronavirus and rebuilding our economy, and delivering jobs across the country.
And I am utterly confident that we can and will do it by today we have vaccinated almost 800,000 people and we have also today resolved a question that has bedevilled our politics for decades.
And it is up to us all together as a newly and truly independent nation to realise the immensity of this moment and to make the most of it.
Happy Christmas to you all. That's the good news from Brussels – now for the sprouts.