Boris Johnson wins public support in battle to secure post-Brexit trade deal, poll reveals
BORIS Johnson has won public support in his gruelling battle to secure a post-Brexit trade deal, a poll reveals.
Most people want him to succeed and believe his demands are fair and modest.
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But they say his efforts are being stifled by the unreasonable behaviour of the EU chiefs.
And, crucially, they think Mr Johnson isn’t bluffing in his threat to tear up the Withdrawal Agreement unless the EU gets serious about doing business.
The biggest cause of the deadlock is the intransigence of Brussels bureaucrats, led by chief negotiator Michel Barnier, an exclusive YouGov poll for The Sun on Sunday shows.
The verdict is a major boost for Mr Johnson, who has just a month to strike a deal and 102 days before the transition period ends.
Six out of ten people say they would prefer it if Britain signed a trade pact with our EU partners before we break free completely on December 31.
More than a third would find it acceptable for Britain to break the terms of the Withdrawal Agreement if the EU failed to reach a deal and threatened to disrupt food supplies.
Former Brexit minister David Jones said: “This poll shows people have noticed the EU has not been negotiating in good faith. It’s entirely reasonable that the government should move to look after the national interest in the event the EU fails to live up to its obligations.”
John Longworth, director-general of the Centre for Brexit Policy, added: “The EU has broken its promise to negotiate in good faith and with best endeavours.
“The only way to deal with these bully boys is to punch them in the proverbial nose. Later on we can be friends.”
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It emerged the EU had rowed back on its threat to stop the UK exporting food into the EU.
Mr Barnier had warned the EU might not list the UK as a “third country”, despite knowing what our food standards rules are — as they already match the EU’s.
He told the UK team this week there’s now no obstacle.
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