[ Featuring Nino Morro ]
BBC-STYLE PRESENTER:
With the deadline looming, the United Kingdom is at a critical moment in trade deal negotiations that will shape our future for generations to come. The Prime Minister is shortly due to make a statement to the nation, which we will be bringing to you live as soon as that happens.
It s been announced that another round of talks will now take place in the capital next week, but it s still these negotiations today that will form the backbone of any agreement that can be reached.
The foreign secretary has previously stated that the UK will not compromise on key issues in order to secure a deal in time for the end of this transition period. But, in the last half hour, we are now hearing that the government is said to be planning new legislation that could go against the parameters already sanctioned by Parliament for these negotiations. Key issues of fishing rights now appear to be yet again back in the limelight
The Prime Minister is now approaching the press room. Let us take you live to that statement.
PRIME MINISTER:
We, the British people, are on the dawn of a new era. I have said it before, and I will say it again: we will take back control. We will bring opportunity to all parts of our great nation. I am adamant that we can deliver this change that you, the British people, voted for. We want a strong Britain, a prosperous Britain. We will be a free trading nation, in control of our waters, our borders, our success, our economy, and that is a message I have delivered just now to our counterparts on this matter. We will not have our legislative freedom controlled in a way that is completely unacceptable to me, to you, and all the British people. And now it is the time to act on that for the whole country. Any access must only be granted when the UK receives a reciprocal value of opportunities in return. I am confident that this will be achieved, and we will embrace all means necessary to achieve that.
PRESENTER:
The Prime Minister addressing the nation there from 10 Downing Street on the latest at this critical point in the negotiations.
And our political correspondent Jessica Greenwood joins us now. Jessica, we ve just heard from the Prime Minister in his own words, hinting that a deal may be close, but we ve got to ask, what is it? Is it the right deal? What do you understand from this latest statement?
CORRESPONDENT (JESSICA):
(Distorted / breaking up slightly)
Thank you, Marion. Yes, the Prime Minister doesn t want to give too much away, does he? Clearly this is a delicate subject that the Cabinet have in fact been discussing for some time now behind closed doors. The one thing that is certain is that with the deadline looming, the pressure is now mounting from all sides to ensure that this deal is not only made, but that it benefits the UK.
But just this evening, I ve heard from one government insider that it s now not inconceivable that we will get to the end of the transition period and won t have negotiated a deal with our most important trading partners in this thorny area.
It really does seem that somehow it is all coming down to this impasse over fishing, but what that is at the expense of is also a question we ve got to ask.
PRESENTER:
But what will that mean for our fishing industry? Is that something we should be worried about? As I understand it, EU countries want a guarantee that their boats can continue to operate in UK waters, and if not, they will make it more difficult well, impossible, so they claim for us to sell fish to EU countries, where currently 80 per cent of the UK s fish stock goes.
CORRESPONDENT:
Well, it s difficult to know what is being said behind closed doors
(Breaking up)
if we re to believe the Prime Minister, the UK will stand its ground on this point and preserve the UK s sovereignty over our waters. And that means no access to those waters for the EU. But then my government source is now suggesting caution to the wind...
(Goobledegook)
PRESENTER:
Jessica, we are struggling to hear you, I m afraid. Jessica?
Apologies, but we seem to have lost the connection to Jessica. We will try to restore the line and return to this story shortly. In the meantime, let s get the latest on our other headlines today.
The black box from missing flight MJ391 has been recovered from two miles down on the ocean floor .
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