British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has cautioned the people against the possibilities of a no-deal, as both Britain and the European Union remain far apart on key issues in Brexit trade talks. Addressing reporters on Sunday, Johnson said, “I'm afraid we're still very far apart on some key things, but where there is life, there's hope, we're going to keep talking to see what we can do. The UK certainly won't be walking away from the talks.” He added, “I've got to repeat the most likely thing now is of course that we have to get ready for WTO-terms, Australia terms.”
BoJo reiterated his offer to speak to other EU leaders, saying Britain would go the extra mile. “We are always happy to talk and to make progress where we can. I do think, as I say, there is a deal to be done if our partners want to do it, but we remain very far apart on these key issues,” he said. “I repeated my offer, which is, if it’s necessary to talk to other capitals then I’m very happy to do that. The Commission is very determined to keep the negotiations on the way that they have been done, between us and the Commission, and that’s fine.”
Both Britain, and the European Union agreed to “go the extra mile” and continue talks on a post-Brexit deal. Johnson and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a joint statement, “Our negotiating teams have been working day and night over recent days. And despite the exhaustion after almost a year of negotiation, despite the fact that deadlines have been missed over and over we think it is responsible at this point to go the extra mile.”
They said, “We have accordingly mandated our negotiators to continue the talks and to see whether an agreement can even at this late stage be reached.” European Council President Charles Michel welcomed the decision, saying “We must do all we can for a deal to be made possible. We must support a good deal.”
