There will always be those looking to carp from the sidelines - now that they can no longer bemoan WTO terms, they'll have to find something else to moan about. But this is an amazing achievement on both sides to negotiate a trade deal of this size in such a short time. If it was ever to be concluded it would always be at the eleventh hour as brinkmanship continued to the end - that's why it was pointless debating Brexit for the last 12 months. One just hopes that the approval process is a formality (unless of course there is anything significant to be found).

There will be negatives in the detail - no doubt about that. But what I would really like to see is us investing in our own country once again. Just one example in agriculture is that as a climber of mountains in the Scottish Highlands for the last 30 years I can reliably say that 30 years ago the hills were covered with sheep, but these days you'd be lucky to find a white furry thing anywhere. That's a good, very visible example of the impact of import policy. Another is seeing Spanish tomatoes on the supermarket shelves in August. Let's start to re-build sustainable industries in our own country, only importing where it is necessary to do so.

And no, this is not a Little Englander (or Scotlander) attitude. I happen to believe all nations should be doing the same because what follows with globalised import poilicies is a high percentage of the damage we do to our own environment. It's all connected. Time to re-think the way economics works for the good of all of us - and the planet.

So there you have it. It's all worthwhile in order to get more sheep back on the Scottish mountains Whereas I was thinking it was all about fish - 0.06% of our economy I believe. Makes you laugh all the folk saying 'I'm not little Englander but...' Yes you are!

Likewise how many times also I have heard from different people 'I'm not a racist but.....'!

Tee hee - and there you go right on cue. Well done. Didn't disappoint. Almost like you've been waiting for months for me to post. Flattering.

Anyway, if you cannot work out the negative impacts of lost industries in this country, the link to globalisation and consequent detrimental effects on the environment, I cannot help you. If done right, Brexit can be a model for other countries to follow. If done right, believe me they will.

I'll ignore that last line BTW - you really are an undesirable individual at times.

Merry Christmas though - I hope there may just be a second of the festive period that brings happiness to you... somewhere... somehow.

There will always be those looking to carp from the sidelines - now that they can no longer bemoan WTO terms, they'll have to find something else to moan about. But this is an amazing achievement on both sides to negotiate a trade deal of this size in such a short time. If it was ever to be concluded it would always be at the eleventh hour as brinkmanship continued to the end - that's why it was pointless debating Brexit for the last 12 months. One just hopes that the approval process is a formality (unless of course there is anything significant to be found).

There will be negatives in the detail - no doubt about that. But what I would really like to see is us investing in our own country once again. Just one example in agriculture is that as a climber of mountains in the Scottish Highlands for the last 30 years I can reliably say that 30 years ago the hills were covered with sheep, but these days you'd be lucky to find a white furry thing anywhere. That's a good, very visible example of the impact of import policy. Another is seeing Spanish tomatoes on the supermarket shelves in August. Let's start to re-build sustainable industries in our own country, only importing where it is necessary to do so.

And no, this is not a Little Englander (or Scotlander) attitude. I happen to believe all nations should be doing the same because what follows with globalised import poilicies is a high percentage of the damage we do to our own environment. It's all connected. Time to re-think the way economics works for the good of all of us - and the planet.

So there you have it. It's all worthwhile in order to get more sheep back on the Scottish mountains Whereas I was thinking it was all about fish - 0.06% of our economy I believe. Makes you laugh all the folk saying 'I'm not little Englander but...' Yes you are!

Likewise how many times also I have heard from different people 'I'm not a racist but.....'!

Frank has always been one of the more thoughtful - I dunno, right of centre? - posters and I have to say that globalisation has really bothered me for a long time too, in terms of its serious environmental impact. Let's be honest - nobody bloody well needs strawberries in December, or kiwi fruit from New Zealand at any time of year, and if it's somehow cost-effective to provide them then that's a serious problem in itself.

So, from that point of view, I'm in sympathy. I still think Brexit was a seriously bad idea, but I'm prepared to hear more of the detail of this deal. At least there is one.

Another really sad day in this saddest of years.

For Bojo to gloat in his comments, and say it is a good deal, then the content will be in the detail, if it is a good deal for Johnson, then it must be a bad deal for the country.

I mean he has not had a good year for doing detail or anything, and maybe, maybe he might do another u turn and we might re-enter the EU.

Nothing will even change in me, that , leaving the EU, is one of the biggest mistakes this country has ever made.made.

Really sad day.

@Micky - thanks and we at least agree on something . For you, Martyn and countless others on here I understand the concern, I really do. And there will be negative consequences that we'll all moan about including me. I just happen to think we need to be brave - think differently about the way we do things - globally, not just in the UK.

It's a big 'but' - but we could make this good and something other countries look to copy for the benefit of all of us.

Hope your Christmas can be as good as you like it to be.

There will always be those looking to carp from the sidelines - now that they can no longer bemoan WTO terms, they'll have to find something else to moan about. But this is an amazing achievement on both sides to negotiate a trade deal of this size in such a short time. If it was ever to be concluded it would always be at the eleventh hour as brinkmanship continued to the end - that's why it was pointless debating Brexit for the last 12 months. One just hopes that the approval process is a formality (unless of course there is anything significant to be found).

There will be negatives in the detail - no doubt about that. But what I would really like to see is us investing in our own country once again. Just one example in agriculture is that as a climber of mountains in the Scottish Highlands for the last 30 years I can reliably say that 30 years ago the hills were covered with sheep, but these days you'd be lucky to find a white furry thing anywhere. That's a good, very visible example of the impact of import policy. Another is seeing Spanish tomatoes on the supermarket shelves in August. Let's start to re-build sustainable industries in our own country, only importing where it is necessary to do so.

And no, this is not a Little Englander (or Scotlander) attitude. I happen to believe all nations should be doing the same because what follows with globalised import poilicies is a high percentage of the damage we do to our own environment. It's all connected. Time to re-think the way economics works for the good of all of us - and the planet.

So there you have it. It's all worthwhile in order to get more sheep back on the Scottish mountains Whereas I was thinking it was all about fish - 0.06% of our economy I believe. Makes you laugh all the folk saying 'I'm not little Englander but...' Yes you are!

Likewise how many times also I have heard from different people 'I'm not a racist but.....'!

Tee hee - and there you go right on cue. Well done. Didn't disappoint. Almost like you've been waiting for months for me to post. Flattering.

Anyway, if you cannot work out the negative impacts of lost industries in this country, the link to globalisation and consequent detrimental effects on the environment, I cannot help you. If done right, Brexit can be a model for other countries to follow. If done right, believe me they will.

I'll ignore that last line BTW - you really are an undesirable individual at times.

Merry Christmas though - I hope there may just be a second of the festive period that brings happiness to you... somewhere... somehow.

What's wrong with the last line? Its true. I didn't say you were a racist.
So are you suggesting Little old blighty can help reverse globalisation by leaving EU?!

Another really sad day in this saddest of years.

For Bojo to gloat in his comments, and say it is a good deal, then the content will be in the detail, if it is a good deal for Johnson, then it must be a bad deal for the country.

I mean he has not had a good year for doing detail or anything, and maybe, maybe he might do another u turn and we might re-enter the EU.

Nothing will even change in me, that , leaving the EU, is one of the biggest mistakes this country has ever made.made.

Really sad day.

Your logic never fails to amaze me. I think leaving the EU will be one of the best decisions this Country has ever made. I accept that it will take time for the benefits to manifest themselves though especially after going through such a huge change. As with all change there is normally a dip in performance/output etc but once we get used to the new way of doing things then I'm sure we will prosper as a nation.

Another really sad day in this saddest of years.

For Bojo to gloat in his comments, and say it is a good deal, then the content will be in the detail, if it is a good deal for Johnson, then it must be a bad deal for the country.

I mean he has not had a good year for doing detail or anything, and maybe, maybe he might do another u turn and we might re-enter the EU.

Nothing will even change in me, that , leaving the EU, is one of the biggest mistakes this country has ever made.made.

Really sad day.

Your logic never fails to amaze me. I think leaving the EU will be one of the best decisions this Country has ever made. I accept that it will take time for the benefits to manifest themselves though especially after going through such a huge change. As with all change there is normally a dip in performance/output etc but once we get used to the new way of doing things then I'm sure we will prosper as a nation.

Spot on .

Another really sad day in this saddest of years.

For Bojo to gloat in his comments, and say it is a good deal, then the content will be in the detail, if it is a good deal for Johnson, then it must be a bad deal for the country.

I mean he has not had a good year for doing detail or anything, and maybe, maybe he might do another u turn and we might re-enter the EU.

Nothing will even change in me, that , leaving the EU, is one of the biggest mistakes this country has ever made.made.

Really sad day.

Your logic never fails to amaze me. I think leaving the EU will be one of the best decisions this Country has ever made. I accept that it will take time for the benefits to manifest themselves though especially after going through such a huge change. As with all change there is normally a dip in performance/output etc but once we get used to the new way of doing things then I'm sure we will prosper as a nation.

I saw no reason for leaving the EU in 2016 and nothing that has been said or done in the last four years has changed my mind on that.

Boris Johnson is quite consistent at over promising and under achieving, once the details of the ‘trade deal’ come out I think a few more will be underwhelmed as the Fishing industry seems to be already.

At least there will be a jobs boost caused by the all the paperwork that will now have to be completed by exporters and importers.

Another really sad day in this saddest of years.

For Bojo to gloat in his comments, and say it is a good deal, then the content will be in the detail, if it is a good deal for Johnson, then it must be a bad deal for the country.

I mean he has not had a good year for doing detail or anything, and maybe, maybe he might do another u turn and we might re-enter the EU.

Nothing will even change in me, that , leaving the EU, is one of the biggest mistakes this country has ever made.made.

Really sad day.

Your logic never fails to amaze me. I think leaving the EU will be one of the best decisions this Country has ever made. I accept that it will take time for the benefits to manifest themselves though especially after going through such a huge change. As with all change there is normally a dip in performance/output etc but once we get used to the new way of doing things then I'm sure we will prosper as a nation.

I saw no reason for leaving the EU in 2016 and nothing that has been said or done in the last four years has changed my mind on that.

Boris Johnson is quite consistent at over promising and under achieving, once the details of the ‘trade deal’ come out I think a few more will be underwhelmed as the Fishing industry seems to be already.

At least there will be a jobs boost caused by the all the paperwork that will now have to be completed by exporters and importers.

Says the same person who saw no reason for DA leaving us and nothing that has been said or done since has changed his mind.

According to the BBC’s genuinely independent ‘facts check’ dept, New Zealand will have easier customs access to the EU on foodstuffs than the UK. I suspect as days go by this deal will start to look thinner and thinner.

According to the BBC’s genuinely independent ‘facts check’ dept, New Zealand will have easier customs access to the EU on foodstuffs than the UK. I suspect as days go by this deal will start to look thinner and thinner.

Merv whilst I dont consider the bbc to be impartial over brexit I would be I interested in seeing what they have to say could you please post a link.
Also what do you think of rhe new scheme in place or erasmus as I know it was one of the things that bothered you by brexit.

According to the BBC’s genuinely independent ‘facts check’ dept, New Zealand will have easier customs access to the EU on foodstuffs than the UK. I suspect as days go by this deal will start to look thinner and thinner.

Merv whilst I dont consider the bbc to be impartial over brexit I would be I interested in seeing what they have to say could you please post a link.
Also what do you think of rhe new scheme in place or erasmus as I know it was one of the things that bothered you by brexit.

Signalspast, it is not BBC bias, (unlike the right wing bias of our newspapers). It is a ‘fact check department’, renowned and respected in the ‘news world’.

According to the BBC’s genuinely independent ‘facts check’ dept, New Zealand will have easier customs access to the EU on foodstuffs than the UK. I suspect as days go by this deal will start to look thinner and thinner.

Merv whilst I dont consider the bbc to be impartial over brexit I would be I interested in seeing what they have to say could you please post a link.
Also what do you think of rhe new scheme in place or erasmus as I know it was one of the things that bothered you by brexit.

Signalspast, it is not BBC bias, (unlike the right wing bias of our newspapers). It is a ‘fact check department’, renowned and respected in the ‘news world’.

During Brexit it has been shown that the BBC had a pro remain stance now the contents of the deal has been out for less than 24 hours and yet the bbc are highlighting a negative point. There are going to be pros and cons within it. I am not going to read the thing but will check out things that are highlighted by the remain side and the leave side before I decide whether the agreement is good or bad. I fully expect there to be things I dont like, things I do and things I will think considering the circumstances it's fair, but what I wont do is take the word of any institution whether they have a remain or leave bias, hence me asking for the link so I can find the basis of their report so I can look it up within the deal. Their interpretation could be totally different to others.