PMQs: Boris Johnson suggests terms of post-Brexit agreement could be reached 'tonight' with 'good deal there to be done'
Boris Johnson has insisted a "good" post-Brexit trade deal is "there to be done" ahead of his Brussels trip this afternoon, which he suggested could see terms agreed "tonight".
At PMQs, the prime minister provided a glimmer of hope that he and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen could find some consensus when they meet on Wednesday evening for a dinner aimed at breaking the deadlock.
He said: "The UK will benefit from a very strong trading relationship with our friends and partners across the channel whatever the circumstances, whatever the terms we reach tonight."
His spokesman said "political" progress must be made at the dinner in order for their appointed negotiators - Lord Frost for the UK and Michel Barnier for the EU - to resume talks.
The two negotiators and a "handful of other officials from both sides" will join Mr Johnson and Ms von der Leyen at the dinner, at which the "main issues" of fisheries, level playing field and governance will be discusses.
The PM's press secretary Allegra Stratton said Mr Johnson "feels that there is a good deal to be done but he and von der Leyen both believe that there needs to be some political momentum now".
She added: "The Prime Minister is going to be clear this evening that he cannot accept anything that undermines our ability to control our laws or control our waters."
Mr Johnson set out the main problems he has with the EU's position, although he said "a good deal is still there to be done".
The protracted negotiations on a UK-EU trade deal have faltered on the issues of fishing rights, the "level playing field" measures aimed at preventing the UK undercutting the EU on standards and state subsidies, and the way that any deal would be governed.
Mr Johnson said: "Our friends in the EU are currently insisting that if they pass a new law in the future with which we in this country do not comply or don't follow suit, then they want the automatic right to punish us and to retaliate.
"Secondly, they are saying that the UK should be the only country in the world not to have sovereign control over its fishing waters.
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"I don't believe that those are terms that any prime minister of this country should accept."
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer used PMQs to attack the fact a trade deal had not yet been agreed with the EU, and questioned the PM's promise ahead of the 2019 general election that the chances of no deal were "absolutely zero".
"Twelve months ago he told the British people that he had an oven-ready deal. He didn't say he had half a deal, he didn't say the next stage will be very, very difficult," he added.
Mr Johnson rubbished Sir Keir's criticisms, saying the government "delivered on our promises" by exiting the European Union in January, adding: "We did leave with a very good deal".
Mr Johnson's trip to Brussels comes after EU and UK chief negotiators ended weeks of talks without agreeing a trade deal.
Sir Keir, who was appearing the PMQs remotely after a member of his team tested positive for coronavirus, said Mr Johnson had failed to keep his general election pledge that trade deal was ready to be agreed and questioned why anyone should believe him.
"So, a year on, why should anyone who trusted the Prime Minister when he said he had a deal - including his Chancellor apparently - believe a word that he says now?"
The PM responded: "Let's be in no doubt that we had an oven-ready deal which was the Withdrawal Agreement by which the people voted for, as he rightly points out, by which this country left the customs union and left the single market and delivered on our promise."
He said whatever happens from January 1, "this country will be able to get on" with implementing a points based immigration, developing free ports, promoting higher animal welfare, agreeing free trade deals, and "we'll get our money back as well".
He added: "This country will be ready for whether we have a Canadian or an Australian solution, and there will be jobs created in this country, throughout the whole of the UK, not just in spite of Brexit but because of Brexit, because this country is going to become a magnet for overseas investment."
Former Remainer Sir Keir said "it would the British people who pay the price" if there is no trade deal with the EU.
"Last September, the Prime Minister actually hit the nail on the head when he said that leaving without a deal would be, in his words, 'a failure of statecraft'.
"It would. It would be a total failure and it would the British people who pay the price. "
Mr Johnson said: "Until he is able to come up with a position of his own, wrap a towel around his head, decide what he actually thinks, I find it very difficult to take his criticisms seriously.
"What I can say is that this country will be ready for whether we have a Canadian or an Australian solution, and there will be jobs created in this country, throughout the whole of the UK, not just in spite of Brexit but because of Brexit, because this country is going to become a magnet for overseas investment."