Prime Minister Boris Johnson has hit back at the EU’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier following claims that the UK have been disrespectful to Brussels.
On Thursday negotiations broke down a day early with “significant differences” between them both, said the UK’s chief negotiator David Frost.
Johnson told LBC’s Nick Ferrari that the UK had shown respect and they will not be bullied into agreeing to the EU’s demands.
Johnson told Ferrari, “We are not remotely disrespectful of Michel, or the EU system which I know well and understand deeply.
“I just don’t think it’s right for us to proceed with the European Court of Justice continuing to arbitrate in the UK.
“Or, us having to obey EU laws when we are out of the EU, or us having to hand over our amazing fish stock.
“So, we are not going to do those things.”
The LBC host asked, “So are we on course and hitting the deadlines, are we getting Brexit done?”
Johnson said, “We did get Brexit done! We now need to make sure we get a good deal.
“I have had great conversations with colleagues around the EU.
“I’m a bit more optimistic than Michel is there. There is a good agreement to be reached but obviously if we can’t, we have the very good option also of an Australian style deal.”
Frost said on Thursday, “We have completed our discussion of the full range of issues in the negotiation in just over three days.
“Our talks were face-to-face for the first time since March and this has given extra depth and flexibility to our discussions.
“The negotiations have been comprehensive and useful. But they have also underlined the significant differences that still remain between us on a number of important issues.”
Barnier said, “The EU side had listened carefully to UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s statements in recent weeks, in particular, his request to reach a political agreement quickly, and his red lines: no role for the European Court of Justice in the UK; no obligation for the UK to continue to be bound by EU law, and an agreement on fisheries that shows Brexit makes a real difference.”
“The EU engaged constructively, as we had already done during the fourth round of negotiations in June.”
Banier went on to say that there will be no economic partnership unless there are guarantees of a level playing field and a long -term solution over fisheries.
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