Boris Johnson appeared to set himself on a collision course with the European Union in trade talks after ruling out adhering to Brussels rules after Brexit.
A huge majority of 124 votes for the EU (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill at its second reading in the Commons yesterday means the UK is on its way to finalizing its divorce from Brussels by the January 31 deadline.
But opposing views on both sides of the Channel mean that the British Prime Minister is set for a combative 11-months of trade talks when UK and EU teams sit down to negotiate from February.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar warned that Mr Johnson looked to be embarked on a “harder Brexit than we anticipated” and said he feared the UK wanted to “undercut” Europe on food, health and product safety after it exits.
Conservative Party leader Mr Johnson told MPs yesterday that the “oven was on” when it came to delivering Brexit next year but said there would be “no alignment” to EU rules once the transition period ends in 2020.
He said: “The Bill ensures that the implementation period must end on December 31 next year, with no possibility of an extension, and it paves the way for a new agreement on our future relationship with our European neighbors, based on an ambitious free trade agreement.
“This will be with no alignment on EU rules, but instead with control of our own laws, and close and friendly relations”
Charles Michel, the successor to Donald Tusk as European Council President, welcomed the Commons result but suggested in a tweet that “a level playing field remains a must for any future relationship”.
Mr Varadkar warned a “good trade deal” for Ireland was looking increasingly unlikely after the stance taken by Number 10 since the Tories’ thumping UK General Election win.
“It is going to be difficult to secure a good trade deal for Ireland, principally because Boris Johnson has fixed on a harder Brexit than we anticipated under his predecessor or at the time of the referendum, and that is one where he talks very much about divergence,” he told journalists in Dublin.
“The harder approach being taken by Prime Minister Johnson is a risk to us and that is evident.”
Mr Varadkar said he feared the UK, under a hard Brexit, would look to “undercut” EU member states on food, financial, product and health standards in order to compete for world trade.
Before those talks begin, the PM will look to switch off from Brexit over the Christmas break – an example Number 10 is rumored to have told all ministers to follow.