Brexit: Nigel Farage declares victory as Boris Johnson seals UK deal

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‘It may not be perfect, but it’s a big step forward’: Nigel Farage says he would vote for Brexit deal ‘in principle’ if he was an MP as UK signs historic trade agreement with the EU

  • Nigel Farage announced history had been made as Johnson sealed a Brexit deal
  • The leader of the Brexit Party said today was the day ‘people beat the politicians’ 
  • Credited by many as the single most influential figure in making Brexit possible  

By Milly Vincent For Mailonline

Published: | Updated:

Nigel Farage has declared victory following the free trade deal agreed by Boris Johnson today – capping off a struggle that has dominated his political life. 

The leader of the Brexit Party, who is credited by many as the single most influential figure in making Brexit possible, declared ‘the war is over’ – having advocated the cause ever since he first became involved in politics as a schoolboy.

Mr Farage said the deal as he understood it was ‘not perfect’ and that he was ‘worried that we’re going to be too closely aligned to EU rules’. But he added: ‘If we look at the big picture… it’s a very very big day and a big step forward.’

Earlier, Mr Farage tweeted ‘the people beat the politicians’, and said Mr Johnson would be known as ‘the man that finished the job’, as he marked an incredible turn of fortune from a time when Eurosceptics were considered eccentrics inhabiting the fringes of British politics. 

Mr Farage declared ‘the people beat the politicians’, and said Mr Johnson would be known as ‘the man that finished the job’

Mr Farage's tweet welcoming the Brexit deal after it was announced this afternoon

Mr Farage’s tweet welcoming the Brexit deal after it was announced this afternoon

Asked if he would vote for it if he were an MP, Mr Farage said the Commons should have a vote in principle now and scrutinise the package more closely later. ‘I’d need to see the detail, and I would not want to be bounced,’ he said.

‘In principle, given where we are right now, given this has been the most divisive issue in British politics… yes in principle I would.’ 

Speaking to the show Farage said: ‘He [Boris Johnson] and Michael Gove were the two senior Conservative politicians, that when the referendum came, albeit late in the day but that’s not the point, they had the guts to back Brexit. And thank goodness they did. So, yes, Boris will be seen as the man that finished the job.’

Mr Farage in the European Parliament. He is is credited by many as the single most influential figure in making Brexit possible

Mr Farage in the European Parliament. He is is credited by many as the single most influential figure in making Brexit possible

He went on to suggest that despite some compromise by Johnson over control of fisheries, the leader had created a ‘new treaty that’s a bit closer to a partnership agreement’.

Farage added: ‘Perhaps not perfectly. But yes, he’s done what he said he’d do on the big picture. I suspect on some of the detail, such as we’ll be back in charge of our fisheries, history may judge some of those aspects a little more harshly but on the big stuff.

‘The war is over. It has gone on for decades in this country from the Maastricht rebellion onwards, it’s never ever gone away. The fight over whether we should be part of the European structures or not.

‘And now we’re out, arguably with a new treaty that’s a bit closer to a partnership agreement. It’s not perfect, but goodness me. It’s still progress.’

Boris Johnson made history by sealing future trade terms to avert a chaotic split when the transition period ends on January 1, after Lord Frost and Michel Barnier thrashed out a 2,000-page text.

Downing Street said the agreement was ‘fantastic news’ – with Mr Johnson now set to hold a press conference. 

Boris Johnson (pictured speaking to Ursula von der Leyen by video link today) said the UK could now take advantages of the benefits of Brexit

Boris Johnson (pictured speaking to Ursula von der Leyen by video link today) said the UK could now take advantages of the benefits of Brexit

What were the sticking points in Brexit talks? 

FISHING

The UK insisted throughout that it would take back control of its coastal waters from the end of the transition period.

But the EU was demanding its fleets maintain previous levels of access – with Emmanuel Macron under particular pressure from the French fishing industry.   

Initially the UK said it wanted to reclaim 80 per cent of the EU quotas from January 1.

However, Brussels suggested that only 18 per cent should be restored.

The two sides are thought to have found a ‘landing zone’ that includes a figure between those and a transition period.

If reports are right that the UK is reclaiming just 25 per cent of the EU’s fishing quota, phased in over five and a half years, that would look to be closer to the EU position.

However, Downing Street will insist that means the UK can be catching two thirds of fish in our waters by the year 2026.

LEVEL PLAYING FIELD 

The EU insisted the UK should commit to ‘level playing field’ provisions, guaranteeing that it will not undercut businesses with lower environmental standards and regulation.

State aid has emerged as a particular issue, especially as coronavirus makes swathes of the economy unviable. 

But the UK said it must regain sovereign powers to decide on rules, even though it has no plans to lower standards or warp competition by subsidising the private sector. 

It appeared this area was close to resolution, before France reportedly laid down a series of extra conditions including huge punishments for breaking the rules.

Although the UK is happy with ‘non-regression’ – meaning current standards are accepted as a baseline – it took issue with swingeing unilateral penalties and complained the proposals were ‘asymmetrical’ as the EU would be freer to prop up industries. 

GOVERNANCE

The enforcement of any deal, and who decides whether rules are broken, has been one of the flashpoints from the start.

Breaking free of the European Court of Justice was among the biggest demands of Brexiteers from the referendum. 

But the EU was pushing to keep control of the governance, as well as insisting on tough fines and punitive tariffs for breaches.

The situation was inflamed by the row over the UK’s Internal Market Bill, which gave ministers the power to override the previous Brexit divorce terms to prevent blockages between Britain and Northern Ireland.

The resolution of that spat is thought to have been critical in hammering out a wider trade deal.