BREXIT: Boris’s Dig At Macron As Negotiations Go The 11th Hour

PM Boris Johnson says Macron ‘shares keen interest’ in protecting seas.

Boris Johnson

United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson said France President, Emmanuel Macron ‘shares keen interest in protecting the eco-systems of their sea’ in an underhanded dig at the French president – as Brexit negotiations remain deadlocked over fishing rights.

UK, EU Resume Brexit Negotiations

The UK’s chief trade negotiator Lord Frost was today seen leaving European Union headquarters in Brussels following a meeting with his EU counterpart Michel Barnier.

The two met today in the hopes of breaking the deadlock over French access to British waters and the so-called level playing field ‘ratchet‘ that would tie the UK to future EU standards.

In a speech during the virtual Climate Ambition Summit today – that Mr Johnson is co-hosting with the French president – the PM appeared to make an underhanded reference to the demands of French President.

Johnson said: “Thank you all very much for joining this conference, thank you to secretary general Antonio and to my co-host Emmanuel Macron who I know shares my keen interest in protecting the eco-systems of our seas and oceans.”

PM Boris Johnson says Macron ‘shares keen interest’ in protecting seas.

The UK’s chief trade negotiator Lord Frost was seen leaving European Union headquarters in Brussels following a meeting with his EU counterpart Michel Barnier

His underhanded dig follows condemnation levied at the Prime Minister over his Brexit plan – which lead a former Conservative party chairman to brand him an ‘English nationalist‘.

Gunboats are being prepared for any ‘punch-ups’ with ‘stormy‘ French fishermen as last-minute negotiations with the EU rumble on.

The Ministry of Defence confirmed last night four 80-metre gunboats are on standby to stop EU trawlers using British waters, assuming there is no new agreement on fishing rights after December 31 when transitional arrangements end.

Reports also suggested that military helicopter surveillance will be made available and that ministers are considering beefing-up Navy powers in legislation to authorise them to board and arrest fishermen found to be contravening post-Brexit rules.

Meanwhile, preparations are being made at ports, with part of the M20 motorway to be shut for four consecutive nights across the weekend as Kent tests plans to tackle any disruption as a result of customs changes.

But the navy threat has been blasted by other members of Mr Johnson’s party, with Tobias Ellwood, Conservative chairman of the Commons Defence Committee, calling it ‘irresponsible‘ while former European commissioner Lord Patten accused the Prime Minister of behaving like an ‘English nationalist’.

Lord Patten added that Mr Johnson was on a ‘runaway train of English exceptionalism’ in thinking no-deal would allow the nation to prosper.

Daily Mail