France accuses Boris Johnson of ‘blackmail’ tactics against EU as tensions hit boiling point ahead of Brexit talks

BORIS Johnson’s one “red line” for EU trade talks will be Britain having full control of its laws, aides said last night.

No 10 said being out of the European Court of Justice and Brussels rules is more important than a free trade deal.

The PM’s negotiating team hardened their language before today’s key meeting of the Brexit Cabinet committee  to sign off Britain’s mandate for trade talks with the EU, which will start next week.

But France accused Mr Johnson of using “blackmail” tactics against the EU, as tensions hit boiling point before official talks have even begun.

Its Europe minister Amelie de Montchalin said: “We will not accept blackmail or pressure over the dates."

"We will not sign a bad deal under pressure just because Boris Johnson wants an agreement at all costs on December 31.”

No 10 hit back, with the PM’s spokesman saying: “The UK’s primary objective in negotiations is to ensure that we restore our economic and political independence on January 1, 2021.”

A source later added: “Our red line is we have to have taken back full control by January 1 and that means no rule-taking and no ECJ.”

In a meeting with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovi, who currently holds the rolling EU presidency, Mr Johnson “set out the UK’s vision based on friendly cooperation between sovereign equals and  centred on free trade”.

Last night the EU signed off their mandate for talks.

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