Brexit news – live: Boris Johnson hails UK’s new ‘freedom’ as Macron attacks ‘lies and false promises’

Emmanuel Macron says that Brexit was ‘built on lies and false promises’ in his New Year message

Boris Johnson hailed the UK’s exit from the EU’s single market and customs union as “amazing moment” in his new year message. “We have our freedom in our hands and it is up to us to make the most of it.”

It comes as French president Emmanuel Macron attacked the “lies and false promises” which led to Brexit in his own new year message. SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon said Europe should “keep a light on” – claiming Scotland will be “back soon” inside the EU.

Around 300 lorries had passed through the Eurotunnel at Folkestone by midday on Friday, but the Road Haulage Association said firms were anticipating “invisible chaos” in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, Tory grandee Lord Heseltine vowed to fight to re-join the EU. “The battle starts again.”

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Show latest update 1609515207 Khan defends New Year light show tribute to NHS, Captain Tom and Black Lives Matter

Sadiq Khan has defended London’s New Year list show featuring tributes to the NHS, Captain Tom Moore and the Black Lives Matter movement after it was criticised for being “woke”.

London welcomed in 2021 with a stunning light and fireworks show on the Thames, with 300 drones showing images in the sky above the O2 Arena, one of which showed the NHS logo in a heart while a child said: “Thank you NHS heroes.”

Samuel Osborne1 January 2021 15:33

1609514060 Does the Brexit deal pave the way for Britain to become a tax haven?

Some experts believe the UK could be charting a new course towards becoming a low-tax, low-regulation country, whether or not that’s what people voted for, writes Ben Chapman:

Samuel Osborne1 January 2021 15:14

1609514037 ‘Good start to 2021’, says Dover MP

The Tory MP for Dover and Deal Natalie Elphicke offered some flowery prose for the post-Brexit age. “This morning the sun rose over the English Channel leaving a rosy hue, lighting up container ships ambling along the international shipping lane, ferries are motoring to and from France, the roads are quiet and running well,” she tweeted.

Adam Forrest1 January 2021 15:13

1609512175 Around 300 trucks through Eurotunnel in ‘smooth’ start

Roads in Kent were quiet on Friday, and the first ferries sailed in and out of the port of Dover uneventfully. Around 300 trucks have passed through the Eurotunnel at Folkestone since the end of the Brexit transition period.

The Port of Dover told the PA news agency that “everything is running smoothly”. Tudor Price, deputy chief of Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce, praised the agencies involved in preparations at the border. “I think any potential bottleneck or short-term chaos has been averted,” he said.

But he called on the government to continue to negotiate with the EU where issues are outstanding, such as financial services. “There are still a lot of areas, a lot of industries that have yet to really have a satisfactory agreement in place.”

Lorry driver shows documentation

(Reuters)

Adam Forrest1 January 2021 14:42

1609511057 How travel to the EU has changed

Curious about the power of your passport? Wondering how duty-free works at airports? Pondering trips with pets? Our travel correspondent Simon Calder has all you need to know about travelling from the UK to the EU now that the Brexit process is complete.

Adam Forrest1 January 2021 14:24

1609510710 ERG complains about customs barrier

David Jones, deputy chairman of the European Research Group (ERG), said the customs barrier between Northern Ireland and the UK had not been something Brexiteers had wanted.

Asked whether he had expected Britain’s exit from the EU to lead to a “de facto border down the Irish Sea”, the ex-minister told BBC Radio 4’s World At One: “Certainly not … a border in the Irish Sea was something that we did not expect, nor did we approve of. And, yes, it does amount to a barrier.”

Jones added: “It is not the case that the government is simply ignoring the problem – it has done a great deal to mitigate the problem, but I think it is going to take some time before the new arrangements bed in.”

Adam Forrest1 January 2021 14:18

1609509105 ‘Sorry Jess’ trending on Twitter

Labour MP Jess Phillips’s latest piece for The Independent – urging Leavers and Remainers to come together and move on from Brexit – is trending on Twitter.  

Europhiles are having none of it. Nick Reeves stated: “Sorry Jess, not doing. Brexit was won through the worst abuses of democracy in modern British history.”

And Kolley Kibber says it would mean “means standing in solidarity with the worst act of economic self-mutilation in modern UK history”.

Adam Forrest1 January 2021 13:51

1609508228 World domination awaits!

In case you missed it, Iain Duncan Smith responded to the 11pm competition of Brexit by telling the BBC: “I just 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.”

Adam Forrest1 January 2021 13:37

1609507378 ‘Anyone else think it was pretty good?’

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has responded to criticism about last night’s fireworks display in the capital – which featured a Black Lives Matter fist and NHS logo. Some Brexiteers felt the opening lights (which were blue and yellow) was a “political” message about the EU.

Adam Forrest1 January 2021 13:22

1609506100 ‘I voted for Brexit – but not for this’

Our associate editor Sean O’Grady has been reflecting on what he got wrong when he voted to Leave the EU, and describes the deal we ended up with as “the worst of all worlds”

“In reality, as we now see, if your largest trading partner isn’t happy with the entire concept of out-regulating and out-competing them, then even if you produce superb goods and services you won’t have anywhere much to sell them, at least not to your nearest neighbours, because they’ll find a way to stop you or deter you.”

Adam Forrest1 January 2021 13:01