Brussels ‘moving goal posts’ on Brexit deal ALREADY and sticking to EU rules ‘defeats point of leaving’, says Raab
BRUSSELS is already trying to "move the goal posts" and play tough with Britain on a post-Brexit deal, Dominic Raab said today.
The Foreign Secretary said that sticking close to EU rules as the bloc wants "defeats the point of Brexit" and stressed that we should be treated like any other nation trying to seal a deal with the bloc.
Speaking after Britain formally left on Friday night, Mr Raab insisted that alignment with them "ain't happening" and Boris Johnson had been clear from the start about it.
He told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show: "We all agreed we weren't going to do that.
"Why are you trying to shift the goal posts? We want a good deal."
And he said that the European courts could not have a role in Britain after the transition period ends at the end of the year.
He added: "We are proceeding on the basis of democratic control over our laws, that is totally inconsistent with a dispute resolution which is decided by the other side through the European Court of Justice."
The EU has said a Canada-style deal is on the table, but it wants us to stay as close as possible to EU rules to help trade flow easier.
However, some of Boris Johnson's exit deal (the parts on aims for future trade talks) isn't legally binding, and can be changed at a later date during discussions.
The Sunday Telegraph claimed the PM was "infuriated" with the EU's attempts to try and block a free trade deal.
He thinks Brussels is trying to "change the terms" of the exit deal he agreed last year - which said both sides would work towards an ambitious free trade partnership.
A government source said: "There are only two likely outcomes in negotiation - a free trade deal like Canada or a looser arrangement like Australia - and we are happy to pursue both.”
Tomorrow Boris will give his first big post-Brexit speech, as talks officially start in weeks.
He will said the NHS won't be sold off, and the UK won't lower standards on food hygiene, workers' rights or environmental protections.
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And he will say that the UK won't sign up to rules other countries that did deals with the bloc did not do.
There are just 11 months to thrash out a deal before the end of the so-called transition period - which Boris has refused to extend.
Ministers are planning a series of trips around the world to drum up trade in the coming months, including to Japan.
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