BORIS Johnson has warned there is a "strong possibility" that the UK will fail to broker a trade deal with the EU as he urged the public to prepare for a No-Deal end of the Brexit transition period.
Johnson's warning stands in stark contrast to his position just one year ago when, before the General Election, he insisted there was "absolutely zero" chance of a No-Deal Brexit.
The Prime Minister today claimed the "deal on the table is really not at the moment right", saying it would leave the UK vulnerable to sanctions or tariffs if it did not follow the bloc's new laws.
Johnson said it was like the UK and EU were "twins", and when one has a haircut the other has to as well.
He said the current proposals would keep the nation "kind of locked in the EU's orbit", but insisted negotiators would "go the extra mile" to get a treaty in time for December 31.
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But Johnson said he told his Cabinet on Thursday evening to "get on and make those preparations" for a departure without a deal in place, or in an "Australian-style relationship".
As Ian Blackford said earlier today: "The UK Govt continues to spin about an Australian-style deal. For the absence of doubt that means No Deal.
"It means world trade organisation rules, it means damaging tariffs devastating manufacturing, farming and fishing. It would mean come January food and medicine shortages."
However, Johnson claims the UK could "prosper mightily in that future, which is just around the corner".
"I do think we need to be very, very clear, there is now a strong possibility - a strong possibility - that we will have a solution that is much more like an Australian relationship with the EU than a Canadian relationship with the EU," he said in an interview.
"That doesn't mean it's a bad thing, there are plenty of ways that we can turn that to the advantage of both sides in the conversation.
"But yes, now is the time for the public and businesses to get ready for January 1, because believe me there's going to be change either way."
BREAKING: Prime Minister Boris Johnson says there is a 'strong possibility' that no free trade deal will be struck with the EU and the UK should be prepared for an Australian-style "option".
— Sky News (@SkyNews) December 10, 2020
Read more: https://t.co/3IPDnxMDU5 pic.twitter.com/tjcAFqn3Zh
Johnson has also talked-up post-Brexit trading ties with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) after he met the crown prince of Abu Dhabi in Downing Street.
The Prime Minister and Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan had a working lunch in Number 10.
A Downing Street spokesperson said: "The Prime Minister welcomed the significant investments made by the UAE across the UK.
"They agreed to step up ties in a range of areas including green technology, infrastructure and defence."
The two leaders stressed the importance of a major global warming conference to be held in Scotland in 2021.
The spokesperson said: "Ahead of the UK hosting COP26 next year, the PM and Crown Prince agreed on the importance of tackling climate change and discussed how to work more closely together to boost renewable energy production.
"The leaders also spoke about regional security and foreign policy issues and the Prime Minister reiterated his support for the UAE's recent agreement with Israel to normalise relations."
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Johnson also congratulated the UAE on its Covid-19 testing efforts.
The Prime Minister, who has come under criticism from the opposition for his handling of the coronavirus crisis, said to the crown prince: "Congratulations on the way the UAE has been able to handle Covid.
"You have tested 17 million people even though you have a population of 10 million."
According to Amnesty International, the UAE is the co-leader of a coalition "implicated in war crimes and other serious violations of international law" in Yemen.
The charity says it is also guilty of other breaches of human rights, including subjecting "detainees, including foreign nationals, to arbitrary arrest and detention, torture and enforced disappearance".
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