you elizabeth tower, better known to you and me as big ben but we will hear big ben chimed the hour and the change of our relationship with europe begins now. bell chimes.

just after ”pm in london and midnight in brussels, the moment one era ends and a new one begins. the uk has now left eu trading rules and welcomes in new regulations on travel, trade, immigration and security. after nearly 50 years a new relationship has begun between the uk and the 27 nations that make up the eu. let's talk to our europe editor, katya adler, who's in brussels. ona on a personal note this is done that in your life and several lives for many years but does it feel different at the moment?” many years but does it feel different at the moment? i would say as europe editor, from the eu point of view, there is a lot of relief that the brexit process is over. those endless tense negotiations,

that ever present threat of no deal first of all, the no—deal brexit before the divorce deal which was then finally signed last year and then finally signed last year and then no deal once again and really right up until the last point now with the new trade and cooperation deal. but where there is really for the end of the process, there is still a lot of regret about breaks is cell. the eu believes that brexit leaves it, the european union, and the uka leaves it, the european union, and the uk a lot weaker but it also seized this relation as ongoing but just ina seized this relation as ongoing but just in a different way. there are so just in a different way. there are so many loose ends when the two sides, whether about the practicalities of the running of gibraltar for practicalities of the running of gibraltarfor example, practicalities of the running of gibraltar for example, or whether the uk financial services who are anxiously waiting brussels unilateral decision about how much axis they will get to the single market, whether it is about the cooperation within the two sides in the fight against climate change or the fight against climate change or the fact that this trade deal

actually has eight review clause every five years. that noise there is fireworks going on here because it has just is fireworks going on here because it hasjust gone is fireworks going on here because it has just gone past midnight here. but for those reasons and so many more, simon, the eu thinks this is not goodbye but it is a river walk, see you soon, and ongoing conversation for the foreseeable future and probably a lot longer than that. while the priorities going to be in the coming weeks and months in are taking us through these early stages? i'm so sorry, there are so many fireworks, police and that again. i forgive you and a very happy new year let me wish you that. i wonder what the priorities there are going to be in terms of things i need to sort out in the first weeks or months of this. the eu says it feels very well—prepared and definitely worries on the uk side, the government says it is not ready for all these customs procedures that will begin now

because we have left the customs union and we have left a single market. so for at least six months the government is saying it is going to waive the checks but not so on the eu side. if you look over at calle for example, where some of our bbc colleagues are waiting to show you what that will look like exactly, france, the netherlands and belgium as well have invested a lot of money in the last month preparing customs procedures and checks and so those coming from the uk who have filled out all paperwork and who are seen to be in order can be waived through and others will be random spot checks of people who don't have the papers and order will be separate channels for them to be checked without holding up the rest of traffic. so the eu says it feels it is prepared and michel barnier, that youth negotiator, he always said brexit will have consequences in one of those consequences is an enormous mental paperwork now for businesses. also even though this is

a tariff and quota free trade deal, there are lots of nontariff barriers for the two sides and bear in mind as well that the uk is an 80% service —based economy and this new trade deal does not deal very much with services so apart from access to financial services to the single market, the uk is also waiting for the eu and again a unilateral decision to decide how it free and easy the flow of data will be between the two sides. both sides decided unilaterally this is no longer a negotiation between them and that is important for the future. and again this is the reason the conversation will continue. the uk has not been legally a member state since the 31st of january and is now in practical terms also left the european union because it stays in the tradition period untiljust a minute or so ago before the fireworks on this end it. but there are still relations. the uk cannot

leave europe geographically, it is right next to the european union and also when it comes to foreign policy, containing china for example, what about iran and its nuclear programme? there are many areas where the two sides will want to work together with each other in future. it is notjust about trade of course. you mentioned michel barnier, his counterpart david frost has tweeted britain has become a fully independent country again deciding our own affairs for ourselves and in thanks everyone who works with him in the premonition to get us here in the last 18 months. what would be the taken brussels on that comment that this is now the uk deciding foreign affairs for ourselves? as i say, the eu said that it respects the 2016 vote to leave the european union even though it regrets it. in these negotiations, the eu had to recognise that national sovereignty was a huge issue, priority for the governmentjust as the eu priority

was protecting the single market. david frost and his team, michel barnier and his team, they worked really ha rd to barnier and his team, they worked really hard to try and square this circle of these two very different priorities in this negotiation. and both sides then so they fell at the end afair both sides then so they fell at the end a fair deal had been struck that respected those priorities and how is that? of course originally the eu wa nted is that? of course originally the eu wanted the uk to sign up to a new real book, to agree to keep two brussels regulations in order to get this very privileged access to it single market. but david frost and the team in the prime minister said no we are not going to leave as a member of the european union to sign up member of the european union to sign up to this new brussels real book. that does not work for us. so what this new deal does is it says if either side diverges, breaks away from the agreed principles, competition rules if you like when it comes to environmental regulations and labour regulations

or government subsidies, so state aid, then the other side if they feel this allows on unfair competition can go to an arbitration panel, there are all sorts of different mechanisms in this deal and say we want to impose tariffs as and say we want to impose tariffs as a result. so that it is possible and if the uk does go its own way when it comes to those kind of regulations, the eu can put tariffs on those areas of trade and it feels it is protected it single market as a result. uk 70 respected and the eu single market protection it respected as well. that is the theory. but the eu goes into this feeling quite defensive because it feels government will want to pull away and will want to diverge and the eu will want to protect so this could be quite a difficult path the two sides are pursuing together but this is where we are. so the eu regrets the uk decision, respects the decision but it says it hopes

the decision but it says it hopes the two sides will remain friendly. while i have spoken to you, nicola sturgeon, first minister of scotland, has tweeted that scotland will be back soon. she has put a picture of the words europe and scotla nd picture of the words europe and scotland intertwined and says we should be back soon, europe, keep the light on. the future of the union is now going to be a huge issue in the uk. what is brussels view about if there was an independent scotland and the possibility of them rejoining? so the eu wants to keep out of what it sees as the uk's domestic affairs when it comes to that. if you talk to the snp they say when they come to the snp they say when they come to brussels at the eu has been very open to the idea of an independent scotla nd open to the idea of an independent scotland rejoining the european union. but of course that is not the official view here and we are not there. of course there will be elections in scotland next year and the snp according to opinion polls suggest the snp will win. it had

been thought that if there had been no deal in place that they would have gotte n no deal in place that they would have gotten even more support come those elections. but of course the eu will not talk about this. spain for example is not keen on having an independent scotland jointing because it worries about catalonia than say if scotland can join the one about catalonia ? than say if scotland can join the one about catalonia? so many reasons why the eu does not want to talk about this at this moment in time. it says that the united kingdom, the future of scotland is something to be seen in the future and something that it does not want to comment on right now. thank you very much for putting up with me and the fireworks and once again a very happy new year to you. and to you. the prime minister insists the uk is now free do "things differently and if necessary better". the trade deal agreed does avoid the need for import taxes, but fears about new custom rules remains and the government has warned there will be "some

disruption" in the coming days and weeks. let's speak to our economics editor, faisal islam. here we are. a new era is under way. what is your prediction about the first few weeks and how that will pan out? i think it is worth trying to get a sense of the historic moment that we are at. we have been only 50 years inside the customs union, the common market as it was thena union, the common market as it was then a nearly 30 years back in the single market until ten minutes ago and technical sovereignty in legal terms, the direct effect of european union law within great britain and i should say rather than the uk, that has ended too. that is what david frost is tweeting about with britain being free to do and make its own laws and do what it wants. now all of that body of eu law has been kind of that body of eu law has been kind of copied and pasted into uk law. it has retained european law. but now we get the right to diverge from it. and that for the government is the great benefit of brexit, the freedom to do that and the freedom to strike

trade deals. both the flip side of thatis trade deals. both the flip side of that is what you talk about which was that single market and customs union membership, underpinned it seamless, frictionless free trading with our biggest partner, the european union and that was everything from fish to a car to all the parts going into that car and everything in—between. now with that coming to end, there will be, although there will be no taxes or tariffs on imports and exports, there will be new barriers and the governmentjust four there will be new barriers and the government just four hours ago put out its new border operation model with a bunch of case studies about how it applies to fish going from great britain to france, 26 key steps they say. car parts coming in and there is a lot of new procedures. we hope to streamline them, they hope to be able to wave them, they hope to be able to wave them in the first few months but they will be required from customs,

to exports, checks, city declarations, to rules of origin, the makeup of the parts. all these things which were erased in the single market and the customs union, they now become part of life for our trade with the european union. so you step back from this, these things have massive historic political comedy mimetic implications, the way in which you from our trade. the great hope for the government is to get the economy and the business match that will these procedures, in orderto and the business match that will these procedures, in order to trade with europe, and they will also be similarly ready to trade with the re st of similarly ready to trade with the rest of the world and that argument has not gone down to willow many exporters who face the reality of having to enact all of that. but nonetheless government now faces a big strategic decision and faces freedoms but also strategizing about how to use those new freedoms and about where to invest in the government realm be bigger than expected full submit might have to lessen regulations in some areas to

make sure that big multinationals it wanted to use the uk as a launching pad into europe will have to stay for another reason. a bunch of big decisions and more freedoms but there will be some at least short—term difficulties and government hopes to minimise them. but there will be change. if these sorts of trading relationships have huge implications for decades to come. it stands government now to the government now. the other thing that's quite interesting and i've cove red that's quite interesting and i've covered this and yourself are ages, the extent to which can administer themselves will say when everything we nt themselves will say when everything went wrong we did not do things quite right with him on the european union. that is lustrous argument because i do make this publicly. now they said we cannot do that. it's all on us now, all responsibility. so very interesting historic of elements tonight with big consequences and some elements tonight with big consequences and some of which we know and some we don't know and a big balancing act. let's quit with her but we don't know enough the

services sector. so important to this economy and we are none the wiser with financial services at the moment. you are right. certainly in terms with the access the service sector is built on the fat people can travel and some of that access is not clearly as good as membership with the eu. that's a two way think was of the immigration rules have been applied. what it also has some of the other eu deals with other countries and we are waiting for some clarification from the eu about whether our standards in terms of financial services and in terms of data as well, and other big thing for technology firms, whether they are judged to be adequate so that that free flow of business in the service sector can continue. that makes up 80% of our county. it focus a lot on goods, entree three dover, trade in northern ireland but you we re trade in northern ireland but you were right, the service sector is an area where i think any government

would want to build on what has been achieve in this deal so far in terms of services but they will stress that there is now lots of freedom to do better service sector deals all around the world with traditional partners like america, japan, other countries. so it is a balancing act. it is here now. it is not going away. there are opportunities, there are also some issues around existing trade with europe. we will have to see but we don't expect an important to note that we don't expect those goods to hit immediately in the next two or three days. a lot of the trade that would be required in the ist ofjanuary, trade that would be required in the ist of january, that trade that would be required in the ist ofjanuary, that was the cues we saw a couple of weeks ago so that's not going to impact. we watch very carefully for the middle ofjanuary to see how this is all handled. one less thing to say it, happy new year. happy new year to you, too. thanks. let's get more on what's happened tonight,

and what it now means for the uk from our political correspondent alex forsyth. it's almost five years since this moment — the date set for a referendum that would change the country's course. one of the biggest decisions this country will face in our lifetimes. fast forward through what came next. there were campaigns, promises, heated protests. democracy! now! prolonged negotiations, high—profile resignations. the country i love. behave yourself! parliament paralysed as westminster wrangled. then another public verdict, and after this testing year, a last—minute trade deal, a political win for the prime minister. the central purpose of this bill is to accomplish something, the british people always knew in their hearts could be done. for businesses, it means change, as of tonight. this butterfly farm in stratford—upon—avon exports species across the eu. they've been preparing for new checks and paperwork, but even with a trade deal, they say, things are up in the air.

this brexit malarkey should've been sorted out in the summer, then we could've asked the nitty—gritty questions to people that might know some answers. my frustration is that nobody‘s known anything. the issue that's so divided here will no longer dominate, but it won't disappear entirely. there'll still be things to settle as the practicalities of brexit kick in. what was promised in 2006 by the leave campaign does not exist. for those who've campaigned on both sides, sometimes for decades, this is a moment to mark. ijust wish i was 21 again, frankly, because my goodness, what prospects lie ahead of us for young people now, to be out there buccaneering, trading, dominating the world again. i'll be feeling a sense of regret, as will many people in the country and others will feel elated by what has happened and that's a reflection of the division, but we now have to move on and come back together as a country. the ports and borders may be

the first to feel the impact in coming days and weeks, but whether time for rejoicing, regret or resignation, this is now the start of much wider change in our long relationship with those across the channel. alex forsyth, bbc news. lord ricketts is the former british ambassador to france and national security adviser. and hejoins me now. very happy new year. and to you. let's take stock and pause for a moment because we are in the middle of history right now, are we not? yes, we are. his moment of status for me personally. civil service of my generation spent the last a0 years trying to remove obstacles the last a0 years trying to remove o bsta cles to the last a0 years trying to remove obstacles to working, living, travelling to europe. and tonight those obstacles, many of them are coming back. life will get more difficult, more expensive, more cumbersome and dealing with europe. and these are our closest neighbours and our largest trading partner. so

it's a momentous time when britain has decided to forge out alone. and an awful lot remains uncertain. but certainly it feels like a very sniffing at moment for someone like me who spent their entire career on relations with europe. given that frustration given that you were nice looking over the years as this process has dragged on, was this a day you would ever have thought you would see. i certainly did not open to the referendum, no. since then, it has been inevitable that britain would leave the european union on some terms or other. these are frankly terms that are far more distant than i expected. and the barriers and the obstacles i talked about will be higher. but now we are where we are in the country is still very divided. it certainly felt like that in the debate we had of the house of lords all day yesterday late into the night. those divisions need now to be healed and that needs all sides including the government

to try to bring people together rather than treat this as a kind of moment of triumph for many it's not that. given that we are entering a period of friction where there was none. do you think your former collea g u es none. do you think your former colleagues though still working on the diplomatic ended the trade front, will be able to iron out some of that friction over if not the months the years? i'm sure they will be working to do that. let's make a distinction between our relations with the eu as an organisation and our relations with individual european countries because those remain hugely important. my successor in paris and all the other ambassadors around europe i'm sure will be working very hard to make sure those bilateral links work as effectively as a canon britain still has a great deal of affection and respect across europe. but in dealing with the organisation, we will be very largely dependent on decisions taken in brussels now. and we saw it when the french decided to

close the borders over the pandemic a few days ago, that had an instant effect in the uk, so an awful lot will depend on how the eu themselves decide they are going to play this over the next weeks and months. respect and affection does not carry weight, does it? no command to be honest, britain has lost influence of the last three or four years and i think of the last three or four years and ithink our of the last three or four years and i think ourfriends in of the last three or four years and i think our friends in the of the last three or four years and i think ourfriends in the eu have a pretty amazing how difficult it's been for britain to make up his mind what it wanted an all boot tubing and furling and the threats to break international law and all the rest of it, i think we have lost influence reputation and i believe believing the eu we lose influence in the water would as well. we need to work harder to rebuild that. the irony is both sides have a lot riding on making this work—out. irony is both sides have a lot riding on making this work-out. yes. and over the years, i'm sure that both sides will want to try to now start to build back. one of the striking things about this legislation will be adopted last

night is that it creates i think 32 new committees and working groups between the uk in the eu, who will as of next week start to work on all the many, many loose ends and unresolved issues which your course bonds of talked about. so anyone who thinks this is the end of negotiations with the eu, i'm afraid tonight is not going to be that liberation. we are going to feel that we are continuing on endless negotiation with the eu for years and years to come and gradually some of the things that are now going to be real obstacles in the coming months i'm sure will in due course workarounds will be found that make them easier to handle. and also we are going in the coming months and yea rs are going in the coming months and years perhaps look once again at the nature of this united kingdom at the moment and the very nature of the union. and how do you think that will play over the coming months?”

think it will probably play out over yea rs. think it will probably play out over years. it will be first of all in scotland, clearly where the scottish people do not feel part of the bricks at this government have to go shoot it. very strong feeling that scotla nd shoot it. very strong feeling that scotland must make interests are to remains close its also the evening we see how that plays out in the yea rs we see how that plays out in the years to come. but i don't think anyone can rule out another independence referendum. and in ireland, the fact that norma ireland will now be closer to the eu than the rest of the uk must over time have an influence there as well. so the longer term prospects for a united kingdom and probably have been set back by this deal. you are former national security adviser. what about security? arbela really insecure now than we were 30 minutes ago? i think we will be less safe over time as a result of leaving the eu. and i'm glad you raised it because everyone talks about the trade deal but actually security cooperation with the eu is usually important as well. having this deal

is much better than not having a deal at all. and the negotiators have done well and getting quite a lot of detail into this deal. however we a re lot of detail into this deal. however we are not going to have the sort of real—time direct access to all those databases sort of real—time direct access to all those data bases of sort of real—time direct access to all those databases of information and alerting that british police use so much in cooperation with their european counterparts. it is going to be more arm's—length, more slow and cumbersome. and the issue of security, speed equals safety. so if we have a loss of direct connectivity, over time that will create risks that did not exist will be river of the eu. thank you so much for spending the last part of 20/20 with us i know we should wish he once again a very happy new year. thank you very much. as we've been hearing, some of the things we've become used to, especially in relation to how we travel in the eu, will change once the brexit transition period has ended. so what are the key new rules that may affect you? our reality check correspondent chris morris explains. so, with the transition period at an end, we're

moving into a new era. brexit actually happened nearly a year ago, but the practical effects only start now, and a lot of the initial attention is going to be on borders. for traders, one really important thing stays the same — no tariffs or taxes on goods crossing between britain and the eu, which is a big relief for many. but there is loads of new bureaucracy, forms to fill in and checks to be done on customs, product standards, food safety and so on. if lorries don't have the right paperwork, they won't be allowed across. the government has decided to delay checks on goods coming into the uk for six months. but going into the eu, they start straightaway. as for travellers, because of covid restrictions, most of us aren't going to be able to travel to europe for a while anyway now that we're outside the single market, but that's temporary. in the longer term, the big change is that free movement of people is over. so eu citizens lose the automatic right to live, work and retire in the uk in the future, and uk citizens lose the same rights in europe.

you won't need a visa for short—term travel like holidays, but you can't stay in most european countries for more than 90 days in every 180—day period. then there are practical issues. if you have an ehic health insurance card, it will remain valid until it expires. the government is setting up a new uk scheme, but it doesn't exist yet, so you might need to get travel insurance. you won't need an international driving permit unless you only have a paper version of the uk licence, but you will need to get a green card to prove you have the right vehicle insurance. and if you want to take your pet to europe, you'll need an animal health certificate from a vet. now, services. there's going to be a lot of change for what is a substantial part of the uk economy. there's not a huge amount in the deal about financial services beyond an agreement to keep talking about it, so the exact conditions on which uk companies can operate in europe aren't yet clear. in terms of access,

there's better news for uk lawyers who want to work in europe than for uk accountants. but there's no longer any automatic recognition of professional qualifications, which is going to make it a lot harderfor some people to sell services across the border. and finally, northern ireland is going to have a different relationship with the eu than the rest of the uk. in order to keep the land border open, northern ireland is staying in the eu single market for goods, which means companies in belfast won't face new bureaucracy trading with the eu. but it also means the european court of justice still has a role in northern ireland, which doesn't please many brexiteers, and there will be new bureaucracy and checks down the irish sea for trade within the uk between great britain and northern ireland. so there's a lot of change. we haven't even talked about fishing or competition rights, but a lot in the new agreement is unresolved still, so if you think

that talking and negotiation is just going to stop, think again. hauliers in britain taking goods to the eu and northern ireland will need new paperwork from now on as the uk's new trading relationship with europe begins. the government has said it expects "some disru ption" due to the changes. let's cross over the channel and speak to our correspondent bethany bell who is in calais. bethany. well, calais is usually important for trade between the uk in the eu. millions of trucks passed through here each year and the authorities here say they are bracing themselves to see just what the impact will be of all these new customs formalities and the new red tape. the authorities here say they are tape. the authorities here say they a re pretty tape. the authorities here say they are pretty well prepared, that they have had a lot of practice dry runs of situations here, they have hired more people they have created more parking spaces for lorries when they

have to have extra checks, but there are concerns that all of this new documentation may cause some disruption. for the moment, for the next few days, they think things should be fairly quiet here. it's the holidays, it's the weekend. but as we get into the middle ofjanuary and business starts picking up again, than they fear that some disruptions may come and they say a lot of it is down to individual content companies. certain exporters, some of whom will be more prepared than others and it was interesting today driving up from paris to calais, we noticed along the motorway big signs up saying warning that there might be disruptions because of brexit in the next time ahead. but there is of course also a a lot of incentives on people here to keep transport moving because they don't want to see trade going to belgium or the netherlands,

the ports they are instead of calais, they want to keep it here. you are an hour ahead of us were very happy new year to you. thank you very much. we've heard a lot about the border between northern ireland and the republic throughout the negotiations. our ireland correspondent, chris page, explains why it's been so critical and what the outcome has been. this might not look like an international frontier, but it is the only land border between the united kingdom and the european union. behind me, it's the republic of ireland. over here, northern ireland, where the main political groupings are unionists, who see themselves as british, and irish nationalists, who want northern ireland to leave the uk and become part of the republic. for about 30 years during the late 20th century, this border was at the centre of a conflict known as the troubles. during the breaks in negotiations, all sides agreed the frontier should during the brexit negotiations,

all sides agreed the frontier should be kept open and free—flowing because bringing back checkpoints could undermine the peace deal that ended the violence. but that left a diplomatic difficulty — how do you avoid having checks on the border whenever this country is in the european union with its trading rules, and this state is outside the eu with different regulations? in effect, northern ireland is staying in the eu's single market for goods, while the rest of the uk has left. that means their new checks on products, particularly on the food arriving here from great britain, they are taking place at four ports — the biggest of which is here in belfast. new infrastructure known as border inspection posts are being built. they won't be ready until the middle of this year, so initially the checks are happening at temporary facilities. officials are expecting that at least 1a lorries a day will be selected for inspection. some rules have been relaxed

for the first 3—6 months to ensure food supplies to supermarkets aren't disrupted. but the different trading regime and all the extra paperwork that goes with it are big changes. northern ireland is run by a power—sharing regional government. it's made up mainly of unionists and nationalists, and is based here at stormont, on the outskirts of belfast. more than 20 years after the conflict largely ended, political relationships are still often strained. economically, there are some who argue that trade barriers with the rest of the uk will hit businesses very badly. others point to the fact that under the brexit deal, northern ireland can sell goods tariff—free into both the eu and britain — a unique position which could bring opportunities. there's a huge question — if the economic focus here turns away from london

and towards brussels, will that affect people's sense of national identity? that's becoming an ever more significant part of the fiercely contested debate about whether northern ireland should remain in the uk. let's talk to our ireland correspondent, emma vardy, in belfast. as of 11 o'clock, the irish sea border is now a thing. yes. absolutely. it almost seems impossible after the years of arguing in the years a conflict over all this but yes, it is an unprecedented and new trade border within the uk itself. that irish sea border. it is a new reality. and really this is a real test now because the ports in northern ireland have been scrambling to get ready for all the changes, don't forget a lot of the processes that have to be agreed were only really agreed in the last few weeks. businesses and people at the ports have had months and months of

uncertainty, but the test is now it all kicks in, there is a bit of phasing in over the next few months but it does mark a huge change for northern ireland and there's been a lot of work to do for a lot of businesses who get goods in from great britain and bring goods over the irish sea to get that paperwork in order and to see if they can really fit into this new system. one of the big questions is will he put off businesses in great britain from shipping to northern ireland and too much hassle, how is this going to look at reality and going to find out in the weeks and months to come. and this will be very closely watched in the eu. yes. absolutely. the eu have a huge interest in making sure this works because if any goods are able to slip in with the wrong paperwork, you can open up a smugglers chance. that was important for the eu because northern ireland now becomes the external frontier in order to keep that irish land border that we were hearing chris talk about open. that

was the heart of all of this, to keep the irish land border open in thatis keep the irish land border open in that is why all these new processes at the be put in place at northern ireland ports. the eagle will keep a close eye on this because it is in their interest to make sure that all works out. in many business interests and livelihoods of people in northern ireland to make sure works too. any disruption there and any bumps in the road and the lady will affect the goods on the shelf and consumers. what does this do to the politics given that the unionists have opposed this all along? they have done. this left a very bitter aftertaste for the dup who are so against the idea of the border and irish sea and they felt very sold out by borisjohnson who i once and said no prime minister could agree to this. but actually, and what we see is a recognition that this is now happening and businesses have to get on with it. but you will always see the unionist parties here always lay down their

ideological opposition. we saw them recently but against the president built themselves and may say why they did, the dup packed braising but but against the bill because they're so opposed to the of the border and i received but it is a reality now and it has increased division between the parties here andi division between the parties here and i think all that division over the irish border and brexit really prolongs the storm stalemate if you remember it took a long time for the parties to get a government back at stormont. but it is not a reality. emma, happy new year to you. thank you very much for that. alexandra phillips is a former mep for the south east of england for the brexit party. she wrote last week that the uk's last minute deal with the eu ‘smacked of desperation and betrayal‘. shejoins me now from lanzarote. why? | why? i think because we have a situation where politicians were given barely any time to analyse something that is about 2000 pages

of legalese. we have been waiting forfour of legalese. we have been waiting for four years to look at the detail of what our future relationship might look like with the eu as a result of these negotiations and so to release that message on christmas day i think they wanted to prevent their being due scrutiny and there's been a rush procedure, the erg collaborated with the called the star chamber of legal officials to look into the deal. we had a very short span of debate, and it felt like a bit of a anticlimax of the entire brexit process. the final resolution to everything we have been working towards really didn't have much of a reading and much of a debate. so you want a no deal? ideally it is not about a no deal or deal committed by getting the keenest break possible and being able to create a blank canvas upon which the rights your country future... forgive me, but at this stage it absolutely was either a deal or a no deal because we were at a time. i agree with that. we were

ata a time. i agree with that. we were at a time. that is a result of herbal negotiating practice can i say. if we're going to go for a no deal resolution which you want to weigh about six month ago. but i'm not saying this that i'm happy with the deal, not at all, i think that will borisjohnson the deal, not at all, i think that will boris johnson has the deal, not at all, i think that will borisjohnson has been given the legacy left behind theresa may and the terrible negotiations under sir ollie robinson i think he has made the best of a bad situation but the problem is what we have now is the problem is what we have now is the labour party are calling it almost a landing strip for going back into the eu. a great platform for renegotiating a closer relationship with some brexiteers are saying this could be a launch pad for a full effect freedom sovereign future and we still have some apron strings attached and we are talking about the northern ireland situation just there. the rules of origin and many other other factors to be considered. fishing has been resolved. it has come maybe not to the way you would wish it to have been in there is a time delay. but the deal has been done. we just

have to live with it now. you're absolutely right. the deal has been done. we have to live with it. do you think seasonal goodwill help? we have a five and a half year transition period within which time we decide what quoted the eu and they have very sword of damocles they have very sword of damocles they can hang over as economically and in terms of other more complicated parts of the deal. it is a bit ofa complicated parts of the deal. it is a bit of a gordian knot. and i think essentially fishing has been kicked into the long grass and i think a lot of situations that level the playing field are up for grabs and at the end as much as this might exhaust some of your viewers, brexit hasn't really been taken off the table. our relationship with the eu has not been taken off of the table. it is quite clear that you would just want an end to any relationship with the eu. that is what you want and the first place? no. of course not. the idea of absolutism and puritan idea that we must have no

relationship with the eu is ridiculous. there are things the government have done which i hope actually set a store the ambitious borisjohnson government actually set a store the ambitious boris johnson government that actually set a store the ambitious borisjohnson government that i want to see happen which is he is looking at not being part of the eu agency and a british scheme, which is global, and doing the same think with the health insurance card. he wa nt to with the health insurance card. he want to set up a british scheme that is global. i see our future as being out of europe and into the world and it is not what we do with those tools that have been repatriated to this, the competences we now have democratically gained and what our future governments do to make best i brexit that counts. very good of you tojoin us. very happy new year to you. and to you. the referendum vote divided the nation, and four and a half years of wrangling over the terms on which the uk leaves has done little to heal those divisions. some tonight will be commiserating, others will be celebrating. one of the latter is conservative mp and long—time brexit supporter daniel kawczynski.

hejoins me now. happy new year to you. i don't know if you are that last interview but there are some brexiteers who saved it simply doesn't go far enough that it has been a satellite in effect. the most important thing i would like to share with your listeners is that of course this is the first time in the history of the european union where the people of a particular country have voted in a national plebiscite. and that outcome has been implicated to it. quite extraordinary. every time the people of any european country have voted against the european union, they have been told they made a mistake and they need to vote again. until they get it right. so today, if nothing else, it is a day for democracy and very important that when the people of any country vote in a free and fair election, thatis vote in a free and fair election, that is implemented in a very proud today that the united kingdom is the first country that has stood up for

that and is now an independent sovereign nation. so much is made about control and getting back control of laws. so what in the next months and years will the uk do differently in terms of that control? i think one of the most concerning things is that the european union has been stagnating over the last few days. as our exports to non—eu countries have been going very quickly, they have stagnated to the european gear again. this is an ever smaller continent in comparison with the global gdp. —— european union. i hope britain will use his new—found independence to ensure that we are more competitive globally. this year, more competitive globally. this yea r, less stress more competitive globally. this year, less stress and have a team have signed international trade deals with over 63 important interlocutors around the world, covering over £900 billion. —— liz

truss. i hope without the red tape regulation and interference from an unelected eu commission, a far—away eu commission that perhaps doesn't necessarily understand british perspective are parameters that make forgive me, we had just introduced red tape on our bigots. exporting partner. and that is the eu. —— introduced red tape on our biggest exporting partner. there will be some regulation and checks for exports to the european union. but asi exports to the european union. but as i say, many british companies trade very successfully around the world on wto terms, now we have set up world on wto terms, now we have set up all these free trade agreements, so it is a bit of give—and—take. but at the end of the day, the british parliament now will be sovereign and it will be accountable to the british people. and every four yea rs, british people. and every four years, the british people would decide come passes government done the things it has promised to do to him is it making britain more competitive, is it dealing with the

issues affecting our communities, and if the government doesn't do that, then we throw them out and we select and elect the next group of people. but all decisions will be made in the house of commons, through a system of transparency and accountability. i used to say that my constituents i will give you £100 if you can name me any of the members of the european parliament that represents you. i haven't lost a penny. let's move on. none of them live in our community. the argument is now done clearly with what is happening at 11 o'clock. i want to look at what has done to your party, given the damage over the years two prime ministers have lost their jobs, three brexit secretaries have resigned, their party was totally destroyed by this issue for so long, do you think the argument is now done? this issue has been very debilitated for my party and a huge

destruction in the house of commons and oras we destruction in the house of commons and or as we ought to be debating about things which are pertinent in peoples lives like health service in schools and all the rest of it, in the house of commons it's been an imbroglio about our ever changing relationship with the european union. i've never seen the conservative party more united than idid conservative party more united than i did yesterday in the 15 years i've been a member of parliament. only to conservative members of parliament did not vote for the deal. and i think they abstain. and i think it shows the leadership of boris johnson whereby he has brought the party together in an unprecedented way and others sea that bodes well for us hopefully for the next general election in three or four yea rs general election in three or four years time. you talk about three or four years time. talk to me about the next six months, this coming year, of course we have not mentioned the pandemic which is also the shadow over everything that we are doing at the moment. absolutely.

this is why mrjohnson was so right in refusing to acquiesce to the demands of people like nicola sturgeon and others who were saying that we should have an extension to the negotiations. the prime minister is absolutely right to have concluded them now so that we can focus with laser—like precision on rolling out the vaccine and trying to get to grips with this appalling pandemic which is so adversely affected our communities. so we have brexit done and now i think the majority of the population will expect the prime minister and his cabinet and his team to focus on getting the vaccine out in a very expeditious way and focusing on economic recovery which this country so badly needs after the hundreds of big as a pounds we've had to borrow in order to keep things afloat. that hundreds of billions. happy new year to you. thank you for your time.

in the 2016 referendum, scotland voted to remain in the eu by a majority of 62% to 38%. since then, the scottish government has challenged the legitimacy of brexit, with snp mps voting against the deal yesterday. tonight, the first minister, nicola sturgeon, who faces an election in 2021 at holyrood, has tweeted to say, "scotland will be back soon, europe. keep the light on." let's talk to james shaw, our correspondent in edinburgh. the issue and the arguments over brexit have turbochargers the issue of scottish independence once again. that is right i think. there was a bow in the scottish parliament very strongly that parliament came out against brexit. and i think that reflects as you suggested the fact that back in 2016, scottish people bya that back in 2016, scottish people by a quite 6—inch majority voted against brexit and also reflects the scottish government view that this isa scottish government view that this is a bad deal. —— quite a wide

majority. but their argument is that this deal takes scotland out of the customs union come out of the single market, and therefore it is a bad dealfor market, and therefore it is a bad deal for scotland. one of the other things they are concerned about also is the uk governments internal market legislation, which is designed to create a level playing field for business, but the scottish government says it cuts across powers which should be repatriated to scotland. as part of brexit. but i think the big issue really is how ordinary people feel about this deal, does it affect businesses and jobs, does it affect peoples ability to travel and does it affect food prices and may be all of those everyday issues feed into what is the biggest question about a scotland, the future of scotland, independent or not, and that i think really is the question that we will resolve over the next months or yea rs, resolve over the next months or years, what difference does resnick make to help people in scotland till

about independence? a crucial to that will beat this relationship with the eu and whether the eu says scotland, we would look kindly at any attempt to rejoin the eu. yes. i don't think we really have any indications at this point as to how that will pan out, clearly we fired nicola sturgeon making those expressions of wanting to get back into the european gig and as quickly as possible. that would be a totally unprecedented situation, something like that has never happened before. and part of that member states that try to rejoin the eu. with all of this, we are in uncharted territory. an extraordinary night where within the last hour, scotland and the rest of the uk has come to terms with the actual realities of brexit as opposed to the legal reality which happened at the end of january, the vat on the ground will make a huge

difference how people feel about this whole process. and all that will take a long time to work through. i can't help noticing that there are people walking past you in groups come here we are new year's eve but not wearing mask. i'm just wondering what the deal is there tonight. yes, you are absolutely right the point that out. we are close to the esplanade, the area in front of edinburgh castle, it's been pretty quiet for most of the night but just within the pretty quiet for most of the night butjust within the last half hour as you suggest, starting to see quite large numbers of people coming up quite large numbers of people coming up onto the esplanade. the police have been patrolling and coming around ina have been patrolling and coming around in a squad car every half an hour or so just around in a squad car every half an hour or sojust to see around in a squad car every half an hour or so just to see what the situation is. they may become concern by this number of people, maybe 100 or possibly more than that coming onto this quite large area clearly in time for midnight, they are not supposed to be any official celebrations are markings of a midnight here in edinburgh apart

from a lone paper on the ramparts of the castle which you may see within the castle which you may see within the next few minutes. but it could bea the next few minutes. but it could be a concern there are a large number of people gathering here. sorry to do that in the middle but it was rather noticeable as they walked past. finally, james, the issue of when there would be another referendum will creep up the agenda and boris johnson has referendum will creep up the agenda and borisjohnson has said that it will not happen, but what is the feeling about the timing of this?” think that is a really fascinating question. it is something that nobody i think can pin down. how much pressure put on borisjohnson if in the scottish parliament elections ma there is a huge majority in favour of the snp. that isa majority in favour of the snp. that is a big air. we don't know what will happen with those but can't you resist what appears to be the popular will of scotland ? as resist what appears to be the popular will of scotland? as the prime minister of the uk and since whatever people and scotland appear to want, you will say no you cannot

have it. that is a really big question and probably the most important question facing scotland over the next year. james, happy new year to you. thank you very much. enjoy. and to you. let's talk a little more about what the future is going to be like for businesses both here in the uk and in the eu. tarrifs have been avoided, but the additional checks required for customs will create barriers for companies who want to export to the eu. with us now is ben butters, who is the chief executive of eurochambres, the association of european chambers of commerce and industry, which represents more than 20 million european businesses. let's start, it has happened. we are now nearly an hour into this new era. he has after four and half yea rs of era. he has after four and half years of confusion and doubt, it has happened. i don't think everything is totally clear to the businesses who operate between the eu in the uk but nonetheless there is a certainty

that it has happened and we need to move ahead now and work with within the new parameters. it would be an understatement to say you're not a fan of where we are but is there a sense of this could've been a lot worse even a week ago? absolutely. not having a far worse scenario. we are happy in that sense we did reach are happy in that sense we did reach a deal but as you implied, there are the deal has been struck is certainly not as advantageous to businesses as the previous status quo, the uk has left the single market and the customs union. and what they come a significant number of new nontariff barriers. nontariff but nonetheless significant to businesses particularly smaller ones. we need to be checking up on the implications of that. for small enterprises particularly, can you put some sort of cost on what that friction will bring? no, not yet

forth a very hard to say what the cost will be. but it is clear there will be friction. i have a document here which the commission distributed a few days ago which cove rs distributed a few days ago which covers purely issues around tax and customs for businesses as a consequence of this deal. it is nothing in there is massively complicated in isolation, but cumulatively there are a lot of new forms to fill and a lot of new numbers and certification procedures to acquire it, and to comply with, and for smaller businesses, as that means and for smaller businesses, as that m ea ns cost and for smaller businesses, as that means cost and that will be probably passed on to the consumer ultimately. in terms of the customs arrangement the issue of enforcement will be crucial. how it is policed if you like. do you get any sense of whether there is the goodwill certainly at the early stages to forgive? we were talking to people earlier who say they will not be an

attentional rankings of the law. —— there will be unintentional breaking. that is the feedback we are getting back from custom authorities that is the feedback we are getting on the side, they are willing to work with these businesses as they seek to comply with these new rules and what that will be the case for the uk as well. there will be any problems that are created because of the new climates will largely be through lack of understanding rather than anything more malicious in that. there does need to be some flexibility and understanding and we as chambers of commerce need to continue helping our businesses to understand what they need to do. i'm guessing many people in business in the uk and across the eu are now know what they have to deal with. it will be studying a lot of paperwork. yes. the actual procedures are not

so complicated. indeed, they need to make sure they comply they have the right numbers and understand which products they have, and are applicable for preferential treatment and therefore don't have to tariffs impose and work with the customs authorities, and there will bea customs authorities, and there will be a lot of reading to do and a lot of paperwork to do and see how things go and next few weeks and months to see how significant that additional burden is for businesses. it isa additional burden is for businesses. it is a question i will ask you. the last time it will be asked of you i suspect. how do you feel now that we are out of that customs union, customs arrangements, and the single market, was this a day you would ever think you actually see? market, was this a day you would ever think you actually seam became very clear we would see it from about two or three years ago when the parameters for brexit

became apparent from the uk government, but before that, i would have imagined it would happen, it is from a business perspective of course regrettable, and we as chambers of commerce are desperately keen to help ensure frictionless trade and this is a move in the opposite direction. he could've been worse but we regret that we are where we are but now we need to move forward in terms of the eu uk relationship and also we think in terms of the european the business community competitiveness, we cannot look at ourselves in isolation and the whole global economy is evolving very quickly. we need to make sure we are remain at the forefront of that process. then, all that remains is for me to wish you a happy new year. i will show you a very special programme we put up the highlights of 20/20. let's have a look.

exactly. the farewell 2020. now let'sjoin bbc colleagues now for coverage of somewhat different new year's eve celebrations in the united kingdom. music: end of the year theme by on the sly 10...9...8...7...6...5...

a...3...2...1. big ben strikes the hour