day, change. in fact, on boxing day, expecting storms, particularly boxing day night, and the met office hasissued boxing day night, and the met office has issued an amber warning for damaging winds, particularly in the south. across european capitals to this deal that was agreed at1.41i. across european capitals to this deal that was agreed at 1.44. we are back with more on the bbc in just a moment or two. fine weather and the clear skies are going to lead to a widespread frost right across the country. laura kuenssberg, bbc news, westminster. this is bbc news. the top storyings. the european union and yuck have reached a post—brexit trade deal. both —— uk. both sides described it as a successful. it was a long and winding road but we have got a good deal to show for it. it is fair, it is a balanced deal. and it is the right and responsible thing to do for both sides. lam very thing to do for both sides. i am very pleased to tell you this afternoon, that we have completed the biggest trade deal yet, worth £660 billion a year, a comprehensive ca nada — style £660 billion a year, a comprehensive ca nada—style free £660 billion a year, a comprehensive canada—style free trade deal between the uk and the eu. the eu's chief

negotiator michel barnier said the clock is no longer ticking and expressed his relief that a deal has been done. so what does the brexit deal mean for business, trade, travel? we will unpick the details for you. s commenteer is involved, all the hello. welcome to bbc news. let us this is bbc news. the eu and uk have return straightaway to that breaking news for because four—and—a—half yea rs news for because four—and—a—half years after britain voted the leave finally reached a post—brexit trade the eu a post—brexit trade deal has deal after months of disagreement. finally been agreed. borisjohnson both sides hailed it as success. said britain had achieved a £660 deal after months of disagreement. both sides hailed it as successm billion a year trade agreement which was a long and winding road, but we would protect jobs but have got a good deal to show for it. billion a year trade agreement which would protectjobs but the opposition labour party said the deal was thin return straightaway to it is fair, it is a balanced deal, that breaking news for because and it is the right and responsible four—and—a—half years after britain voted the leave the eu a post—brexit thing to do for both sides. trade deal has finally been agreed. lam very borisjohnson said britain had thing to do for both sides. i am very pleased to tell you this achieved a £660 billion a year trade agreement which would protectjobs afternoon, that we have completed

but the opposition labour party said the deal was thin and did not provided a "protections for workers the biggest trade deal yet, worth and financial service, one of the main stumbling block was fishing quota, borisjohnson said britain would take full control of its £660 billion a year, a comprehensive waters eventually. the prime minister told a news conference at downing street that ca nada — style £660 billion a year, a comprehensive ca nada—style free britain had taken bang control of £660 billion a year, a comprehensive canada—style free trade deal, its laws an destiny. borisjohnson between the uk, and the eu. the eu's said the deal was fantastic and gave stability and certainty. in chief negotiator michel barnier said the clock brussels, the president of the european commission ursula von der leyen said it was a fair and balanced deal. the 2,000 page document which has not yet been published has to be approved by the uk parliament next week. it has to be endorsed by members of the european parliament. scott's first minister said brexit was happening against scotland's will and no deal would make up for what brexit had taken away. let us get a full report on the dramatic events from our political editor laura kuenssberg. time is finally up. a deal at last agreed that number ten believes will pull power back to this building from brussels. a vast trade and security

agreement the prime minister and brexiteers promised. until a matter of hours ago, it wasn't guaranteed, but look, the optimist really did have something to cheer. his ubiquitous thumbs up, achievement relief written all over his face. i am very pleased to tell you this afternoon we have completed the biggest trade deal yet, worth £660 billion a year, a comprehensive canada—style free trade deal between the uk and the eu. because although we have left the eu, this country will remain culturally, emotionally, historically strategically, geologically attached to europe. can you tell the public honestly, where did the uk give the most ground and where did the eu compromise the most, do you think? it would be fair to say

that we wanted, we wanted to make sure, for instance, that we got access to, got complete control over our fisheries from the get go, and that is to say we had annual negotiations on fisheries within the shortest possible delay. the eu began with, i think, wanting a transition period of 14 years, we wanted three years, we have ended up at five years. i think that was a reasonable transition period. the tally of losses and wins may take years to settle. talks through the early hours in brussels sustained by pizza tangled over the specific quotas of different species of fish. but getting this far was never a question ofjust minor detail, but settling or smudging perhaps profound differences of view. so we have finally found an agreement. it was a long and winding road, but we have got a good deal to show for it. it is fair, it is a balanced deal, and it is the right and responsible

thing to do for both sides. what has been achieved, a truly vast trade deal, that will shape a vital relationship for a long time to come. the uk should be free of european law too, despite the warnings at the start. this is a landmark moment in the the country and the tory party's trouble relationship with the european union. and what has been avoided is potential disruption and political embarrassment of a failure to agree. but within some 2,000 pages of dense text in black and white there may be some hidden pain, and the scales that will balance the costs and opportunity of brexit may not be settled for many years to come. for the inhabitants of number ten this has been a long wait. borisjohnson‘s tenuremay be defined by what is grabbed and gained. and what slipped from grasp. but the prime minister's reputation is the least of it. the very nature of the country poised to change. laura kuenssberg, bbc

news, westminster. the leader of the opposition labour party has welcomed the brexit deal. sir keir starmer said it could have been much better. it is not the deal that the government promised. farfrom it. and there are serious questions about the government's preparedness for the new arrangements. as levering everything to the last minute has made it everyone more difficult for businesses to be ready. a wet better deal could are been negotiated. straight back to westminster and speak to our political correspondent. i will come to labour in a moment but in terms

of the government, in terms of boris johnson we are clearly in the selling it phase. absolutely, what we are getting at the moment is you are right, the sell, the gloss from each side. both saying they are coming out and they are happy with it, that it has done what they wa nted it, that it has done what they wanted it to achieve. so for boris johnson he is saying that the deal they have come to, he admits there have been compromises but he says it delivers op what he promised the public, the uk public in his ma nifesto public, the uk public in his manifesto last year and what was promised in the referendum in 2016. he says this is the biggest trade deal that either side has signed, covering more than £660 billion worth of trade. zero tariff and zero quota. from the eu side we are hearing from them it is satisfying to them too. what they needed out of this deal as well. i think it is what we will see in the coming days is when that document is released. we expect it to be between 1,000 and

2,000 pages long. that will be gone through in detail to see what has been given there an if that matches up been given there an if that matches up tow the claims being made about it. both side putting in a positive gloss on this, saying we have got what we wanted. your reference to that deal coming to the house of commons, and the vote brings us round to what we heard from the labour opposition, alastair campbell. who advised tony blair for so campbell. who advised tony blair for so many years, saying it was a mistake for labour to back this, saying they should be explaining and sir keir starmer clear earlier, they would reluctantly support this deal. yes, that vote set for 30th december, mp also be recalled from their christmas break and so will their christmas break and so will the peers in the house of lords to vote on this then. you are right, labour are saying, there has been this discussion within labour about what they should do. there are those like alastair campbell who believe labour should have abstained because

this is a deal that patently doesn't meet the criteria labour set out as being the criteria that needed to be met for their support. what sir keir starmer said today, is we are not in that place any more we are in the choice of this deal or no deal. that is why labour is going to back it because he doesn't think it's the right or better deal that could have been done, that issue of abstaining, the other option is labour says we won't vote for it but we won't stop it so we will abstain. sir keir starmer said that wasn't credible. credible. 0n starmer said that wasn't credible. credible. on an insure of this scale. you would be be adding that on to scale. you would be be adding that ontoa scale. you would be be adding that on to a list of sevenions. it was a difficult decision to take but they have said they will back this. helen, there are so much detail to go through and of course we will exploring all of that over the coming hours, but it is worth not

jumping ahead because we have arrived at a significant moment. not the same with this deal because borisjohnson the same with this deal because boris johnson saying the same with this deal because borisjohnson saying repeatedly in that news conference there will be change, inside a week. yes, this is a big moment and worth reflecting on that, that this is a really big moment. there was no certainty a trade deal would be agreed an in that course of nine months they have reached an agreement that both sides are happy with, that is the biggest trade deal either have signed. so thatis trade deal either have signed. so that is a moment. does that mean nothing will change? absolutely not. there are going to be more, it is going to be harderfor the uk to trade with the eu and vice very a there will be more paperwork and check, freedom of movement is gone, that ends next week, so there are going to be big changes, the importance of getting a trade deal though, is that it would soften the change if prow like, so it should

cause less disruption that there would have been if the uk was moving on to world health organization terms which would have seen more disruption, not least the imposition of tariffs, so that is the importance of this trade deal. remembering that is what this is, it is about a trade deal going forward. the uk formally left the you, so this is about the nature of the relationship going forward. the other important thing is they have managed to reach this agreement and it appears to be amicable. you heard borisjohnson it appears to be amicable. you heard boris johnson saying it appears to be amicable. you heard borisjohnson saying earlier the uk is still link to europe, it is not like the two sides are never going to talk again, so leaving this in a place where they are in a good place and thing are amicable would make it easier. you were listening to that news conference, there was a lot of

flourishes, but he was asked a couple of simple question, would uk be better off this, would we be safer after this? so what were his a nswers ? safer after this? so what were his answers? he was asked a lot about this deal, as he went through. some of the other specifics were for example where the uk had given more, in terms of fishing, you heard, he said that the uk wanted a three year transition, the eu wanted 14, they settled on fivement he was asked more about what would happen in terms of retaliatory tariffs if for example the uk chose to change its rules and the eu didn't agree. he said there could be the possibility of that but it would be done after third party arbitration, so i think we are going to get more of those sort of questions, as get that document and people start to really look into the fine detail o this. that is when we will start to raise

questions about more broader nan there is the fishing or trade arrangements but more broadly in terms of security and co—ordination. thank you. exactly as helen was talking about, the detail of course already being scrutinised. reaction just coming in from britain's fishing industry thee sea that are disappointed a post—brexit trade deal struck does not represent more ofa deal struck does not represent more of a break from the current rules with the block, that has come from industry representatives in the last few minutes saying the industry will be bitterly disappointed that there is not more of a definitive break in terms of what we have i had before. so that the headline reaction from them. we will try and speak to them in the next little while. it gives you a flavour of their view on the fisheries deal, because that was the final sticking point, but they clearly are unhappy with the

compromise that eventually was done. turning to what the european on your has been saying and make of this deal. let us hearfrom has been saying and make of this deal. let us hear from the has been saying and make of this deal. let us hearfrom the man has been saying and make of this deal. let us hear from the man who led the negotiations, michel barnier. the clock is no longer ticking. after four years of unity, to preserve peace and stability on the island of ireland, to protect the island of ireland, to protect the citizens is and the single market, to build a new partnership with the uk. thank you all, thank you all this is the work of so many women and men, here in the commission, under new leadership, all the services and in particular the eu task force for brexit.

and in the member state, the council, the european parliament. i also pay tribute to the eu—uk negotiating team and the dechief negotiator david frost and his deputies. earlier i spoke to our correspondent in berlin, he gave me the reaction from where we is. angela merkel said she is delighted the deal has been done, she describes it as historic, she is confident the german government will agree. the next stage is that all member states of the eu will have to go through the ratification process for this deal with their own parliaments, angela merkel‘s government will do this on monday. the cabinet will hold a telephone conference hand is the point o which, presumably over the

next, wading through the hundreds of pages of text and on monday they will discuss their position, in, angela merkel said she is confident the german government will pass this deal. she says they have kept the member states on side and informed them. she said the governments are not starting from zero and the fact she was so positive about the deal and she has, even though she has not been, she has been involved in the detail of what is in that agreement. she can say germany will at least do the first stage of the process of ratifying the deal. i think you can sense already here in germany, a sense already here in germany, a sense of relief that a deal is there. german e port, german business have a lot 06 trade links with britain, and if tariffs were introduced, that would hit the

german economy and head lynns have been talking about a christmas miracle. it shows there will be relief in germany from the economic point of view but also just from frankly the political point of view that this whole political headache, which for most germans is another problem on a long list of problems, and angela merkel in her statement said this dealforms and angela merkel in her statement said this deal forms the foundation really of the next chapter, in the relationship between britain and the eu, which she said will still be closed. with britain outside the yeo, she said it would be close. let us go to the hague. welcome to oui’ programme let us go to the hague. welcome to our programme here on bbc news, your reaction to what we see played out with the deal finally being made. well, i guess we are happy, obviously, but we would have preferred to see a deal this past

sunday because then the european parliament would have been able to vote for it before the end of year. it is important we get clarity, so in that sense it is food. good. there is a deal. what is your uk about the ratification process for the eu, when that might happen, whether some sort of provisional assumption has to be made for a little while. it has proposed to do some provisional application for two months which will give the parliament time to scrutinise the deal and to have a —— the deal will be ratified and in place. for both sides, do you think, or are you relieved we have ended up in this place, given what the alternative was? of course, a no—deal would have

been the worst scenario, we are relieveded there is a deal. there is a text we can scrutinise and it is very important to get the clarity and certainty for the citizens and businesses. you have very right. no—deal would have been the worst. politicians in thek you would say the eu only blinks at the death, is that what happened, are you clear how they were able to bridge the gap? i think you don't know how to negotiations went down. it has been difficult. ursula von der leyen and boris johnson said these negotiations were tough. they had only a very short amount of time to get through them. iam happy amount of time to get through them. i am happy there is a text that we can i am happy there is a text that we ca n start i am happy there is a text that we can start scrutinising. certainly the fish earn men, i was reading out

the fish earn men, i was reading out the latest from the association that represents the british situation, unhappy with where the deal has left them, so i suppose, we will get pin from both quarter, in terms of the eu, from downing street, as to who blinked. who may the major concerns, but in the terms of the level playing field that was a problem are you reassured from what we heard from ursula von der leyen that the rules are set, and if there psi any dev tasting we will see tariffs come in and quickly. this was great news, we were really anticipating what was going to be said about that, the devil receive in the detail so i have to see the text to be sure, this sounds promising yes. what is the best way

to try to encapsulate how europeans pursue this.. is there sadness, or somewhat relief perhaps now, they can stop listening to complaints about how the eu operates. can stop listening to complaints about how the eu operateslj can stop listening to complaints about how the eu operates. i think was relieved we can have this we hind us, i was there last year when the british flag was taken down from the british flag was taken down from the pole at the european parliament and was a very sad moment. so we had some time to get adjusted to this idea. it is good we can start focussing on the future. like the fa ct focussing on the future. like the fact that boris johnson focussing on the future. like the fact that borisjohnson mentioned this in his speech. we are still connected to each other. i couldn't agree with him more. thank you forjoining us.

let us turn to business. business leaders have welcomed the trade deal saying it has come as a huge relief, despite being so late in the day. the details of the 2,000 page document will be pored over in the hours and days to come. it gives business some certainty but there are still big challenges ahead with days tilt we leave the eu. it has been a tough one to land but after a titanic struggle over fish, which will see uk boats keep more of the catch over the next five years we have finally enet add trade deal. deal. this is a huge relief to british industry. our economy has suffered an awful lot of damage this year and we couldn't really take any more. we have still to see the details but i think a tariff and quota free deal

means ourfactories think a tariff and quota free deal means our factories and farmers stay in business. we now have 2,000 pages and seven days to be ready. so we are going to need immediate guidance for businesses, we are going to agree with the europeans a period of adjustments so all of this doesn't come into play overnight in seven days' time. without a deal, cheddar cheese from the uk could have faced after riffs of up up to 50%. this farm exports tonnes of it each year. we are relieved we have certainty, we know we have tariff free europe to access, we would have had all the complication about how do we pass that on to the customer, who is going to pay it, because we certainly didn't have the financial resource to play. it would have been hugely complicated and damaging to

what amounts to 30% of our business. but uk business is not home and dry. traders will still face a new raft of paperwork and cost, over 200 million additional forms will need completing. haulage companies worn they are not ready for this new normal. more reaction, reaction from northern ireland, because remember, northern ireland, because remember, northern ireland, because remember, northern ireland part of the uk, yet has a land board we are the european union, and the question of rep check also take place as been such a sensitive issue. let us talk to the leader of the sdlp. your reaction to what we have seen today. a deal is better than no deal. people in northern ireland didn't want to leave the european union and will be sad it is happening. we are grateful to michel barnier and the irish government for all of the work they have done to defend us, we didn't

get much support from this british government, but, look, we are in a different place in ireland. we will look to the future e. we want to find a way back, and that conversation about a united ireland is beginning. ifirmly believe now, that the union is ending and we have a responsibility to manage that process carefully and to keep people, to build relationships across these communities and a lands but we are in a different place for constitutional politics, on these islands. i will come back to that in a moment, but in terms of the basic practicalities of what has been agreed, because we had the northern ireland protocol, the talk of the backstop, the in terms of where we are lift with northern ireland, check, what is your analysis. the protocol is there to protect us. none of us wanted to see borders

anywhere, but what we have now is a brexit driven by english nationalists supported by ulster unionists which leaves a border in the irish sea. sea. i think those people who supported that should think carefully. it wasn't irish nationalists or anybody else who wa nted nationalists or anybody else who wanted to see a border in the irish sea, that came as a direct result. how complicating is that in practical terms for businesses there? . it is very complicating but it sit there to protect us, we remain as part of the single market. it isn't as but don some as it could have been in a no—deal scenario but it is burden some nonetheless, that isa it is burden some nonetheless, that is a direct result of a political division made in london without any thought for businesses and communities in northern ireland. there must be huge leaf given the

size of the agriculture sector that we have not ended up in a week's time, ina we have not ended up in a week's time, in a no—dealsituation, we have not ended up in a week's time, in a no—deal situation, with enormous tariffs, with quotaings and that, where we were looking down the barrel rsm yes, to be honest, i thought there would be a deal, because this particular government had no choice. thaw now they are going to celebrate what id will see asa thin going to celebrate what id will see as a thin deal in the end, but look, none of us wanted this, farmers didn't want it. the vast majority of people in northern ireland didn't wa nt people in northern ireland didn't want brexit at all. we have to make the most of —— the proto—coll is important, we are now in a very different place, in terms of the future, people are talking about how do we get out of this union and how do we get out of this union and how do we get back into the european union? there will be some that think that, why do you think that is a generalfeeling? that, why do you think that is a general feeling? look, i

that, why do you think that is a generalfeeling? look, i think that, why do you think that is a generalfeeling? look, ithink this is fundamental. the european union was a comfort blanket, the the constitutional blanket, particularly after the good friday agreement. the #yd we are being dragged out of that and being forced into a different situation i think is very clear now, if you look at what is happening in scotland, how things are changing in northern ireland, we economically are becoming more close to the irish republic, think it is inevitable it will end, what isn't inevitable is how it will end. ultimately, to lead us into a different kind of constitutional future and i think that will be actually a very positive thing in the end. we have to leave it there, thanks forjoining us on the programme. thanks for your time. let us get more reaction, more

european reaction now because we have a green mep from germany with us. she told me she welcomes news of a deal with cautious optimism. on the one hand i am really happy we have a deal because i think it is the best for the citizens and the businesses on both sides. absolutely but of course i need to look into the details of the deal. we as the european parliament need to look into the detail because we haven't seen into the detail because we haven't seen the text yet. we can't say if it was a good teal or not. what i have heard, i think with can say it is probably good, a good deal. we have christmas coming up, obviously, we will add further delay. it could well be in all the various capitals people don't really get to scrutinise, go through the text, look at the detail, find the weakness, find the strengths for a number of days. we have said already, a couple of days ago, that now is the time is

too short for really properly scrutinising it so we said we have to do it injanuary, and february, evenif to do it injanuary, and february, even if this means a provisional application which, but i think it is important that every men tier is involved, all the parliamentarians read the text because it is one of the major deals we are doing at the moment and of course the european parliament is, yeah, the representative of the european people, so we need to properly scrutinise the text. what are the key downsides? the upside is pretty obvious, that's going forward, there won't be tariffs, their want to be quotas. what are the things you will be looking out for when you look at the text to see that is a problem, potentially. for european parliament, since the beginning, it is very very important that we have a properfunctioning is very very important that we have a proper functioning mechanism is very very important that we have a properfunctioning mechanism for the so—called level playing field forfair competition. for

the so—called level playing field for fair competition. for me as a green parliamentarian, this was especially important when it comes to environmental standards, social standards that we don't have a downward spiral in the future, but that we have level standards, equal standards on both sides of the channel, and we will look very closely at this mechanism, both ursula von der leyen and boris johnson basically said today that there is a level playing field in there is a level playing field in the deal, so i trust them. of course, i want to really look at very close detail at the mechanism, how it's written in the text to see if it's functioning at the end. so, the deal was finally done at 144 london time apparently a week before the transition period runs out. and it follows four and a half years of political turbulence and long tense negotiations. nick beek looks at how we got to this deal. britain's

stunned the european union injune 2016 by voting to leave. it's an earthquake that's happened. independence day! david came in the prime minister who offered the referendum resigned. the british people have made a very clear decision to take a different path. theresa may stepped up. brexit means brexit, and we are going to make a success of it. but it wasn't that simple. it was to become a long and arduousjourney that simple. it was to become a long and arduous journey with high drama here in brussels and back in the uk, and along the way, certain faces and phrases would become very familiar. you cannot have your cake and eat it too. the clock is now taking. michel barnier was appointed the eu's chief negotiator for agreeing a divorce deal. his opposite numbers would come and go.

david frost, david barclay. it's all a sign of how brexit split the governments, families and the country as a whole. in 2017, theresa may lost her parliamentary majority. a year later, she was still trying to manoeuvre towards a deal. the eu was sometimes in step. 0ften to manoeuvre towards a deal. the eu was sometimes in step. often not. there is no room whatsoever for renegotiation. eventually, the two sides settled the uk's final bill, citizens‘ rights, sides settled the uk‘s final bill, citizens‘ rights, and a solution for avoiding a hard border on the island of ireland. but the british parliament rejected the deal three times, much to the fury of brussels. i‘ve been wondering what the special place in hell looks like for those who promoted brexit. —— without even a sketch of a plan how to carry it out safely. by the summer of 2019, theresa may‘s time was up.

out safely. by the summer of 2019, theresa may's time was up. with enormous and enduring gratitude to have had the opportunity to serve the country i love. new prime minister, borisjohnson, the country i love. new prime minister, boris johnson, finally rammed home a brexit deal after winning a snap election. british mep said goodbye to the european parliament and in january said goodbye to the european parliament and injanuary of this year, the uk officially left the eu, although would abide by its rules in although would abide by its rules in a transition period for the rest of 2020. now is the number to come together to write a new and exciting chapter in our national story to forge a new partnership with our european friends, to starve the next stand tall in the world, to begin healing. but nobody could predict what happened next. just as talks were getting under way to find another deal, a trade agreement between the uk and the eu, coronavirus struck. diplomacy through masks continued,

but big differences emerged on trade competition rules, fishing and tile to resolve future disputes. an agreement between the uk and the european union seems unlikely. the eu has found it difficult to acce pt the eu has found it difficult to accept that the eu as a sovereign equal. but with the pandemic pummeling, group leaders reached out and finally a brexit trade deal was done. nick beek, bbc news, brussels. well, that‘s the backdrop of how we got to where we got to today. the deal running two 2000 pages sets out new arrangements for tariff free trade and other cooperation. let‘s hear a little more from boris johnson a little while ago. it's johnson a little while ago. it‘s four and half years since the british people voted to take back control of their money, borders, laws and waters, and to leave the european union. and earlier this year, we fulfil that promise, and we left on january the 31st 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 will come into force on january the 1st, 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 covert pandemic have made this work impossible, and that we should extend the transition period and incur yet more delay, and i‘ve rejected that approach, precisely because beating covid is our number one national priority, and i wanted to and any extra uncertainty and to give this country the best possible chance of bouncing back strongly next year. so i‘m very pleased to tell you this afternoon that we have completed the biggest trade deal yet, worth £660 billion a year. a

comprehensive canada style free trade deal between the uk and the eu, a deal that will protectjobs across this country, a deal that will allow goods, uk goods and products to be sold without tariffs and without quotas in that you market. a deal which will, if anything, lower our companies and 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 our laws and our destiny. we have taken back control of every jot and tittle destiny. we have taken back control of everyjot and tittle of our regulation in a way that is complete and unfettered from january the 1st, we are outside the customs union and outside the single market. british laws will be made solely by the british parliament, interpreted by

ukjudges sitting british parliament, interpreted by uk judges sitting in british parliament, interpreted by ukjudges sitting in uk courts, and the jurisdiction ukjudges sitting in uk courts, and thejurisdiction of ukjudges sitting in uk courts, and the jurisdiction of the european court ofjustice 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 reports, new green industrial zones. we will be able to cherish our landscape and our environment in the way we choose, backing ourfarmers, backing british —— 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 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. that was boris johnson a little earlier, ending there talking about what he said were gains in negotiation around fish. that‘s not how the british fishermen are seeing it. let me just read what they have released in the last half an hour or so. released in the last half an hour or so. "the industry will be bitterly disappointed that there is no more ofa disappointed that there is no more of a definitive break with what has gone before with the european union. that‘s come from the national federation of fishermen organisations talking to writers describing it as a bit of a fudge. so that from british fishermen. we hope to get their reaction live on the programme in the next little while. but we have been hearing from the leader of the brexit party, nigel farage, who has of course

played a significant role in cheerleading the british departed —— departure from the yukon here is his reaction. look, you know, there is a lot of detail, 2000 pages or so to go through. i‘m obviously very concerned about the level playing field because ursula von der leyen seems very confident that they‘ve got us in a position where they have this over us where if we become too competitive, they put tariffs on us. i‘m obviously worried about that. i don‘t know what the speed mechanism is going to become a fisheries, it‘s a rotten deal, really, for british fishermen come another five to half your transition, albeit some tiny increases over those years. i was pleased to hear michel barnier say that we have not signed up to a common agreement on foreign policy or defence. that struck me as being quite significant. but taking the big picture you know, there were things here that i will not be happy with, of course, but, you know, somebody has fought for 30 years for us somebody has fought for 30 years for us to leave the european union. this

isa us to leave the european union. this is a big moments. it‘s a massive step forward. it‘s the end of the brexit were that have bedeviled british politics and divided families for all these years, and i think it‘s a big historic important moment. but it's absolutely impossible for members of parliament inafew impossible for members of parliament in a few short days to go through this, understand it, analyse it and vote on it. so i think what has to happen next week is there has to be a vote in principle, and that in the new year, parliament can spend time looking at it, going through it, just as the european parliament well and just as parliament all over the rest of europe well. soi rest of europe well. so i think if the government is sensible, it will go next week for a vote on principle. 0therwise, sensible, it will go next week for a vote on principle. otherwise, it will look cynically, you know, the deal was delayed until the last possible moment so that people couldn‘t scrutinise it. possible moment so that people couldn't scrutinise it. that was the line from britain‘s hard—line brexiteer, nigel farage. in europe, the chancellor angela merkel said she was competent the deal was a good outcome that germany could

support. chief brexit grenada for european parliament said the agreement was less ambitious than he wanted, but hoped it would be the first step to regaining a close partnership. 0ur correspondent has been following all of today‘s developments from brussels. brexit walked to and watch and for the history books is welcome at 2:44pm this afternoon is the moment the deal was done. 144 in the afternoon, so between that time, they have been rallying around, working of the times for press conferences. we had some time to set this up, i thinkjust listening to ursula von der leyen, it'sjust clear that she was trying to balance a tone which she talks about fair and balanced, but saying that she felt relief, quoting shakespeare, sadness, parting is such sweet sorrow. quoting as well saying we can finally put brexit behind us, that you can move forward. it's interesting because of all the deals, they are presenting this with this has to be signed off by the cabinets, the governments of the 27

othermember cabinets, the governments of the 27 other member states. they have yet to see the detail, and she said there continues to be compromise, cooperation on transports, on energy, climate change, she said there will be five and a half years of stability for the fishing industry because after that, there will be a decision on a year on your quota. michel barnier, the chief negotiator, probably took the six words that people will remember, he said "the clock is no longer ticking. " said "the clock is no longer ticking." and he spoke as well to say that, basically, there were bits of the deal that he thought was the best that it could've possibly been reached, but he said it wasn't anything like the uk has had before. he said there were two particular points of regret. he said one was the scheme for students to go to different universities, the erasmus programme. he said that the uk decided not to participate, and also on for signing basically some of the security and justice details. he said that's for data sharing there. i was quite crucial for him. so, very different analysis from those two compared to the enthusiasm we

have heard from boris, and just to quickly round up, we are having you reaction. we heard first off the mark from the austrian chancellor, sebastian from a sink that he welcomes the decision from he will start to analyse it. and we heard from mark, the dutch prime ministers think this is excellent news. he is going to want to look at the detail now, and also european parliament, because this is the next stage, and david, the president of european parliament saying that they have to scrutinise this because they have to agree to it. the idea was that they would agree to it before week tomorrow when the new term start. it will have to be retroactive, but what happens now, the member states need to agree. this goes back, to what's called the provisional agreements, which the council and the european commission have to agree on. it will be written off, written statement by ursula von der leyen probably in a few days' time, we are even told there is a meeting tomorrow of all you investors on christmas day at 9:30am. briefly, gavin, to add to that, the italian permits or says the deal between the un uk is good news. the interest and

rights of european businesses and citizens guaranteed in the uk will bea citizens guaranteed in the uk will be a central part and ally for the eu and italy. you are talking there about the ratification process. i suppose it‘s been greatly helped by the fact that right the way through michel barnier has been at pains to keep the 27 right up to date. so there will be, it‘s unlikely to be very many surprises in the text. that's a really good point, the official eu linkages for the government's to see. this is ok, we understand it properly, because it will be legal text in english. so it does help that four months, we have had ground rod weeks and months of the similar issues and they have been briefed constantly by michel barnier, so we have to be briefed on the latest overnight, but actually, it matters most for those eight member states with coastal waters that are looking specifically at the fishing issues. so we do expect that

to be pretty much straightforward. we have in the last couple of minutes heard from one of those leaders who is still in self isolation with covid, the portuguese prime minister saying that he welcomes this time of the uk is a strong ally partner, friend, and we will also look at this deal. so, yes, i think the days to come from a starting tomorrow, christmas day for the eu side to try to get this provisionally ratified before next week. that was gavin in brussels talking to me a little earlier. david mcallister is a german mep and chair of the david mcallister is a german mep and chairof the uk david mcallister is a german mep and chair of the uk coronation committee, little earlier, he was telling the bbc that i deal is good for both sides, let‘s have a listen. i welcome the fact that a deal has been reached, what i have seen and read until now, it seems that this deal is fairand read until now, it seems that this deal is fair and balanced for both sides, and certainly, this draught agreement to protect our citizens, our single markets, and our long—term economic interests as the european union. and as far as the

businesses in your country in germany who rely on being able to experts with frictionless ease to the uk, do you feel that what the european union has done to defend their interests is enough for you to go back to them and say, "your interest have been protected." yes. we offered the united kingdom something we have never offered a country before. tier free, something we have never offered a country before. tierfree, quota free access to the world‘s largest single markets, but this came out a certain condition, and for certain condition was the level playing field, we want to fair competition on both sides of the channel, and what i‘ve read until now, the agreements, we have guarantees that standards are maintained, and that our businesses and citizens are protected, so i think this is a good agreement from our point of view, bugs, of course, the process is not over yet. these negotiations have

been challenging, and now the member states of the european union, and then the european parliament need time to scrutinise all the details reached out negotiator‘s level. anything about the deal that you are disappointed with? well, the first thing i have seen is the united kingdom will no longer participate in the erasmus plus programme. this is something which i regret because i think it‘s important that young people are able to spend some time of their school or study days in another country, and the united kingdom, of course, is an attractive partner with all the world —famous colleges and universities. so that‘s one point, and then there is another point that right from the beginning, the british side was not ready to negotiate any kind of cooperation on such important issues like foreign affairs, defence and external security. this might be something we should have to talk with each other in the next years because i believe

that this agreement, a historic agreement is also the basis to build agreement is also the basis to build a new partnership with our political partners, neighbours and loyal allies in the united kingdom. well, little earlier, we got reaction from around the uk. we heard from james cookin around the uk. we heard from james cook in glasgow, thomas morgan in cardiff, but for us from our ireland correspondent, emma vardy, at stormont, and she told us what this deal means for northern ireland. just think back, the brexit process was so just think back, the brexit process was so seismic for ireland because it raised all those questions over what to do about the irish land border and it reminded everyone of the troubled history of this place. many of the issues which one seemed unresolvable, there are no agreement on. and it means northern ireland enters this new area where doing trade here will be different from the rest of the uk in order to keep that irish land border invisible as

it is now. so, the trade deal has been welcomed here. it's likely to make some of those special arrangements for northern ireland easier to carry out, and importantly, it will bring great relief in the irish republic where many people's livelihoods, particularly in the food industry depended on there being a deal for the future of trade between ira two islands. in scotland from the initial reaction is focused on fish and chips, or to be more accurate, seed potatoes, the kind farmers grow that rather than the kind you and i will roast anti—tomorrow. now, this deal appears to prevent their export from great britain into northern ireland, or to the european union. the first minister of scotland says that‘s a huge blow for scotland, disastrous, she says, in terms of fish, many coastal communities here voted for brexit because they thought it would mean they took back full control of their waters. the prime ministers as they have. if they are not convinced, that my time the conservative party here. and this

isn‘t just about food or trade, conservative party here. and this isn‘tjust about food or trade, it‘s about politics. a clear majority in scotla nd about politics. a clear majority in scotland oppose the decision to leave the european union, and brexit is undoubtedly breathed new life into the debate about scottish independence. so, this deal is now going to be the centrepiece, i think, a part of that debate, as the uses so think, a part of that debate, as the uses so long and thanks for all the fish. any deal was better than no—deal, but this will be a difficult dealfor wales. no—deal, but this will be a difficult deal for wales. a thin deal, not the deal we were promised. those were the words of the first minister, mark drakeford in response to this afternoon‘s news that the trade deal has been reached, a higher proportion of wales experts go to the youth and the uk average, 60% going to the u, which is why the first minister was so keen for a trade deal to be reached. he‘s written to the presiding officer calling for the welsh parliament to be recalled next week so that they can scrutinise this deal, hopefully

by wednesday. but nevertheless, there is still some concern, but the specifics of the steel, and as he says, any deal is better than a no—deal scenario. 0ur correspondents around the uk talking there about scrutinising the deal ahead of a vote next week in the uk parliament. borisjohnson describing vote next week in the uk parliament. boris johnson describing the vote next week in the uk parliament. borisjohnson describing the deal is fantastic, giving uk stability, and certainty. we heard from the labour party earlier saying the deal is in the national interest but describing it as the national interest but describing itasa the national interest but describing it as a thin agreement, saying there are only two ways forward now, one was with this deal, and the other was with this deal, and the other was with this deal, and the other was with no—deal, and kier starmer says labour well accepted and vote for it, but the consequences of the deal, he said those are the government, and we will hold you to account. that was the labour opposition from the leader of the liberal democrats, he expressed he had reservations though about this deal. i haven‘t read the deal yet from us our absolute final position will be

after we study the deal, but let me tell you this very clearly. if what we have heard from the prime minister is absolutely true when we read the text, it looks like this deal is going to be a bad deal. it‘s going to impose a lot of red tape and our businesses at the borders, lots of form filling, costs, delays, and for our services sector, 80% of our economy, it doesn‘t look like there‘s anything for about huge part of our economy, and that would be bad for britain, bad forjobs, and liberal —— liberal democrats couldn‘t support them. so when we read the deal and actually study it, it‘s clear that i‘m right on that and this is a bad deal, the liberal democrats will not support it. that‘s interesting, because it is pretty clear there will be more checks. so we sort of know that. you make the point about reading the deal, but the logic, wasn‘t it crystal clear from kier starmer that you only have two traces going forward from this. one is to back

this deal, whatever the criticisms of edits, or have a no—deal with all the devastating impact that would have. and there‘s only one choice of those two that a responsible political party can make them and that‘s why here‘s number says with all the caveats around, that is why he is going to support this deal. why doesn‘t that stand for you, that logic? first of all, liberal democrats of a lwa ys first of all, liberal democrats of always voted against no—deal, we accepted no—deal would be very damaging for our economy, but what i respect kier starmer, i don‘t pick it‘s a choice between this deal and no—deal. it‘s really clear the government could ask for a further extension to negotiate a better deal. that was the leader of the liberal democrats, and of course, he has reservations about the deal. earlier, we were showing that picture borisjohnson the moment he heard the deal was done, arms aloft, tweeting that picture sanctum of the deal is done. so, plenty more coverage of this very much our main story, that breaking

news that there has been a deal between the uk. i‘m back with more reaction from westminster from the european sea reaction from westminster from the european sea are reaction from westminster from the european sea are in a moment or two. don‘t go away. the skies are clearing across most of the uk. a starry frosty night ahead. and that means that first thing in the morning, there is going to bea thing in the morning, there is going to be a widespread frost on the ground. in fact, for england, it could end up being the coldest christmas day in ten years or so. you can see the gap in the clouds there across the uk during the course of christmas eve, but that massive cloud in the north atlantic, thatis massive cloud in the north atlantic, that is a storm. it‘s brew make —— brewing, heading in our direction, and it will arrive later on boxing day, but in the short term, it‘s quiet on the weather front, just in time for christmas. so, here is the forecast through the early hours. you can see hardly a cloud in the sky, across most of the uk come in the northwest year however, the

weather is ever ever so slowly turning. frost free around western isles and parts of northern ireland, down to minus six degrees across parts of england and wales and also southern and eastern scotland. so, here is friday, christmas day itself, you can see a lot of fine, bright, sunny weather and places. temperatures 4—5 , but that weather is turning in the western aisles and northern ireland, a hint of things to come, so make the most of christmas day, walk off at christmas dinner, because by the time we get to boxing day, storm bailout will be knocking on the door. it‘s a large storm. the weather in the morning will deteriorate in the northwest of the country. the rain will sweep in from of the winds were fresh and, in fa ct, from of the winds were fresh and, in fact, the winds will start to strengthen across many western areas of the uk. now, this is a snapshot of the uk. now, this is a snapshot of the uk. now, this is a snapshot of the afternoon, probably not too bad in the south and southeast, but later in the evening, the winds really will ramp up. in fact, it‘s prompted the met office to issue an amber warning for the severe gales,

gusts of wind 70—80 mph, damaging, also damaging across other parts of england and wales, so a wild saturday night on the way as this large storm sweeps across the country, not just the large storm sweeps across the country, notjust the wind, but also the heavy rain you can see moving into southern parts of the uk early hours of sunday morning. and then sunday itself, we are right in the centre of that storm, so that means that the winds will die down. there will be some showers around, but we can expect some sunny spells on sunday itself, and it‘s going to be 00:57:33,829 --> 4294966103:13:29,430 chilly. merry christmas.