British Prime Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/first-stop-brexit-uks-johnson-gets-down-to-work-268636">Boris&nbsp;Johnson</a>&nbsp;will use the prospect of a&nbsp;Brexit&nbsp;cliff-edge&nbsp;at the&nbsp;end&nbsp;of&nbsp;2020&nbsp;to&nbsp;demand&nbsp;the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/indonesia-appeals-to-wto-against-the-european-unions-discriminative-palm-oil-restrictions-268519">European Union</a> gives him a comprehensive free&nbsp;trade&nbsp;deal&nbsp;in less than 11 months.

In his boldest move since winning a majority in Thursday's election,&nbsp;Johnson&nbsp;will use his control of parliament to outlaw any extension of the&nbsp;Brexit&nbsp;transition period beyond&nbsp;2020.

"Our manifesto made clear that we will not extend&nbsp;the implementation period and the new <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/welcoming-new-lawmakers-johnson-vows-a-speedy-brexit-268427">Withdrawal Agreement Bill</a> will legally prohibit government agreeing to any extension," a senior government official said on Tuesday.

After the United Kingdom leaves the&nbsp;European Union on January&nbsp;31, it enters a transition period in which it remains an&nbsp;EU&nbsp;member in all but name while both sides try to hammer out a&nbsp;deal&nbsp;on their post-Brexit&nbsp;relationship.

A comprehensive free&nbsp;trade&nbsp;deal&nbsp;would encompass everything from financial services and rules of origin to tariffs, state aid rules and fishing, though the scope and sequencing of any future&nbsp;deal&nbsp;is still up for discussion.

Sterling dropped as much as 0.7 per cent&nbsp;to $1.3236 in Asia after ITV first reported the move.

By enshrining in law his campaign promise not to extend&nbsp;the transition period beyond the&nbsp;end&nbsp;of&nbsp;2020,&nbsp;Johnson&nbsp;cuts the amount of time he has to strike a&nbsp;trade&nbsp;deal&nbsp;to 10-11 months from nearly three years.

While&nbsp;Johnson's large majority gives him the flexibility to change the law should he need to, he is sending a message to the&nbsp;EU&nbsp;whose leaders have cautioned London that more time would be needed for a comprehensive&nbsp;trade&nbsp;deal.

"We are going to make sure that we get this&nbsp;deal&nbsp;done in time," Michael Gove, one of the most senior ministers in&nbsp;Johnson's government, told the BBC.

Johnson&nbsp;and US&nbsp;President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-impeachment-democrats-seek-testimony-from-bolton-and-other-trump-aides-268609">Donald Trump</a> said on Monday they looked forward to continued close cooperation and the negotiation of an "ambitious" UK-US&nbsp;free&nbsp;trade&nbsp;agreement.

If the United Kingdom and the&nbsp;EU&nbsp;failed to strike a&nbsp;deal&nbsp;on their future relationship and the transition period was not extended, then&nbsp;trade&nbsp;between the two would be on World&nbsp;Trade&nbsp;Organisation (<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fate-of-wto-top-court-threatened-with-trump-administrations-move-to-block-new-appointments-267597">WTO</a>) terms more burdensome for businesses.

The&nbsp;EU&nbsp;hopes to start&nbsp;trade&nbsp;talks with Britain by March, leaving just 10 months to strike a&nbsp;deal&nbsp;and get it approved by London and the&nbsp;EU, including member states’ parliaments.

The&nbsp;EU&nbsp;insists it will not seal a&nbsp;trade&nbsp;deal&nbsp;with a large, economically powerful neighbour without solid provisions to guarantee fair competition.

The&nbsp;EU’s&nbsp;demands will focus on environmental and labour standards, as well as state aid rules to ensure Britain would not be able to offer products on the bloc’s single market at unfairly low prices.

Britain’s conundrum is that it will be under pressure to loosen rules on agricultural and food standards to strike a bilateral&nbsp;trade&nbsp;deal&nbsp;with the United States.

But this would be crossing a red line for the&nbsp;EU, which would restrict access to its market to protect its own producers.

Fishing is a particularly thorny issue as&nbsp;EU&nbsp;countries will no longer be able to operate in British waters as they do now.

With industry supply chains in the&nbsp;EU&nbsp;crossing borders multiple times for products like cars and drugs, agreeing exact rules to designate where products come from - and hence what regulations and taxes apply will also be fraught.

"It will be very complicated. It’s about an array of relations, in&nbsp;trade, in fishing and cooperation in security and foreign policy,” German Chancellor Angela Merkel told an&nbsp;EU&nbsp;summit news conference on Friday.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will use the prospect of a Brexit cliff-edge at the end of 2020 to demand the European Union gives him a comprehensive free trade deal in less than 11 months.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will use the prospect of a Brexit cliff-edge at the end of 2020 to demand the European Union gives him a comprehensive free trade deal in less than 11 months. In his boldest move since winning a majority in Thursday's election, Johnson will use his control of parliament to outlaw any extension of the Brexit transition period beyond 2020. "Our manifesto made clear that we will not extend the implementation period and the new Withdrawal Agreement Bill will legally prohibit government agreeing to any extension," a senior government official said on Tuesday. After the United Kingdom leaves the European Union on January 31, it enters a transition period in which it remains an EU member in all but name while both sides try to hammer out a deal on their post-Brexit relationship. A comprehensive free trade deal would encompass everything from financial services and rules of origin to tariffs, state aid rules and fishing, though the scope and sequencing of any future deal is still up for discussion. Sterling dropped as much as 0.7 per cent to $1.3236 in Asia after ITV first reported the move. By enshrining in law his campaign promise not to extend the transition period beyond the end of 2020, Johnson cuts the amount of time he has to strike a trade deal to 10-11 months from nearly three years. While Johnson's large majority gives him the flexibility to change the law should he need to, he is sending a message to the EU whose leaders have cautioned London that more time would be needed for a comprehensive trade deal. "We are going to make sure that we get this deal done in time," Michael Gove, one of the most senior ministers in Johnson's government, told the BBC. Johnson and US President Donald Trump said on Monday they looked forward to continued close cooperation and the negotiation of an "ambitious" UK-US free trade agreement. If the United Kingdom and the EU failed to strike a deal on their future relationship and the transition period was not extended, then trade between the two would be on World Trade Organisation (WTO) terms more burdensome for businesses. The EU hopes to start trade talks with Britain by March, leaving just 10 months to strike a deal and get it approved by London and the EU, including member states’ parliaments. The EU insists it will not seal a trade deal with a large, economically powerful neighbour without solid provisions to guarantee fair competition. The EU’s demands will focus on environmental and labour standards, as well as state aid rules to ensure Britain would not be able to offer products on the bloc’s single market at unfairly low prices. Britain’s conundrum is that it will be under pressure to loosen rules on agricultural and food standards to strike a bilateral trade deal with the United States. But this would be crossing a red line for the EU, which would restrict access to its market to protect its own producers. Fishing is a particularly thorny issue as EU countries will no longer be able to operate in British waters as they do now. With industry supply chains in the EU crossing borders multiple times for products like cars and drugs, agreeing exact rules to designate where products come from - and hence what regulations and taxes apply will also be fraught. "It will be very complicated. It’s about an array of relations, in trade, in fishing and cooperation in security and foreign policy,” German Chancellor Angela Merkel told an EU summit news conference on Friday.

Boris Johnson uses threat of Brexit cliff edge to demand European Union trade deal by end of 2020

As the British Parliament gets ready to vote on Brexit tonight, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-parliament-speaker-john-bercow-blocks-holding-of-new-vote-on-brexit-deal-257365">European Commission chief </a>Jean-Claude Juncker said the European body had done everything it could to make sure UK's departure from the European body is "orderly".

Addressing the European Parliament, Jean-Claude Juncker said: "At least we can look ourselves in the eyes and say that we have done all in our power to make sure that this departure is orderly."&nbsp;

British parliamentarians will be voting today on the 115-page Withdrawal Agreement Bill and then vote on the government's extremely tight timetable for approving the legislation. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/johnson-adamant-on-brexit-deadline-despite-delay-request-257170">Prime Minister Johnson has</a> vowed to exit the European by October 31.

"We need now to watch events in Westminster very closely," Juncker said. "It's not possible, not imaginable that this (European) parliament will ratify the agreement before Westminster will have ratified the agreement," European Commission President Juncker added.

Watch Video:

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PM Johnson is battling to pull Britain out of the European Union as Parliament has repeatedly rejected his call for a no-deal. The United Kingdom had voted 52%-48% to leave the European Union in 2016, however, the path to Brexit has led to the resignation of two ministers - Cameron and Theresa May - with Johnson intent on walking out even if the 28-nation union offers no deal, a move bitterly contested by British lawmakers.

"It is obvious that the result of these consultations will very much depend on what the British parliament decides, or doesn’t decide. We should be ready for every scenario," Juncker told the European Parliament.

PM Johnson cannot afford a defeat of either vote tonight which is likely to delay his Brexit plan even as Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage told the EU parliament that another delay was on the cards.

Ahead of the vote in Parliament, the British pound fell from Monday's five-month peaks at $1.2936 Tuesday, down from $1.2960 late in New York on Monday as the country awaits the verdict on Brexit by lawmakers tonight.

As the British Parliament gets ready to vote on Brexit tonight, European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker said the European body had done everything it could to make sure UK's departure from the European body is "orderly".

As the British Parliament gets ready to vote on Brexit tonight, European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker said the European body had done everything it could to make sure UK's departure from the European body is "orderly". Addressing the European Parliament, Jean-Claude Juncker said: "At least we can look ourselves in the eyes and say that we have done all in our power to make sure that this departure is orderly." British parliamentarians will be voting today on the 115-page Withdrawal Agreement Bill and then vote on the government's extremely tight timetable for approving the legislation. Prime Minister Johnson has vowed to exit the European by October 31. "We need now to watch events in Westminster very closely," Juncker said. "It's not possible, not imaginable that this (European) parliament will ratify the agreement before Westminster will have ratified the agreement," European Commission President Juncker added. Watch Video: PM Johnson is battling to pull Britain out of the European Union as Parliament has repeatedly rejected his call for a no-deal. The United Kingdom had voted 52%-48% to leave the European Union in 2016, however, the path to Brexit has led to the resignation of two ministers - Cameron and Theresa May - with Johnson intent on walking out even if the 28-nation union offers no deal, a move bitterly contested by British lawmakers. "It is obvious that the result of these consultations will very much depend on what the British parliament decides, or doesn’t decide. We should be ready for every scenario," Juncker told the European Parliament. PM Johnson cannot afford a defeat of either vote tonight which is likely to delay his Brexit plan even as Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage told the EU parliament that another delay was on the cards. Ahead of the vote in Parliament, the British pound fell from Monday's five-month peaks at $1.2936 Tuesday, down from $1.2960 late in New York on Monday as the country awaits the verdict on Brexit by lawmakers tonight.

Ahead of Brexit vote, EU says 'done all in our power' for 'orderly departure'

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has fired the opening salvo in his bid to renegotiate Britain's divorce from the European Union, demanding that an insurance policy for the Irish border be removed from the Brexit deal and replaced with a pledge.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has fired the opening salvo in his bid to renegotiate Britain's divorce from the European Union, demanding that an insurance policy for the Irish border be removed from the Brexit deal and replaced with a pledge. After more than three years of Brexit crisis, the United Kingdom is heading towards a showdown with the EU as Johnson has vowed to leave the bloc on October 31 without a deal unless it agrees to renegotiate the divorce terms. The bloc and its leaders have repeatedly refused to reopen the Withdrawal Agreement, which includes a protocol on the Irish border "backstop" that then-prime minister Theresa May agreed in November. In his opening bid to the EU ahead of meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel this week, Johnson wrote a four-page letter to European Council President Donald Tusk setting out his demands. "I propose that the backstop should be replaced with a commitment to put in place (alternative) arrangements as far as possible before the end of the transition period, as part of the future relationship," Johnson wrote. "Time is very short." A diplomat from one EU country told Reuters that Johnson's letter was "pure PR" and not meant to spur constructive talks but rather set the stage for a "blame game" with the EU. Irish source said Johnson had provided no detail on alternative proposals. In a call with Johnson, Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar reiterated the EU's position that the Withdrawal Agreement cannot be reopened. The riddle of what to do about Ireland's 500-km (300-mile) land border with the British province of Northern Ireland remains has repeatedly imperilled Brexit talks. The EU wants to ensure that its only land border with the United Kingdom after Brexit does not become a back door for goods to enter the EU's single market - which guarantees the free movement of goods, capital, services, and labour. But Ireland says checks could undermine the 1998 Good Friday agreement, which brought peace after more than 3,600 died in a three-decade conflict between unionists who wanted Northern Ireland to remain British and Irish nationalists who want Northern Ireland to join a united Ireland ruled from Dublin. And the United Kingdom does not want there to be any border - effective or virtual - between Britain and Northern Ireland. Johnson's government is propped up by Northern Irish unionists. Brexit showdown? The backstop was a compromise aimed at squaring the circle: it would keep the United Kingdom in a customs union with the EU until a better solution was found, and keep Northern Ireland aligned to the rules of the EU's single market. Johnson wrote that the backstop was anti-democratic and threatened the United Kingdom's sovereignty as the application of single-market rules in Northern Ireland could divide Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK. "It presents the whole of the UK with the choice of remaining in a customs union and aligned with those rules, or of seeing Northern Ireland gradually detached from the UK economy across a very broad range of areas," Johnson said. "Both of those outcomes are unacceptable to the British government." He also argued that the backstop risked weakening the delicate balance between nationalists and unionists in Northern Ireland. He said the best solution was a pledge to put in place arrangements as far as possible before the end of the transition period, and that this could be agreed as part of a deal on Britain'sfuture relationship with the EU. Dublin does not accept the assertion that the backstop is a threat to peace, an Irish government source said, adding that, while the letter refers to alternative arrangements, it gives no detail of what these might be. Under the current text of the Withdrawal Agreement, the backstop would be invoked at the end of the transition period in 2020, creating a single EU-UK customs territory, including "level playing field" rules ensuring fair competition in areas such as environment, state aid, and labour standards. The clause is designed as a default mechanism to remain in place "unless and until" it is superseded by alternative arrangements that ensure the same outcome. Brexiteers fear that this would keep Britain dependent on rules set from Brussels over which they would have no say, and hinder their efforts to strike trade deals with third countries - one of the key benefits they see from leaving the EU in the first place. Some pro-Brexit politicians have said it would make Britain a "vassal state".

Irish backstop should be replaced: PM Johnson's Brexit bid to EU

British Prime Minister Theresa May said Sunday she was preparing to make a "bold offer" to MPs in one final attempt to get them to back her Brexit deal.

May said that when she brings the Withdrawal Agreement Bill before parliament early next month, it will come with a new package of measures attached that she hopes can command majority support.

"I still believe there is a majority in parliament to be won for leaving with a deal," May wrote in The Sunday Times newspaper.

MPs three times rejected the deal May struck with Brussels, forcing Britain's EU departure date to pushed back from March 29 to April 12 and again to October 31.

The bill is needed to ratify the divorce agreement struck with the European Union.

On Thursday, May agreed to set out a timetable for her departure following the vote in the week beginning June 3, regardless of whether MPs back her deal at the fourth time of asking.

It is thought that she will trigger a contest for the leadership of her governing Conservative Party once the bill either falls or completes all of its stages through parliament.

'New and improved'&nbsp;

"When the Withdrawal Agreement Bill comes before MPs, it will represent a new, bold offer to MPs across the House of Commons, with an improved

package of measures that I believe can win new support," she told the newspaper.&nbsp;

"Whatever the outcome of any votes, I will not be simply asking MPs to think again. Instead I will ask them to look at a new and improved deal with fresh pairs of eyes -- and to give it their support."

The bill is expected to include new measures on protecting workers' rights, future customs arrangements with the EU, and on the use of technology to avoid the need for border controls between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, an EU member state and the UK's only land neighbour.

It will not, however, seek to re-open the withdrawal agreement, which Brussels repeatedly insisted could not be re-negotiated, despite many MPs voting it down due to concerns about its so-called "backstop" clauses on Northern Ireland.

May is expected to set out the details of her proposals in a speech later this month.

May's poll gloom 

Her gambit on Sunday comes ahead of the European Parliament elections, to be held in Britain on Thursday.

The opinion polls make dire reading for the Conservatives, with the newly-formed Brexit Party forecast to win the most seats, ratcheting up the pressure on May.

The latest survey out Sunday put eurosceptic figurehead Nigel Farage's single-issue party way ahead on 34 per cent, with the main opposition Labour Party on 20 per cent, the pro-EU Liberal Democrats on 15 per cent and the Conservatives on 11 per cent.

Furthermore, the poll said the Brexit Party had overtaken the Conservatives in general election voting intentions too, with Labour leading on 29 per cent, Farage's party on 24 per cent and the Conservatives on 22 per cent.

Opinium Research conducted an online survey of 2,004 British adults between Tuesday and Thursday for The Observer newspaper.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said Saturday that whoever replaces May, calling an early general election risked "killing Brexit" and making veteran socialist Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn prime minister.

"A general election before we've delivered Brexit would be a disaster," he told The Daily Telegraph newspaper.

"A general election before that not only risks Jeremy Corbyn, but it risks killing Brexit altogether."

The next Conservative leader is set to be chosen by the centre-right party's members. Former foreign secretary Boris Johnson is the clear front runner, according to a YouGov survey of grassroots Conservatives for The Times newspaper.

Johnson was on 39 per cent, ahead of former Brexit secretary Dominic Raab on 13 per cent, interior minister Sajid Javid and Environment Secretary Michael Gove on nine per cent each and Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt on eight per cent.

British Prime Minister Theresa May said Sunday she was preparing to make a "bold offer" to MPs in one final attempt to get them to back her Brexit deal. May said that when she brings the Withdrawal Agreement Bill before parliament early next month, it will come with a new package of measures attached that she hopes can command majority support.

British Prime Minister Theresa May said Sunday she was preparing to make a "bold offer" to MPs in one final attempt to get them to back her Brexit deal. May said that when she brings the Withdrawal Agreement Bill before parliament early next month, it will come with a new package of measures attached that she hopes can command majority support. "I still believe there is a majority in parliament to be won for leaving with a deal," May wrote in The Sunday Times newspaper. MPs three times rejected the deal May struck with Brussels, forcing Britain's EU departure date to pushed back from March 29 to April 12 and again to October 31. The bill is needed to ratify the divorce agreement struck with the European Union. On Thursday, May agreed to set out a timetable for her departure following the vote in the week beginning June 3, regardless of whether MPs back her deal at the fourth time of asking. It is thought that she will trigger a contest for the leadership of her governing Conservative Party once the bill either falls or completes all of its stages through parliament. 'New and improved' "When the Withdrawal Agreement Bill comes before MPs, it will represent a new, bold offer to MPs across the House of Commons, with an improved package of measures that I believe can win new support," she told the newspaper. "Whatever the outcome of any votes, I will not be simply asking MPs to think again. Instead I will ask them to look at a new and improved deal with fresh pairs of eyes -- and to give it their support." The bill is expected to include new measures on protecting workers' rights, future customs arrangements with the EU, and on the use of technology to avoid the need for border controls between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, an EU member state and the UK's only land neighbour. It will not, however, seek to re-open the withdrawal agreement, which Brussels repeatedly insisted could not be re-negotiated, despite many MPs voting it down due to concerns about its so-called "backstop" clauses on Northern Ireland. May is expected to set out the details of her proposals in a speech later this month. May's poll gloom Her gambit on Sunday comes ahead of the European Parliament elections, to be held in Britain on Thursday. The opinion polls make dire reading for the Conservatives, with the newly-formed Brexit Party forecast to win the most seats, ratcheting up the pressure on May. The latest survey out Sunday put eurosceptic figurehead Nigel Farage's single-issue party way ahead on 34 per cent, with the main opposition Labour Party on 20 per cent, the pro-EU Liberal Democrats on 15 per cent and the Conservatives on 11 per cent. Furthermore, the poll said the Brexit Party had overtaken the Conservatives in general election voting intentions too, with Labour leading on 29 per cent, Farage's party on 24 per cent and the Conservatives on 22 per cent. Opinium Research conducted an online survey of 2,004 British adults between Tuesday and Thursday for The Observer newspaper. Health Secretary Matt Hancock said Saturday that whoever replaces May, calling an early general election risked "killing Brexit" and making veteran socialist Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn prime minister. "A general election before we've delivered Brexit would be a disaster," he told The Daily Telegraph newspaper. "A general election before that not only risks Jeremy Corbyn, but it risks killing Brexit altogether." The next Conservative leader is set to be chosen by the centre-right party's members. Former foreign secretary Boris Johnson is the clear front runner, according to a YouGov survey of grassroots Conservatives for The Times newspaper. Johnson was on 39 per cent, ahead of former Brexit secretary Dominic Raab on 13 per cent, interior minister Sajid Javid and Environment Secretary Michael Gove on nine per cent each and Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt on eight per cent.

British Prime Minister May to make MPs a final 'bold offer' on Brexit deal

Brexit: What is due to happen in British politics before October 31