LONDON- British PM Boris Johnson intends to “get Brexit done” by Jan. 31 and then finalise a new trade deal with the EU by 2020 end, cabinet office minister Michael Gove said on Sunday, promising to deliver on the government’s top priority.
Johnson’s Conservatives were triumphant in the election last week when they won a landslide majority. Johnson said he was forced to call to break the Brexit deadlock. He also has proclaimed that he will lead a “people’s government”.
First, Johnson must deliver on his often-repeated promise of “getting Brexit done” and then focus on another priority- increasing funding into Britain’s struggling yet much loved public health service.
“I can absolutely confirm that we will have an opportunity to vote on the Withdrawal Agreement Bill in relatively short order and then we will make sure that it passes before January 31st,” Gove told Sky News.
Asked about a new trade accord with the EU, Gove said: “It will be concluded next year. We will be in a position to leave the European Union before the 31st of January next year and then we will have concluded our conversations with the EU about the new framework of free trade and friendly cooperation that we will have with them by the end of next year.”
LABOUR SOUL-SEARCHING
After over three years of Brexit debate, PM Boris Johnson struggles to unite a country which disagrees on how, when or whether Britain should leave the EU.
The Labour Party faced its worst result this election since 1935 and claimed how its equivocal Brexit policy and socialist Jeremy Corbyn, had resulted in an electoral disaster for the party’s supporters.
(Photos syndicated via Reuters)
This story has been edited by BH staff and is published from a syndicated field.