PRIME Minister Boris Johnson has said haggis could benefit from a post-Brexit trade deal with the US.
His comments came as Amber Rudd warned that will be “no guarantees” for jobs in the event of a No-Deal Brexit.
The Tory Work and Pensions Secretary said crashing out of Europe with no agreement would be a “challenge for the economy”.
Rudd was a passionate Remainer back in 2016, but has since signed up to Johnson’s “do or die” commitment to take the UK out of the EU on October 31, whatever the circumstances
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Rudd said: “A No-Deal Brexit is definitely going to be a challenge for the economy, which is why the government is putting together so much preparation should it come to that, and we are very clearly focused as a government that we want to get a deal.
“A No-Deal Brexit would be far worse than a Brexit with a deal, which is why the government is so focused on trying to get that.
“But we are also putting in place a lot of preparation to make sure that, should it come to that, we will have done all we can to mitigate against any difficulties.”
Asked if she could guarantee that no-one would lose their jobs as a result of a No-Deal Brexit, Rudd replied: “Listen, there are no guarantees about jobs, in or out, under any economic circumstances.”
Her comments came as the Prime Minister met with Donald Trump’s national security adviser.
In a visit to London, John Bolton insisted the UK would be “first in line” for a deal with the US, possibly on a gradual “sector-by-sector” basis.
He promised that America will enthusiastically back a No-Deal Brexit and work with Britain immediately on sector-by-sector trade agreements.
During a visit to Leeds, Johnson said he wanted to see trade with countries around the world and with Europe after Britain leaves the EU, and that Scotland’s national dish could benefit from a deal with the US.
“Actually the US market is growing very fast for the UK, but they still ban haggis, for heaven’s sake,” he said “In my experience the Americans are very tough negotiators indeed, and we will do a great deal with them and it will open up opportunities for UK business, particularly service companies in the US, but it will be a tough old haggle,” he added.
A trade deal with the US is unlikely to be that simple. Any deal requires the approval of Congress and at the moment that looks unlikely.
The Irish lobby is incredibly powerful in the States and politicians will be wary of backing a deal that could be seen as rewarding the UK for a decision that could damage Ireland’s economy.
Bolton tried to dismiss those fears. He said: “We see a successful exit as being very much in our interests.
“Britain’s success in exiting the EU is a statement about democratic rule. The fashion in the European Union is when the people vote the wrong way from the way the elite wants, you make the peasants vote again and again until they get it right.”
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If the government decided to leave with No Deal “we will support it enthusiastically”, he said. “President Trump and I were Leavers before there were Leavers.”
He added: “We want to move very quickly. We wish we could have moved further along with the previous government. We were ready to negotiate, we are ready to negotiate now. We see this as being on a fast track.
“A prior American president said that if the United Kingdom left the European Union it would go to the back of the queue on trade deals. To be clear, in the Trump administration Britain is constantly at the front of the trade queue, or line as we say.”
There was some scepticism. Lewis Lukens, former US ambassador, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I think you have to be a little bit careful of someone like John Bolton bearing gifts because this is a very transactional administration. They will want something in return.”
Jack Straw, former foreign secretary, gave a similar warning: “This is a highly transactional administration, it’s strictly business — you don’t get something for nothing.”
SNP MSP Emma Harper said Trump would expect “everything on the table” when it came to making a deal.
She said: “An extreme Tory Brexit would completely undermine the Scottish Government’s efforts to boost Scotland’s trading position and seriously threaten our international reputation.
“The UK Government simply must not be allowed to negotiate away the rights of Scottish food producers, our exporters and our NHS.
“No matter how desperate the UK Government is, Scotland’s future prosperity must not be sacrificed in order to kowtow to Donald Trump’s aggressive trade demands.”
Johnson is due to meet Trump for the first time since becoming Prime Minister next week at the G7 summit.
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