He said: I never doubted we would win the referendum. I argued that we were being good Europeans by stepping aside from their mighty task to create a United States of Europe. We should wish them well and be friends with them, but the fact that the UK had refused to join the euro showed where our hearts resided - with the wider world and with national democracy. Image: A truck in Calais, Northern France on the day the Brexit transition period ends
Mr Johnson, in a statement that
reflected mostly on the coronavirus crisis, said the UK would be free to do things differently, and if necessary better, than our friends in the EU in 2021.
SHARING OPTIONS:
A huge amount of Irish beef and dairy products are shipped to the UK market and farmers have been concerned about the impact Brexit will have on farmgate prices.
Independent TD Verona Murphy has called for rapid antigen testing to be introduced at ports as new trading rules come into force post-Brexit.
The former head of the Irish Road Haulage Association said that the Government needed to act quickly “to take steps to prevent a supply chain crisis”.
“If we allow COVID-19 on to ships and crews become infected, it would do serious damage to our ability to keep our supermarket shelves stocked with food and drink,” she said.
5.00pm update: Sturgeon issues Brexit warning
Nicola Sturgeon has issued a warning over Brexit “disruption” as the UK enters a new era outside the EU.
Writing for Politico, Ms Sturgeon said: “We are now faced with a hard Brexit against our will, at the worst possible time in the middle of a pandemic and economic recession.
“It will mean disruption in the short term, while establishing new, long-term barriers. Our people will be less safe and their right to work, study and live elsewhere in Europe will be restricted.”
4.25pm update: Macron ally orders UK to respect Brexit deal
Boris Johnson has been warned to respect the Brexit agreement with the EU by a key ally of French President Emmanuel Macron.