This afternoon (24 December), Boris Johnson announced that a historic, eleventh-hour trade deal with the EU had finally been struck, just a week before end of the Brexit transition period. If no deal had been achieved, the UK would have ended up trading under World Trade Organisation rules from 1 January 2021.
Here's a useful guide on why trading under WTO rules would have been bad for Britain.
The announcement that a trade agreement had been agreed followed a call between Boris Johnson in Downing Street and the European commission president, Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels – at least the fifth such call over the last 24 hours.
The agreement runs to a whopping 2,000 pages. A No 10 spokesperson said: “The deal is done. Everything that the British public was promised during the 2016 referendum and in the general election last year is delivered by this deal.
“We have taken back control of our money, borders, laws, trade and our fishing waters. The deal is fantastic news for families and businesses in every part of the UK. We have signed the first free trade agreement based on zero tariffs and zero quotas that has ever been achieved.”
However, in a much less. jubilant statement, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon issued a sombre Facebook update in response to the news, which almost immediately went viral, clocking up shares and likes - the post has had over 7,668 reactions at the time of writing. She said:
"Before the spin starts, it’s worth remembering that Brexit is happening against Scotland’s will. And there is no deal that will ever make up for what Brexit takes away from us. It’s time to chart our own future as an independent, European nation."
Many people responded to her - the top comment said: "Completely agree. However, I am relieved that we are not crashing out without a deal. I hope the deal ensures we maintain high standards and security partnerships."
Another woman pointed out that not everyone in Scotland voted to remain, saying: "I’m Scottish and voted to leave so it’s certainly not against my will!"
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A third top rated comment read: "Have never voted for you but may I say your handling of the pandemic has been exemplary. And whilst as an English man I don’t necessarily agree with your politics I do admire and respect your integrity and passion for your Scotland."
What do you think about the Brexit deal, and Nicola Sturgeon's reaction? Let us know in the comments!
