Tory Eurosceptics run rule over Brexit trade deal with EU

Conservative Eurosceptics are poring over the details of the Brexit trade agreement with the European Union as British prime minister Boris Johnson tried to persuade them it is the "right deal" for the nation.

Scrutiny of the treaty began in earnest when the 1,246-page document was officially published on the morning of Boxing Day – less than a week before its implementation.

It was quickly met with severe criticism from those working in the fishing industry who said they had been “sacrificed” in order to secure the deal with Brussels.

Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon has accused the government of “selling out” Scottish fishing with the Brexit deal. “The fact that many predicted it, doesn’t make it any less galling. The Tories have sold out Scottish fishing all over again; promises they knew couldn’t be delivered, duly broken.”

EU and UK Brexit trade deal imminent as talks enter ‘end phase’

---

Brexit trade talks may continue after MEPs’ deadline, says France

---

Brexit deal: Boris Johnson set to win Commons backing

---

Brexit: State braced for sharp rise in checks on food from Britain

---

Mr Johnson acknowledged to Tory MPs that “the devil is in the detail” but insisted it would stand up to inspection from the European Research Group (ERG) of Brexiteers.

The group has convened a self-styled “star chamber” of lawyers led by veteran Eurosceptic MP Bill Cash to examine the full text ahead of a Commons vote. The senior Conservative backbencher said number 10 sent him the treaty by courier on Saturday morning and that his team are in “constant communication”.

“We are in the process of analysing it,” said Mr Cash, citing the “issue of EU jurisdiction” as the key area that they will be examining in the 1,246-page document. “Sovereignty is the key issue. The ECJ [European Court of Justice] is part of that.”

UK chief negotiator David Frost hailed the deal as beginning a “moment of national renewal” that he argued means the UK “sets its own laws again” by ensuring there is “no more role” for the ECJ.

However, chief executive of the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisation Barrie Deas accused Mr Johnson of having “bottled it” on fishing quotas to secure only “a fraction of what the UK has a right to under international law”.

Mr Deas said the prime minister had “sacrificed” fishing to other priorities.

“Lacking legal, moral or political negotiating leverage on fish, the EU made the whole trade deal contingent on a UK surrender on fisheries,” said Mr Deas.

“The prime minister made the call and caved in on fish, despite the rhetoric and assurances that he would not do what Ted Heath did in 1973.”

The share of fish in British waters that the UK can catch will rise from about half now to two-thirds by the end of the 5½ year transition.

A senior member of the UK negotiating team defended the fishing compromise as a transition to a point of “full control over our waters” but acknowledged that London wanted the process to happen “faster”.

Meanwhile, the EU’s 27 member states indicated they will within days give their formal backing to the deal, which covers about €730 billion of trade to allow goods to be sold without tariffs or quotas in the EU market. The extraordinary timing of the Christmas Eve deal forced politicians and officials in the UK and Brussels to tear up their plans.

MPs and peers will be called back to Westminster on December 30th to vote on the deal.

However, MEPs are not expected to approve it until the new year, meaning it will have to apply provisionally until they give it the green light.

The agreement will almost certainly be passed by the British parliament, with Labour supporting it.

‘Star chamber legal eagles’

But Mr Johnson is keen to retain the support of the Eurosceptics on his benches who helped him reach number 10 and minimise any further rebellions from within his own party.

On Saturday, Conservative former cabinet minister Theresa Villiers told BBC Breakfast: “I very much hope this treaty stands up to scrutiny and I hope to be able to support it.”

Mr Johnson had earlier messaged Tory MPs to recognise “the devil is in the detail” but that he believes the deal will survive “ruthless” scrutiny from the “star chamber legal eagles. I truly believe this is the right deal for the UK and the EU. We have delivered on every one of our manifesto commitments: control of money, borders, laws, fish and all the rest. But even more important, I believe we now have a basis for long-term friendship and partnership with the EU as sovereign equals.”

Cabinet minister Michael Gove said the deal will create a new “special relationship” – a term usually used to refer to UK-US links – and end the “ugly” politics since the 2016 Brexit referendum.

French Europe minister Clement Beaune said it was a “good agreement”. And he added that British food and industrial products entering the European single market after January 1st will not pay customs duties “but will have to meet all our standards . . . There is no country in the world that will be subject to as many export rules to us as the UK.” – PA