skynewspolitics--2020-12-29--Government urged to publish SAGE advice on schools returning

Labour are demanding the government publish scientific evidence to support the return of schools and colleges , as ministers come under further pressure to delay the return of pupils to classrooms .
Under current government plans , primary schools and Year 11 and Year 13 students in secondary schools will return from their Christmas holidays next week .
Other children will go back a week later , as part of a staggered schedule .
However , teaching unions are among those calling for the return of schools and colleges to be delayed , as the UK deals with record numbers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospitals .
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson was seen in Downing Street on Monday .
And Number 10 said on Tuesday it was `` still planning for a staggered opening of schools '' after Christmas with new testing programmes .
But the prime minister 's official spokesman also added : `` We have said throughout the pandemic , we obviously keep all measures under constant review . ''
Boris Johnson will chair a meeting of senior cabinet ministers on Tuesday evening to consider new coronavirus measures , ahead of a review of England 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-O meeting - expected at 6pm - will look at whether regions should move tiers and is also likely to look at the issue of keeping schools shut for longer .
Labour 's shadow education secretary Kate Green and shadow schools minister Wes Streeting have written to Mr Williamson to demand the government publish advice from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies ( SAGE ) on the return of schools in January .
On Monday , the Politico website reported SAGE - led by the government 's chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ schools closed next month in a bid to dampen the rise in infections .
It comes after a recent paper on the new COVID variant by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine warned that even action similar to November 's second national lockdown across England - in which schools remained open - is `` unlikely '' to reduce the rate of infection to below one `` unless primary schools , secondary schools , and universities are also closed '' .
Ms Green said : `` The government can not continue to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the scientific advice on the return of schools .
`` Parents , pupils and staff are incredibly concerned about what will happen next week , with the prime minister governing through media leaks rather than evidence and clarity .
`` The government has lost control of the virus and children 's education is suffering as a result .
`` It 's time for the prime minister to own his mistakes and be honest about whether students can return to schools and colleges in a week 's time . ''
A member of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Threats Advisory Group ( NERVTAG ) , which has been analysing the new COVID variant that has taken hold in England , warned the country was `` entering a very dangerous new phase of the pandemic '' .
There is evidence the new variant is more infectious than the original coronavirus strain .
Andrew Hayward , professor of infectious diseases epidemiology at University College London , told BBC Radio 4 's Today programme : `` We 're going to need decisive , early national action to prevent a catastrophe in January and February @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transmissibility means that the previous levels of restrictions that worked before wo n't work now , and so Tier 4 restrictions are likely to be necessary or even higher than that .
`` I think we 're really looking at a situation where we 're moving into near lockdown , but we 've got to learn the lessons from the first lockdown . ''
Prof Hayward suggested that allowing pupils to return to schools would mean stricter restrictions in other areas of society .
His fellow NERVTAG member , Professor Neil Ferguson admitted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ required at least for a period '' as the new variant meant there was `` less wiggle room '' for keeping control of infection rates .
Senior Conservative backbencher , Sir Roger Gale MP , is among those calling for a delay to schools returning after the Christmas holiday .
He told Sky News : `` The state of the health service suggests the situation has changed very dramatically since decisions to send children back to school were taken some weeks ago .
`` There is no shame whatsoever , in light of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plan .
`` Given the strain on the health service , given the situation we face in schools and the knowledge that we now know that young people will catch and spread the disease , we have to take the delay .
`` Preferably , I 'd like to see that delay maintained until priority is given to teaching staff so they can be vaccinated as well . ''
Geoff Barton , general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders ( ASCL ) , proposed the number of pupils in schools @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which the government has pledged military support for - are put in place .

Labour are demanding the government publish scientific evidence to support the return of schools and colleges, as ministers come under further pressure to delay the return of pupils to classrooms.
Under current government plans, primary schools and Year 11 and Year 13 students in secondary schools will return from their Christmas holidays next week.
Other children will go back a week later, as part of a staggered schedule.
However, teaching unions are among those calling for the return of schools and colleges to be delayed, as the UK deals with record numbers of coronavirus infections and COVID patients in hospitals.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:05 'We haven’t seen the latest evidence'
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson was seen in Downing Street on Monday.
And Number 10 said on Tuesday it was "still planning for a staggered opening of schools" after Christmas with new testing programmes.
But the prime minister's official spokesman also added: "We have said throughout the pandemic, we obviously keep all measures under constant review."
Boris Johnson will chair a meeting of senior cabinet ministers on Tuesday evening to consider new coronavirus measures, ahead of a review of England's tiered restrictions due on Wednesday.
The COVID-O meeting - expected at 6pm - will look at whether regions should move tiers and is also likely to look at the issue of keeping schools shut for longer.
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Labour's shadow education secretary Kate Green and shadow schools minister Wes Streeting have written to Mr Williamson to demand the government publish advice from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) on the return of schools in January.
On Monday, the Politico website reported SAGE - led by the government's chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance - had urged ministers to keep secondary schools closed next month in a bid to dampen the rise in infections.
It comes after a recent paper on the new COVID variant by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine warned that even action similar to November's second national lockdown across England - in which schools remained open - is "unlikely" to reduce the rate of infection to below one "unless primary schools, secondary schools, and universities are also closed".
Ms Green said: "The government cannot continue to hide from reality and must urgently publish the scientific advice on the return of schools.
"Parents, pupils and staff are incredibly concerned about what will happen next week, with the prime minister governing through media leaks rather than evidence and clarity.
"The government has lost control of the virus and children's education is suffering as a result.
"It's time for the prime minister to own his mistakes and be honest about whether students can return to schools and colleges in a week's time."
A member of the government's New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (NERVTAG), which has been analysing the new COVID variant that has taken hold in England, warned the country was "entering a very dangerous new phase of the pandemic".
There is evidence the new variant is more infectious than the original coronavirus strain.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:56 Schools to return, exams to go ahead, says govt
Andrew Hayward, professor of infectious diseases epidemiology at University College London, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "We're going to need decisive, early national action to prevent a catastrophe in January and February.
"A 50% increase in transmissibility means that the previous levels of restrictions that worked before won't work now, and so Tier 4 restrictions are likely to be necessary or even higher than that.
"I think we're really looking at a situation where we're moving into near lockdown, but we've got to learn the lessons from the first lockdown."
Prof Hayward suggested that allowing pupils to return to schools would mean stricter restrictions in other areas of society.
His fellow NERVTAG member, Professor Neil Ferguson admitted that keeping schools shut "may be required at least for a period" as the new variant meant there was "less wiggle room" for keeping control of infection rates.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:44 MP: 'At the very least... delay schools' return'
Senior Conservative backbencher, Sir Roger Gale MP, is among those calling for a delay to schools returning after the Christmas holiday.
He told Sky News: "The state of the health service suggests the situation has changed very dramatically since decisions to send children back to school were taken some weeks ago.
"There is no shame whatsoever, in light of a changing circumstance, to change the plan.
"Given the strain on the health service, given the situation we face in schools and the knowledge that we now know that young people will catch and spread the disease, we have to take the delay.
"Preferably, I'd like to see that delay maintained until priority is given to teaching staff so they can be vaccinated as well."
Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), proposed the number of pupils in schools could be restricted while testing systems - which the government has pledged military support for - are put in place.


skynewspolitics--2020-12-29--PM: Brexit trade deal a 'resolution' of UK-EU relations

Boris Johnson will claim the Brexit trade deal agreed on Christmas Eve represents `` not a rupture but a resolution '' of relations between the UK and Europe , as he urges MPs to back the legislation that will put it into law .
The government intends to pass the EU Future Relationship Bill through parliament at break-neck speed on Wednesday , completing all stages of the process in both the House of Commons and House of Lords in a single day .
That timetable has been criticised by some MPs , who argue legislation of such significance should be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Opening the debate , the prime minister is expected to say : `` Those of us who campaigned for Britain to leave the EU never sought a rupture with our closest neighbours .
`` We would never wish to rupture ourselves from fellow democracies beneath whose soil lie British war graves in tranquil cemeteries , often tended by local schoolchildren , testament to our shared struggle for freedom and everything we cherish in common .
`` What we sought was not a rupture but a resolution , a resolution of the old and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Europe , which bedevilled our post-War history .
`` First we stood aloof , then we became a half-hearted , sometimes obstructive member of the EU .
`` Now , with this bill , we shall be a friendly neighbour - the best friend and ally the EU could have - working hand-in-glove whenever our values and interests coincide while fulfilling the sovereign wish of the British people to live under their own laws , made by their own elected Parliament .
`` That is the historic resolution delivered by this bill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spend five hours debating the 80-page bill , then the House of Lords will debate late into the evening .
If the bill is passed by Parliament the UK-EU trade agreement will come into effect after 11pm on Thursday evening .
It comes after the once-rebellious Brexiteer wing of the Conservative party indicated they would back the government .
A legal opinion set out by the `` star chamber '' of lawyers for the European Research Group concluded `` the Agreement preserves the UK 's sovereignty as a matter of law and fully @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' .
Conservative MP Andrew Bridgen told Sky News `` to a man and a woman the ERG will support the deal '' .
`` The prime minister could have capitulated and had a deal weeks ago - but he stuck to his guns , and in the end it was the EU that moved and gave us an FTA that respected our sovereignty and did not cross any of the red lines '' , he added .
Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer has also instructed his MPs to vote in favour of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be a no-deal Brexit , though several are expected to vote against .
Labour are also planning to seek amendments to the bill that would require the government to provide twice-yearly economic impact assessments of the trading relationship .
Sir Keir is under pressure from senior backbenchers , including the former shadow chancellor John McDonnell , Clive Lewis and Ben Bradshaw , who have called on him to rethink his position and oppose the bill .
But with little chance of a substantial Conservative rebellion , and with Labour 's support unlikely to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to be passed into law .
However , the DUP - who support Brexit in principle - have said they will not vote in favour of the trade deal due to concerns Northern Ireland remains tied to the EU more closely than the rest of the UK .
The party 's Brexit spokesman , Sammy Wilson , told Sky News the speed at which the government was attempting to pass the legislation meant scrutiny would be insufficient .
`` My fear is we 'll push this through in haste and repent at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which we discover later on are in it which do n't deliver . ''
The Scottish National Party and Liberal Democrats have also indicated they will vote against the legislation .
While the debate is going on in Westminster , the deal itself will be signed in Brussels by European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel before being flown to London for the prime minister to add his signature .

Boris Johnson will claim the Brexit trade deal agreed on Christmas Eve represents "not a rupture but a resolution" of relations between the UK and Europe, as he urges MPs to back the legislation that will put it into law.
The government intends to pass the EU Future Relationship Bill through parliament at break-neck speed on Wednesday, completing all stages of the process in both the House of Commons and House of Lords in a single day.
That timetable has been criticised by some MPs, who argue legislation of such significance should be subject to much greater parliamentary scrutiny.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:56 What's in the Brexit trade deal?
Opening the debate, the prime minister is expected to say: "Those of us who campaigned for Britain to leave the EU never sought a rupture with our closest neighbours.
"We would never wish to rupture ourselves from fellow democracies beneath whose soil lie British war graves in tranquil cemeteries, often tended by local schoolchildren, testament to our shared struggle for freedom and everything we cherish in common.
"What we sought was not a rupture but a resolution, a resolution of the old and vexed question of Britain's political relations with Europe, which bedevilled our post-War history.
"First we stood aloof, then we became a half-hearted, sometimes obstructive member of the EU.
"Now, with this bill, we shall be a friendly neighbour - the best friend and ally the EU could have - working hand-in-glove whenever our values and interests coincide while fulfilling the sovereign wish of the British people to live under their own laws, made by their own elected Parliament.
"That is the historic resolution delivered by this bill."
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Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 5:33 PM hails free trade deal with EU
The Commons is expected to spend five hours debating the 80-page bill, then the House of Lords will debate late into the evening.
If the bill is passed by Parliament the UK-EU trade agreement will come into effect after 11pm on Thursday evening.
It comes after the once-rebellious Brexiteer wing of the Conservative party indicated they would back the government.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:29 'Parting is such sweet sorrow' - EU
A legal opinion set out by the "star chamber" of lawyers for the European Research Group concluded "the Agreement preserves the UK's sovereignty as a matter of law and fully respects the norms of international sovereign-to-sovereign treaties".
Conservative MP Andrew Bridgen told Sky News "to a man and a woman the ERG will support the deal".
"The prime minister could have capitulated and had a deal weeks ago - but he stuck to his guns, and in the end it was the EU that moved and gave us an FTA that respected our sovereignty and did not cross any of the red lines", he added.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 5:00 The UK's journey to a Brexit trade deal
Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer has also instructed his MPs to vote in favour of the deal, arguing the alternative would be a no-deal Brexit, though several are expected to vote against.
Labour are also planning to seek amendments to the bill that would require the government to provide twice-yearly economic impact assessments of the trading relationship.
Sir Keir is under pressure from senior backbenchers, including the former shadow chancellor John McDonnell, Clive Lewis and Ben Bradshaw, who have called on him to rethink his position and oppose the bill.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:32 Barnier: 'Nothing to celebrate about divorce'
But with little chance of a substantial Conservative rebellion, and with Labour's support unlikely to change, the bill is almost certainly going to be passed into law.
However, the DUP - who support Brexit in principle - have said they will not vote in favour of the trade deal due to concerns Northern Ireland remains tied to the EU more closely than the rest of the UK.
The party's Brexit spokesman, Sammy Wilson, told Sky News the speed at which the government was attempting to pass the legislation meant scrutiny would be insufficient.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:35 Brexit: Fishing and finance services frustrated
"My fear is we'll push this through in haste and repent at our leisure for some of the things which we discover later on are in it which don't deliver."
The Scottish National Party and Liberal Democrats have also indicated they will vote against the legislation.
While the debate is going on in Westminster, the deal itself will be signed in Brussels by European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel before being flown to London for the prime minister to add his signature.


skynewspolitics--2020-12-29--How Rory Bremner hoax call helped John Major hold off Eurosceptic rebellion

The inner workings of John Major 's government have been laid bare in newly released archive documents which show how aides were asked to procure an armoured limo for the PM , prevented him from snubbing Margaret Thatcher and from getting caught up in a TV comic 's ruse .
The tranche of documents , published today for the first time since they were written in 1997 , also show the serious side of government , including how ministers handled tragedies like the Marchioness inquest and Hillsborough disaster .
And they demonstrate how the UK 's relationship with the European @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how some of the key players in the current Brexit debate were making the argument against closer EU membership decades ago .
Some of the most interesting elements from more than 200 documents and Cabinet minutes are those which show the internal politics which drove the Major government .
The Conservatives were just about holding on to power in early 1997 but the party was deeply split over Europe and in the summer of that year Tony Blair won the general election by a landslide .
The documents show how much time and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's relationship with the European Union during this time , especially around the implementation of the Schengen Agreement between 1996 and 1997 .
In pages and pages of detailed notes back and forth between ministers and civil servants the extent of the Conservative split on the issue becomes clear , with one note from senior diplomat John Holmes to the prime minister stating that the foreign secretary at the time Douglas Hurd and David Davis MP , a prominent Eurosceptic , can not agree over how far the UK should go in fighting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ document notes : `` The foreign secretary thinks this is unrealistic and so does not agree .
Nor do I .
But David Davis is so far unrepentant . ''
Other papers released show the more frivolous side of Number 10 , including personal hand-written asides attached to official documents .
In one set of documents junior Number 10 staff are admonished for using the government car service , in another staff of Cabinet ministers are told to stop calling the Downing Street clerks to ask when Cabinet might be over , recorded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off and do not bother the duty clerks during cabinet . ''
Another shows Mr Major asked staff to look into getting an armoured stretch limousine for him to use when attending events accompanied by his wife or an interpreter .
The notes state that the existing cars are not able to accommodate other guests because of security staff who guard the prime minister .
But the response from the Government Car Service shows it would have cost around £400,000 to design and build and take over a year to deliver , by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ office - not that he would have known it at the time .
Another paper asks if it would be possible to get Ford Galaxy cars instead of Mondeos because the current models steam up as they do not have air conditioning .
The PM was also warned by aides that it would be seen as a `` snub '' if he failed to attend a 70th birthday dinner for Margaret Thatcher , according to the newly released files .
Officials initially urged him to give the event a miss , expressing concern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' , however they reluctantly changed their minds amid concerns that it would go down badly with the Conservative Party if he was not there .
In a hand-written note giving the go-ahead to accept the invite Mr Major 's principal private secretary , Alex Allan , wrote to his personal assistant : `` Both PM & Norma will go ( groan ! )
. ''
Other documents reveal near misses , including a note on how impressionist Rory Bremner may have inadvertently helped to defuse a Tory revolt against Mr Major .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ as an `` experiment '' to see if his impersonation of the prime minister could convince people who knew him .
But his appeal for support sounded so genuine the rebels agreed to `` lay off '' and help to carry the government through .
Bremner made the calls in October 1993 ahead of the launch of his new show on Channel 4 - just as Mr Major was preparing for a rough ride from Eurosceptics at the party conference in Blackpool .
The comedian rang MPs Sir Richard Body , John Carlisle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the prime minister calling from Malaysia , where he was on an official visit .
When one of the MPs then contacted No 10 , cabinet secretary Sir Robin Butler immediately tried to alert them that the calls were hoaxes .
However Sir Richard in particular was so taken in by Bremner 's impersonation he refused to accept he had not been speaking to Mr Major .
According to the official note of their conversation , he told Sir Robin it was `` a very good thing '' the prime minister had made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spoken afterwards to Mr Carlisle and they had agreed they should back up Mr Major and help the government through .

The inner workings of John Major's government have been laid bare in newly released archive documents which show how aides were asked to procure an armoured limo for the PM, prevented him from snubbing Margaret Thatcher and from getting caught up in a TV comic's ruse.
The tranche of documents, published today for the first time since they were written in 1997, also show the serious side of government, including how ministers handled tragedies like the Marchioness inquest and Hillsborough disaster.
And they demonstrate how the UK's relationship with the European Union has long dominated political life and how some of the key players in the current Brexit debate were making the argument against closer EU membership decades ago.
Image: The archive sheds new light on the Hillsborough disaster
Some of the most interesting elements from more than 200 documents and Cabinet minutes are those which show the internal politics which drove the Major government.
The Conservatives were just about holding on to power in early 1997 but the party was deeply split over Europe and in the summer of that year Tony Blair won the general election by a landslide.
The documents show how much time and energy was spent on managing the UK's relationship with the European Union during this time, especially around the implementation of the Schengen Agreement between 1996 and 1997.
In pages and pages of detailed notes back and forth between ministers and civil servants the extent of the Conservative split on the issue becomes clear, with one note from senior diplomat John Holmes to the prime minister stating that the foreign secretary at the time Douglas Hurd and David Davis MP, a prominent Eurosceptic, cannot agree over how far the UK should go in fighting for concessions from the EU.
The document notes: "The foreign secretary thinks this is unrealistic and so does not agree. Nor do I. But David Davis is so far unrepentant."
Other papers released show the more frivolous side of Number 10, including personal hand-written asides attached to official documents.
Advertisement
In one set of documents junior Number 10 staff are admonished for using the government car service, in another staff of Cabinet ministers are told to stop calling the Downing Street clerks to ask when Cabinet might be over, recorded in Cabinet minutes as: "F*** off and do not bother the duty clerks during cabinet."
Another shows Mr Major asked staff to look into getting an armoured stretch limousine for him to use when attending events accompanied by his wife or an interpreter. The notes state that the existing cars are not able to accommodate other guests because of security staff who guard the prime minister.
But the response from the Government Car Service shows it would have cost around £400,000 to design and build and take over a year to deliver, by which time Mr Major would have left office - not that he would have known it at the time.
Another paper asks if it would be possible to get Ford Galaxy cars instead of Mondeos because the current models steam up as they do not have air conditioning.
Image: Margaret Thatcher leaving 10 Downing Street for the last time as prime minister
The PM was also warned by aides that it would be seen as a "snub" if he failed to attend a 70th birthday dinner for Margaret Thatcher, according to the newly released files.
Officials initially urged him to give the event a miss, expressing concern about Lady Thatcher's political "games", however they reluctantly changed their minds amid concerns that it would go down badly with the Conservative Party if he was not there.
In a hand-written note giving the go-ahead to accept the invite Mr Major's principal private secretary, Alex Allan, wrote to his personal assistant: "Both PM & Norma will go (groan!)."
Other documents reveal near misses, including a note on how impressionist Rory Bremner may have inadvertently helped to defuse a Tory revolt against Mr Major.
Papers show Mr Bremner telephoned rebel MPs as an "experiment" to see if his impersonation of the prime minister could convince people who knew him.
But his appeal for support sounded so genuine the rebels agreed to "lay off" and help to carry the government through.
Bremner made the calls in October 1993 ahead of the launch of his new show on Channel 4 - just as Mr Major was preparing for a rough ride from Eurosceptics at the party conference in Blackpool.
The comedian rang MPs Sir Richard Body, John Carlisle and Ann Winterton, claiming to be the prime minister calling from Malaysia, where he was on an official visit.
When one of the MPs then contacted No 10, cabinet secretary Sir Robin Butler immediately tried to alert them that the calls were hoaxes.
However Sir Richard in particular was so taken in by Bremner's impersonation he refused to accept he had not been speaking to Mr Major.
According to the official note of their conversation, he told Sir Robin it was "a very good thing" the prime minister had made the call.
He said he had spoken afterwards to Mr Carlisle and they had agreed they should back up Mr Major and help the government through.


skynewspolitics--2020-12-29--Group of Tory Brexiteers gives support for EU trade deal

A group of influential Conservative Brexiteers has declared its support for the EU trade deal agreed by Prime Minister Boris Johnson .
The European Research Group ( ERG ) said the agreement , struck with Brussels on Christmas Eve , `` preserves the UK 's sovereignty as a matter of law '' .
Their `` star chamber '' of legal experts - including former Brexit minister David Jones and veteran eurosceptic Sir Bill Cash - added the deal `` fully respects the norms of international sovereign-to-sovereign treaties '' .
Although they said the agreement 's `` level playing field '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the EU - `` go further than in comparable trade agreements '' , they judged their impact `` is likely to be limited if addressed by a robust government '' .
`` In any event they do not prevent the UK from changing its laws as it sees fit at a risk of tariff counter-measures , and if those were unacceptable the agreement could be terminated on 12 months ' notice , '' their analysis concluded .
The ERG 's backing for the trade agreement provides a significant boost for Mr Johnson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ previously withheld their support for ex-prime minister Theresa May 's ill-fated divorce deal last year .
Commenting on the verdict of the `` star chamber '' , prominent Tory backbencher Steve Baker - one of the ERG 's `` spartans '' who repeatedly voted against Mrs May 's deal - said : `` I love it when a plan comes together . ''
MPs are due to vote on Mr Johnson 's trade deal on Wednesday after being recalled from their Christmas break , with the government hoping the 1,246-page agreement can be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
If approved , the trade deal will come into force on 1 January - following the end of the Brexit transition period at the end of this year .
Mr Johnson should see the deal pass through the House of Commons with few problems , after Labour said they would vote in favour of the agreement .
The party 's shadow business minister , Lucy Powell , told Sky News on Tuesday the trade deal was `` not as comprehensive a deal as we would like or the country was promised '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a `` binary choice '' between approving the trade agreement or the UK leaving the Brexit transition period with the `` catastrophic consequences '' of no deal being in place .
Ms Powell added she understood the vote would be a `` difficult issue '' for her fellow Labour MPs , amid signs a number of them might rebel and vote against the deal .
Former shadow cabinet ministers John McDonnell , Clive Lewis and Ben Bradshaw are among a list of Labour figures to have signed a statement urging the party not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ DUP will vote against the deal as they continue to register their discontent with the provisions for the Irish border - known as the Northern Ireland Protocol - that Mr Johnson signed up to last year .
The SNP , Plaid Cymru and the Liberal Democrats have also said they will vote against the deal .
At some point on Wednesday , the prime minister will sign the deal on behalf of the UK in Downing Street .
European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will sign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Wednesday morning .
It will then be flown on an RAF plane to London , accompanied by UK and EU officials , for the PM to sign .
On Monday , EU ambassadors met to unanimously approve the post-Brexit trade agreement as part of Brussels ' own ratification process .
It means the deal , covering £660bn of trade , can now move on to formal ratification by the European Parliament - although this is set to come after the deal is already in place in the New Year .

A group of influential Conservative Brexiteers has declared its support for the EU trade deal agreed by Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
The European Research Group (ERG) said the agreement, struck with Brussels on Christmas Eve, "preserves the UK's sovereignty as a matter of law".
Their "star chamber" of legal experts - including former Brexit minister David Jones and veteran eurosceptic Sir Bill Cash - added the deal "fully respects the norms of international sovereign-to-sovereign treaties".
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:56 What's in the Brexit trade deal?
Although they said the agreement's "level playing field" clauses - on common rules and standards with the EU - "go further than in comparable trade agreements", they judged their impact "is likely to be limited if addressed by a robust government".
"In any event they do not prevent the UK from changing its laws as it sees fit at a risk of tariff counter-measures, and if those were unacceptable the agreement could be terminated on 12 months' notice," their analysis concluded.
The ERG's backing for the trade agreement provides a significant boost for Mr Johnson, after a number of their members previously withheld their support for ex-prime minister Theresa May's ill-fated divorce deal last year.
Commenting on the verdict of the "star chamber", prominent Tory backbencher Steve Baker - one of the ERG's "spartans" who repeatedly voted against Mrs May's deal - said: "I love it when a plan comes together."
MPs are due to vote on Mr Johnson's trade deal on Wednesday after being recalled from their Christmas break, with the government hoping the 1,246-page agreement can be ratified by parliament in a single day.
If approved, the trade deal will come into force on 1 January - following the end of the Brexit transition period at the end of this year.
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Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:20 'We've taken back control of our laws and our destiny'
Mr Johnson should see the deal pass through the House of Commons with few problems, after Labour said they would vote in favour of the agreement.
The party's shadow business minister, Lucy Powell, told Sky News on Tuesday the trade deal was "not as comprehensive a deal as we would like or the country was promised".
But she said MPs now faced a "binary choice" between approving the trade agreement or the UK leaving the Brexit transition period with the "catastrophic consequences" of no deal being in place.
Ms Powell added she understood the vote would be a "difficult issue" for her fellow Labour MPs, amid signs a number of them might rebel and vote against the deal.
Former shadow cabinet ministers John McDonnell, Clive Lewis and Ben Bradshaw are among a list of Labour figures to have signed a statement urging the party not to support the trade agreement.
The DUP will vote against the deal as they continue to register their discontent with the provisions for the Irish border - known as the Northern Ireland Protocol - that Mr Johnson signed up to last year.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:32 Barnier: 'Nothing to celebrate about divorce'
The SNP, Plaid Cymru and the Liberal Democrats have also said they will vote against the deal.
At some point on Wednesday, the prime minister will sign the deal on behalf of the UK in Downing Street.
European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will sign the agreement on behalf of the EU on Wednesday morning.
It will then be flown on an RAF plane to London, accompanied by UK and EU officials, for the PM to sign.
On Monday, EU ambassadors met to unanimously approve the post-Brexit trade agreement as part of Brussels' own ratification process.
It means the deal, covering £660bn of trade, can now move on to formal ratification by the European Parliament - although this is set to come after the deal is already in place in the New Year.


skynewspolitics--2020-12-30--Johnson hails EU trade deal as 'new chapter' for UK as MPs debate agreement

Boris Johnson has said the UK will `` open a new chapter '' thanks to the country 's EU trade deal - which the government hopes to ratify in parliament in a single day .
The prime minister hailed the `` astonishing speed '' with which the deal was agreed and said it `` demonstrates how Britain can be at once European and sovereign '' .
MPs and peers are debating the deal ahead of a vote which could see the EU ( Future Relationship ) Bill passed by the end of the day .
If approved , the trade @ @ @ @ @ @ @ UK and EU on Christmas Eve , will come into force on 1 January following the end of the Brexit transition period on 31 December .
The prime minister told the House of Commons : `` We are going to open a new chapter in our national story , striking free trade deals around the world and reasserting global Britain as a liberal outward-looking force for good .
`` Now with this Bill , we 're going to become a friendly neighbour , the best friend and ally the EU could have .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ nearly eight years for the Uruguay round of world trade talks to produce a deal , and five years for the EU to reach a trade agreement with Canada , and six for Japan .
`` We have done this in less than a year , in the teeth of a pandemic , and we have pressed ahead with this task , resisting all calls for delay , precisely because creating certainty about our future provides the best chance of beating COVID and bouncing back even more strongly next year . ''
MPs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Christmas break to scrutinise the 1,246-page agreement in a single day .
Mr Johnson is expected to see the deal pass through with few problems after Labour said they would vote in favour of the agreement .
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the agreement was flawed , but the alternative of ending the transition period without a deal would be even worse .
He told MPs : `` This is a thin deal .
It has got many flaws but a thin deal is better than no deal .
`` Not implementing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quotas with the EU which will push up prices and drive businesses to the wall .
`` It will leave huge gaps in security , a free-for-all on workers and protections and less stability for the Northern Ireland protocol . ''
He grilled the PM on his claim that there will be `` no non-tariff barriers to trade '' under the terms of the deal .
`` The prime minister knows it 's not true , every member of this House knows it 's not true , '' added Sir Keir as he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Johnson duly did so , telling MPs : `` This is a zero tariff , zero quota deal . ''
A group of influential Conservative Brexiteers - the European Research Group - declared its support for the deal and said it `` preserves the UK 's sovereignty as a matter of law '' .
However , fishing industry leaders have said they feel `` angry and betrayed '' by the agreement , claiming many businesses would be worse off .
If the EU ( Future Relationship ) Bill is passed in the Commons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come into force at 11pm on 31 December when the current Brexit transition period expires .
MPs will vote on the agreement at about 2.30pm .
Peers are expected to debate the deal in the Lords long into the evening after they begin at 3pm .
Earlier in the day , European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and European Council president Charles Michel formally signed the agreement .
Mr Michel said the deal was `` fair and balanced '' and `` fully protects the fundamental interests of the European Union '' .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the documents were being flown to London by the RAF for Mr Johnson to sign in Downing Street .

Boris Johnson has said the UK will "open a new chapter" thanks to the country's post-Brexit EU trade deal - which the government hopes to ratify in parliament in a single day.
The prime minister hailed the "astonishing speed" with which the deal was agreed and said it "demonstrates how Britain can be at once European and sovereign".
MPs and peers are debating the deal ahead of a vote which could see the EU (Future Relationship) Bill passed by the end of the day.
If approved, the trade deal, which was agreed between the UK and EU on Christmas Eve, will come into force on 1 January following the end of the Brexit transition period on 31 December.
The prime minister told the House of Commons: "We are going to open a new chapter in our national story, striking free trade deals around the world and reasserting global Britain as a liberal outward-looking force for good.
"Now with this Bill, we're going to become a friendly neighbour, the best friend and ally the EU could have."
He added: "It took nearly eight years for the Uruguay round of world trade talks to produce a deal, and five years for the EU to reach a trade agreement with Canada, and six for Japan.
"We have done this in less than a year, in the teeth of a pandemic, and we have pressed ahead with this task, resisting all calls for delay, precisely because creating certainty about our future provides the best chance of beating COVID and bouncing back even more strongly next year."
MPs were recalled to the Commons from their Christmas break to scrutinise the 1,246-page agreement in a single day.
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Image: Boris Johnson told MPs the deal will allow the UK to open a new chapter
Mr Johnson is expected to see the deal pass through with few problems after Labour said they would vote in favour of the agreement.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the agreement was flawed, but the alternative of ending the transition period without a deal would be even worse.
He told MPs: "This is a thin deal. It has got many flaws but a thin deal is better than no deal.
"Not implementing this deal would mean immediate tariffs and quotas with the EU which will push up prices and drive businesses to the wall.
"It will leave huge gaps in security, a free-for-all on workers and protections and less stability for the Northern Ireland protocol."
Image: Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the agreement had many flaws
He grilled the PM on his claim that there will be "no non-tariff barriers to trade" under the terms of the deal.
"The prime minister knows it's not true, every member of this House knows it's not true," added Sir Keir as he challenged the PM to respond.
Mr Johnson duly did so, telling MPs: "This is a zero tariff, zero quota deal."
A group of influential Conservative Brexiteers - the European Research Group - declared its support for the deal and said it "preserves the UK's sovereignty as a matter of law".
However, fishing industry leaders have said they feel "angry and betrayed" by the agreement, claiming many businesses would be worse off.
Image: Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel sign the deal in Brussels
If the EU (Future Relationship) Bill is passed in the Commons and the Lords, its provisions will come into force at 11pm on 31 December when the current Brexit transition period expires.
MPs will vote on the agreement at about 2.30pm. Peers are expected to debate the deal in the Lords long into the evening after they begin at 3pm.
Earlier in the day, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and European Council president Charles Michel formally signed the agreement.
Mr Michel said the deal was "fair and balanced" and "fully protects the fundamental interests of the European Union".
Following the brief ceremony in Brussels, the documents were being flown to London by the RAF for Mr Johnson to sign in Downing Street.


skynewspolitics--2020-12-31--PM says UK's destiny is 'in our hands' as Brexit trade deal enters law

Boris Johnson has said the UK 's destiny `` now resides firmly in our hands '' as his Brexit trade deal cleared Parliament and entered into law .
It comes after MPs overwhelmingly approved the deal to pave the way for the UK-EU agreement to come into force at 11pm today , when the current Brexit transition period - during which the UK has continued to follow EU rules - ends .
In a statement after the deal cleared Parliament , Mr Johnson said : `` I want to thank my fellow MPs and peers for passing this historic Bill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to all of the staff here in Parliament and across government who have made today possible .
`` The destiny of this great country now resides firmly in our hands .
We take on this duty with a sense of purpose and with the interests of the British public at the heart of everything we do .
`` 11pm on the 31 December marks a new beginning in our country 's history and a new relationship with the EU as their biggest ally .
This moment is finally upon us and now is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The House of Commons backed the agreement , struck between the prime minister and the EU on Christmas Eve , by 521 votes to 73 - a majority of 448 .
The deal , which stretches to 1,246 pages and covers £660bn worth of trade , was later given an unopposed third reading in the House of Lords .
Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle told MPs the act was then granted royal assent by the Queen .
Less than an hour after the vote , Mr Johnson added his formal signature to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The documents had been flown to London in an RAF plane after being signed by European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels on Wednesday morning .
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer had ordered his party to vote in favour of the deal , arguing the alternative would be for the UK to leave the Brexit transition period without a EU trade agreement in place .
However , he suffered a rebellion which lead to two junior shadow ministers , Helen Hayes and Tonia Antoniazzi , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Labour front bench as they could not support the agreement .
One Labour MP , Bell Ribeiro-Addy , voted against the deal while 36 other Labour MPs recorded no vote - suggesting they had abstained .
Among those was Ms Hayes , who resigned her shadow cabinet role after choosing not to support Labour 's official position .
Meanwhile , two Conservative former cabinet ministers , Brexiteers Owen Paterson and John Redwood , also both abstained to rebel against the prime minister .
During more than four hours ' debate on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ took Sir Keir to task for failing to back her efforts in negotiating with the EU last year , when he was shadow Brexit secretary .
She told the now Labour leader : `` He said he wanted a better deal - he had the opportunity in early 2019 when there was the opportunity of a better deal on the table and he voted against it . ''
Mrs May welcomed Mr Johnson 's agreement , but suggested Brussels would be favoured under the terms of the deal .
`` We have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but not a deal in services that would have benefited the UK , '' she added .
All the other opposition parties opposed the agreement , including the DUP , which backed Brexit but objects to provisions which mean Northern Ireland will still be subject to some EU rules .
Meanwhile , some Tory Eurosceptics were jubilant , declaring that the `` battle for Brexit '' had finally been won .
Senior Conservative eurosceptic Sir Bill Cash compared the prime minister to both Ancient Greek statesman Pericles and Alexander the Great , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ democracy '' .
His fellow Tory MP Mark Francois , who chairs the European Research Group of Conservative Brexiteers , claimed he and his other Leave-supporting `` Spartans '' could now `` lower our spears '' in the `` battle for Brexit '' .

Boris Johnson has said the UK's destiny "now resides firmly in our hands" as his Brexit trade deal cleared Parliament and entered into law.
It comes after MPs overwhelmingly approved the deal to pave the way for the UK-EU agreement to come into force at 11pm today, when the current Brexit transition period - during which the UK has continued to follow EU rules - ends.
In a statement after the deal cleared Parliament, Mr Johnson said: "I want to thank my fellow MPs and peers for passing this historic Bill and would like to express my gratitude to all of the staff here in Parliament and across government who have made today possible.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 3:47 What will be the economic impact of Brexit?
"The destiny of this great country now resides firmly in our hands. We take on this duty with a sense of purpose and with the interests of the British public at the heart of everything we do.
"11pm on the 31 December marks a new beginning in our country's history and a new relationship with the EU as their biggest ally. This moment is finally upon us and now is the time to seize it."
The House of Commons backed the agreement, struck between the prime minister and the EU on Christmas Eve, by 521 votes to 73 - a majority of 448.
The deal, which stretches to 1,246 pages and covers £660bn worth of trade, was later given an unopposed third reading in the House of Lords.
Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle told MPs the act was then granted royal assent by the Queen.
Less than an hour after the vote, Mr Johnson added his formal signature to the EU-UK trade deal in Downing Street.
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Image: Boris Johnson formally signed the EU-UK trade agreement in Downing Street. Pic: Andrew Parsons/Number 10
The documents had been flown to London in an RAF plane after being signed by European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels on Wednesday morning.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer had ordered his party to vote in favour of the deal, arguing the alternative would be for the UK to leave the Brexit transition period without a EU trade agreement in place.
However, he suffered a rebellion which lead to two junior shadow ministers, Helen Hayes and Tonia Antoniazzi, announcing they were resigning their posts on the Labour front bench as they could not support the agreement.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:10 Starmer: 'Up against no deal, we accept this deal'
One Labour MP, Bell Ribeiro-Addy, voted against the deal while 36 other Labour MPs recorded no vote - suggesting they had abstained.
Among those was Ms Hayes, who resigned her shadow cabinet role after choosing not to support Labour's official position.
Meanwhile, two Conservative former cabinet ministers, Brexiteers Owen Paterson and John Redwood, also both abstained to rebel against the prime minister.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:34 'A new beginning' as PM signs EU trade deal
During more than four hours' debate on the deal, former prime minister Theresa May took Sir Keir to task for failing to back her efforts in negotiating with the EU last year, when he was shadow Brexit secretary.
She told the now Labour leader: "He said he wanted a better deal - he had the opportunity in early 2019 when there was the opportunity of a better deal on the table and he voted against it."
Mrs May welcomed Mr Johnson's agreement, but suggested Brussels would be favoured under the terms of the deal.
"We have a deal in trade that benefits the EU, but not a deal in services that would have benefited the UK," she added.
Image: The House of Commons announcing the Brexit deal vote result
All the other opposition parties opposed the agreement, including the DUP, which backed Brexit but objects to provisions which mean Northern Ireland will still be subject to some EU rules.
Meanwhile, some Tory Eurosceptics were jubilant, declaring that the "battle for Brexit" had finally been won.
Senior Conservative eurosceptic Sir Bill Cash compared the prime minister to both Ancient Greek statesman Pericles and Alexander the Great, adding Mr Johnson had "saved our democracy".
His fellow Tory MP Mark Francois, who chairs the European Research Group of Conservative Brexiteers, claimed he and his other Leave-supporting "Spartans" could now "lower our spears" in the "battle for Brexit".


skynewspolitics--2020-12-30--PM signs Brexit trade deal after MPs give overwhelming backing for EU agreement

MPs have overwhelmingly approved the Brexit trade deal to pave the way for the UK-EU agreement to come into force at 11pm tomorrow .
The House of Commons backed the agreement , struck between Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the EU on Christmas Eve , by 521 votes to 73 - a majority of 448 .
The deal , which stretches to 1,246 pages and covers £660bn worth of trade , was later given an unopposed third reading in the House of Lords , ratifying the deal .
Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle told MPs the act was then granted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government is hoping the agreement will pass through all of its required parliamentary stages in a single day on Wednesday .
And , therefore , it will be fully ratified ahead of the end of the Brexit transition period at 11pm on New Year 's Eve .
Little more than an hour after the vote , Mr Johnson added his formal signature to the EU-UK trade deal in Downing Street .
`` The treaty that I 've just signed is not the end , it is a new beginning and I think the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relationship between the UK and our friends and partners in the EU , '' he said .
The documents had been flown to London in an RAF plane after being signed by European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels on Wednesday morning .
The prime minister earlier told MPs the deal would allow the UK to take control of its `` national destiny '' .
`` The central purpose of this bill is to accomplish something that the British people always knew in their hearts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continually told was impossible , '' he said .
`` We were told we could not have our cake and eat it ... namely that we could trade and cooperate with our European neighbours on the closest terms of friendship and goodwill , whilst retaining sovereign control of our laws and our national destiny . ''
Mr Johnson hailed the deal as allowing `` a new relationship between Britain and the EU as sovereign equals '' .
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer had ordered his party to vote in favour of the deal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the UK to leave the Brexit transition period without a EU trade agreement in place .
In a message to those MPs who planned to vote against the deal - including some within his own party - he said : `` When the default is no deal it 's not a mark of how pro-European you are to reject implementing this treaty .
`` It is n't in the national interest to duck a question or to hide in the knowledge that others will save you from the consequences of your own vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would `` put in place a floor from which we can build a strong future relationship with the EU '' .
However , the Labour leader criticised the `` thin deal '' as having `` many flaws '' and said there was a `` gaping hole '' in the agreement 's provisions for the services sector .
One Labour MP , Bell Ribeiro-Addy , voted against the deal while 36 other Labour MPs recorded no vote .
This suggested they had abstained and so also rebelled against party leader Sir Keir by failing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Among those was Helen Hayes , who resigned her shadow cabinet role after choosing not to support Labour 's official position .
Two Conservative former cabinet ministers , Brexiteers Owen Paterson and John Redwood , also both abstained to rebel against the prime minister .
During the more than four hours ' debate on the deal , former prime minister Theresa May took Sir Keir to task for failing to back her efforts in negotiating with the EU last year , when he was shadow Brexit secretary .
She told the now Labour @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a better deal - he had the opportunity in early 2019 when there was the opportunity of a better deal on the table and he voted against it . ''
Mrs May welcomed Mr Johnson 's agreement , but suggested Brussels would be favoured under the terms of the deal .
`` We have a deal in trade that benefits the EU , but not a deal in services that would have benefited the UK , '' she added .
Senior Conservative eurosceptic Sir Bill Cash compared the prime minister to both Ancient @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , adding Mr Johnson had `` saved our democracy '' .
His fellow Tory MP Mark Francois , who chairs the European Research Group of Conservative Brexiteers , claimed he and his other Leave-supporting `` Spartans '' could now `` lower our spears '' in the `` battle for Brexit '' .
SNP , Plaid Cymru and Liberal Democrat MPs voted against the agreement .
And the DUP also voted against the deal after reiterating their anger at the post-Brexit arrangements for the Irish border - known as the Northern Ireland Protocol - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the EU last year .
`` We are people who believe that the United Kingdom should leave , should leave as a whole , and that is not happening , '' said DUP MP Sammy Wilson .

MPs have overwhelmingly approved the Brexit trade deal to pave the way for the UK-EU agreement to come into force at 11pm tomorrow.
The House of Commons backed the agreement, struck between Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the EU on Christmas Eve, by 521 votes to 73 - a majority of 448.
The deal, which stretches to 1,246 pages and covers £660bn worth of trade, was later given an unopposed third reading in the House of Lords, ratifying the deal.
Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle told MPs the act was then granted royal assent by the Queen.
Image: The PM's signature on the Brexit trade agreement
The government is hoping the agreement will pass through all of its required parliamentary stages in a single day on Wednesday.
And, therefore, it will be fully ratified ahead of the end of the Brexit transition period at 11pm on New Year's Eve.
Little more than an hour after the vote, Mr Johnson added his formal signature to the EU-UK trade deal in Downing Street.
"The treaty that I've just signed is not the end, it is a new beginning and I think the beginning of what will be a wonderful relationship between the UK and our friends and partners in the EU," he said.
The documents had been flown to London in an RAF plane after being signed by European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels on Wednesday morning.
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The prime minister earlier told MPs the deal would allow the UK to take control of its "national destiny".
"The central purpose of this bill is to accomplish something that the British people always knew in their hearts could be done but which we were continually told was impossible," he said.
"We were told we could not have our cake and eat it... namely that we could trade and cooperate with our European neighbours on the closest terms of friendship and goodwill, whilst retaining sovereign control of our laws and our national destiny."
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:02 PM on Brexit: We have nothing to fear
Mr Johnson hailed the deal as allowing "a new relationship between Britain and the EU as sovereign equals".
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer had ordered his party to vote in favour of the deal, arguing the alternative would be for the UK to leave the Brexit transition period without a EU trade agreement in place.
In a message to those MPs who planned to vote against the deal - including some within his own party - he said: "When the default is no deal it's not a mark of how pro-European you are to reject implementing this treaty.
"It isn't in the national interest to duck a question or to hide in the knowledge that others will save you from the consequences of your own vote."
Sir Keir said the agreement would "put in place a floor from which we can build a strong future relationship with the EU".
However, the Labour leader criticised the "thin deal" as having "many flaws" and said there was a "gaping hole" in the agreement's provisions for the services sector.
Image: Boris Johnson formally signed the EU-UK trade agreement in Downing Street. Pic: Andrew Parsons/Number 10
One Labour MP, Bell Ribeiro-Addy, voted against the deal while 36 other Labour MPs recorded no vote.
This suggested they had abstained and so also rebelled against party leader Sir Keir by failing to back the EU trade deal.
Among those was Helen Hayes, who resigned her shadow cabinet role after choosing not to support Labour's official position.
Two Conservative former cabinet ministers, Brexiteers Owen Paterson and John Redwood, also both abstained to rebel against the prime minister.
During the more than four hours' debate on the deal, former prime minister Theresa May took Sir Keir to task for failing to back her efforts in negotiating with the EU last year, when he was shadow Brexit secretary.
She told the now Labour leader: "He said he wanted a better deal - he had the opportunity in early 2019 when there was the opportunity of a better deal on the table and he voted against it."
Mrs May welcomed Mr Johnson's agreement, but suggested Brussels would be favoured under the terms of the deal.
"We have a deal in trade that benefits the EU, but not a deal in services that would have benefited the UK," she added.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:56 What's in the Brexit trade deal?
Senior Conservative eurosceptic Sir Bill Cash compared the prime minister to both Ancient Greek statesman Pericles and Alexander the Great, adding Mr Johnson had "saved our democracy".
His fellow Tory MP Mark Francois, who chairs the European Research Group of Conservative Brexiteers, claimed he and his other Leave-supporting "Spartans" could now "lower our spears" in the "battle for Brexit".
SNP, Plaid Cymru and Liberal Democrat MPs voted against the agreement.
And the DUP also voted against the deal after reiterating their anger at the post-Brexit arrangements for the Irish border - known as the Northern Ireland Protocol - that Mr Johnson signed up to with the EU last year.
"We are people who believe that the United Kingdom should leave, should leave as a whole, and that is not happening," said DUP MP Sammy Wilson.


skynewspolitics--2020-12-30--PM ends the year with a promise of hope - but has he been over-optimistic?

At the end of 2020 Boris Johnson has finally conceded that he does indeed err on the side of optimism - over-optimism - when appearing in public , because he says he wants to be seen helping people through difficult times .
Just as well .
On Wednesday , it was easy to see the glass as half full , not least because of Brexit and the news of the Oxford vaccine .
It 'll be harder through the fog of the coming weeks to see much of his sunny uplands .
First to dwell on the successes .
To @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Parliament is a big achievement after all the rancour and division that has passed since June 2016 .
To get it through the Commons with the main opposition party marching through the same division lobby is a stunning success .
Sadly the signing ceremonies , indeed the entire result ( including news of just two Tory abstentions , John Redwood and Owen Paterson ) got buried beneath an avalanche of other issues .
However , those who fear Brexit withdrawal pangs should not worry .
As MPs queued up to tell anyone who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to let Brexit go away now .
It returns in multiple guises in the New Year : how big will the bumps in the road at ports be next week ?
Will we be able to export British sausages when the short-term deal on SPS - food and animal export standards - expires ?
Will there be an agreement on financial services in three months ?
Or on data transfers after four months ?
What will happen to Northern Ireland supermarkets when the Northern Ireland protocol implementation period expires ?
What happens when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ All of that alone in 2021 , with other more substantial review dates over the subsequent five years .
It will , however , disappear from imagination and popular consciousness for a bit , because of the epic scale of the national crisis over coronavirus in the coming weeks .
The headline of Wednesday 's government statements and news conference is that over the last two week case rates have doubled , and that has necessitated more action on several fronts .
Having only been conceived in response to the new COVID strain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % of the population can not access non-essential shops because they have been put in Tier 4 .
All secondary schools and a sizeable number of primary schools have had their opening put back by a week .
Professor Jonathan Van Tam made clear that the crisis in infection rates does not yet take into account the additional bad news likely to flow from greater household mixing at Christmas .
Brace for very grim times indeed ahead , having already beaten many of the records on case numbers and hospitalisations of the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the same time ministers are desperate to champion the vaccine news , in order to give a glimmer of hope in a desperately sad situation .
But these two things will quickly start rubbing up uncomfortably against each other , not least because people will adjust behaviour in the expectation that they and the most vulnerable in society are safe because of the vaccine .
SAGE has already warned ministers of their concerns that people are n't adhering to the rules because they know the vaccine is here .
But ministers seem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to those who have had both jabs .
Take one practical example .
I pressed deputy chief medical officer Professor Van Tam on whether it would be safe for people with the vaccine to meet their grandchildren .
He essentially said that it was too early to know whether people who had the vaccine would still be able to transmit coronavirus , since the studies have only shown that you are much less likely to suffer bad symptoms .
`` Right now we do n't know whether the vaccines will reduce transmission yet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Health England have their finger on the pulse with this one .
We 'll get a handle quite soon , I hope , on whether these vaccines reduce transmission .
But until then I ca n't assure you . ''
If people still find their behaviour and contacts constrained after getting the vaccine , the government is likely to find itself with an almighty problem , even before possible problems with mass rollout .
Nevertheless , of all days , Mr Johnson chose to spell out what success looks like .
In the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that if the vaccination programme rolls out in the way he hopes , `` clearly a lot of non pharmaceutical interventions ( NPIs ) - closure of hospitality and so forth will recede into the past and we 'll be able to do things very differently '' .
`` That 's the hope .
There may be things we want to carry on to protect ourselves - basic disciplines - washing hands etc ... Jonathan Van Tam mentioned masks ... there may be things we want to continue with to protect ourselves against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( But my hope ) is basically to move beyond NPIs if the vaccine rollout is effective . ''
In short , tiers abolished by April is his suggestion and ambition .
Only four months to go until we find out if he was once more over-optimistic .

At the end of 2020 Boris Johnson has finally conceded that he does indeed err on the side of optimism - over-optimism - when appearing in public, because he says he wants to be seen helping people through difficult times.
Just as well. On Wednesday, it was easy to see the glass as half full, not least because of Brexit and the news of the Oxford vaccine. It'll be harder through the fog of the coming weeks to see much of his sunny uplands.
First to dwell on the successes.
To get a Brexit deal done and through Parliament is a big achievement after all the rancour and division that has passed since June 2016. To get it through the Commons with the main opposition party marching through the same division lobby is a stunning success.
Sadly the signing ceremonies, indeed the entire result (including news of just two Tory abstentions, John Redwood and Owen Paterson) got buried beneath an avalanche of other issues.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:06 'We'll know soon if vaccines reduce transmission'
However, those who fear Brexit withdrawal pangs should not worry. As MPs queued up to tell anyone who would listen, they aren't going to let Brexit go away now.
It returns in multiple guises in the New Year: how big will the bumps in the road at ports be next week? Will we be able to export British sausages when the short-term deal on SPS - food and animal export standards - expires? Will there be an agreement on financial services in three months? Or on data transfers after four months?
What will happen to Northern Ireland supermarkets when the Northern Ireland protocol implementation period expires? What happens when GB introduces import checks in April? All of that alone in 2021, with other more substantial review dates over the subsequent five years.
Brexit will never die.
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Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 6:51 PM announces more COVID-19 restrictions
It will, however, disappear from imagination and popular consciousness for a bit, because of the epic scale of the national crisis over coronavirus in the coming weeks.
The headline of Wednesday's government statements and news conference is that over the last two week case rates have doubled, and that has necessitated more action on several fronts.
Having only been conceived in response to the new COVID strain barely two weeks ago, now 78% of the population cannot access non-essential shops because they have been put in Tier 4. All secondary schools and a sizeable number of primary schools have had their opening put back by a week.
Professor Jonathan Van Tam made clear that the crisis in infection rates does not yet take into account the additional bad news likely to flow from greater household mixing at Christmas. Brace for very grim times indeed ahead, having already beaten many of the records on case numbers and hospitalisations of the first wave.
But all of this comes at the same time ministers are desperate to champion the vaccine news, in order to give a glimmer of hope in a desperately sad situation.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:25 School return dates laid out by education secretary
But these two things will quickly start rubbing up uncomfortably against each other, not least because people will adjust behaviour in the expectation that they and the most vulnerable in society are safe because of the vaccine.
SAGE has already warned ministers of their concerns that people aren't adhering to the rules because they know the vaccine is here. But ministers seem squeamish about spelling out the risks even to those who have had both jabs.
Take one practical example. I pressed deputy chief medical officer Professor Van Tam on whether it would be safe for people with the vaccine to meet their grandchildren. He essentially said that it was too early to know whether people who had the vaccine would still be able to transmit coronavirus, since the studies have only shown that you are much less likely to suffer bad symptoms.
"Right now we don't know whether the vaccines will reduce transmission yet," he said. "Public Health England have their finger on the pulse with this one. We'll get a handle quite soon, I hope, on whether these vaccines reduce transmission. But until then I can't assure you."
If people still find their behaviour and contacts constrained after getting the vaccine, the government is likely to find itself with an almighty problem, even before possible problems with mass rollout.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 3:09 UK reacts to latest coronavirus measures
Nevertheless, of all days, Mr Johnson chose to spell out what success looks like.
In the news conference, the PM told me that if the vaccination programme rolls out in the way he hopes, "clearly a lot of non pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) - closure of hospitality and so forth will recede into the past and we'll be able to do things very differently".
"That's the hope. There may be things we want to carry on to protect ourselves - basic disciplines - washing hands etc... Jonathan Van Tam mentioned masks... there may be things we want to continue with to protect ourselves against virus for a while to come. (But my hope) is basically to move beyond NPIs if the vaccine rollout is effective."
In short, tiers abolished by April is his suggestion and ambition.
Only four months to go until we find out if he was once more over-optimistic.


skynewspolitics--2020-12-30--Brexit trade deal passes with ease as opposition fizzles out

For such a contentious issue , Boris Johnson 's Brexit deal stormed through the Commons largely unopposed , with opposition fizzling out with a whimper .
Yes , the Scottish National Party 's MPs , led by the shouty Ian Blackford , made a lot of noise throughout the day and 44 of them formed the majority of the MPs voting 'no ' .
They were joined by MPs from the smaller parties : 11 Liberal Democrats , eight DUP , three Plaid Cymru , two SDLP , the Green Party 's Caroline Lucas and a handful of others .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ an issue that has divided the nation for nearly five years , split families and brought down two Conservative prime ministers .
And yes , 36 Labour MPs did n't vote .
And with proxy voting now available to stay-away MPs it must be assumed that many of them abstained in both Commons votes .
But in spite of predictions of a big and angry rebellion against Sir Keir Starmer 's order to vote for the Bill , only one Labour MP , Streatham 's Bell Ribeiro-Addy , voted against the deal .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ speech during the debate bitterly attacking the Bill that she would vote against it , merely joined the Labour abstainers .
Other abstainers Kevin Brennan , Clive Lewis and Meg Hillier , said they could n't support the Bill , but most Labour MPs who spoke studiously backed Sir Keir 's `` a thin deal is better than no deal '' , however .
Junior front benchers Tonia Antoniazzi and Florence Eshjalomi tweeted their opposition and another , Helen Hayes , later announced she had offered her resignation .
But Sir Keir and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unlikely to lose any sleep over this minor dissent .
Boris Johnson , meanwhile , will be jubilant that on an issue so divisive that he suspended 21 Tory MPs - including Ken Clarke and Churchill 's grandson , Nicholas Soames - last year when they defied him , there was barely a murmur of disquiet .
Only two veteran Tory eurosceptics , Owen Paterson and Sir John Redwood , abstained .
All the talk of `` Spartans '' , a `` Star Chamber '' and the hard men - and they are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right holding the PM 's feet to the fire came to nothing .
The PM will regard this outcome - two thumping majorities - as a good day 's work .
A triumph , indeed .
For his part , Sir Keir Starmer will be relieved .
For both major party leaders , in party management terms this Brexit D-day could have been a whole lot worse .

For such a contentious issue, Boris Johnson's Brexit deal stormed through the Commons largely unopposed, with opposition fizzling out with a whimper.
Yes, the Scottish National Party's MPs, led by the shouty Ian Blackford, made a lot of noise throughout the day and 44 of them formed the majority of the MPs voting 'no'.
They were joined by MPs from the smaller parties: 11 Liberal Democrats, eight DUP, three Plaid Cymru, two SDLP, the Green Party's Caroline Lucas and a handful of others.
But that was largely it, on an issue that has divided the nation for nearly five years, split families and brought down two Conservative prime ministers.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:55 Boris Johnson signs trade deal with EU
And yes, 36 Labour MPs didn't vote. And with proxy voting now available to stay-away MPs it must be assumed that many of them abstained in both Commons votes.
But in spite of predictions of a big and angry rebellion against Sir Keir Starmer's order to vote for the Bill, only one Labour MP, Streatham's Bell Ribeiro-Addy, voted against the deal.
Image: Only one Labour MP defied Sir Keir Starmer's order to vote for the Bill
Diane Abbott, having declared during a speech during the debate bitterly attacking the Bill that she would vote against it, merely joined the Labour abstainers.
Other abstainers Kevin Brennan, Clive Lewis and Meg Hillier, said they couldn't support the Bill, but most Labour MPs who spoke studiously backed Sir Keir's "a thin deal is better than no deal", however.
Junior front benchers Tonia Antoniazzi and Florence Eshjalomi tweeted their opposition and another, Helen Hayes, later announced she had offered her resignation.
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But Sir Keir and his wily chief whip Nick Brown are unlikely to lose any sleep over this minor dissent.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:22 MPs overwhelmingly back EU-UK trade deal
Boris Johnson, meanwhile, will be jubilant that on an issue so divisive that he suspended 21 Tory MPs - including Ken Clarke and Churchill's grandson, Nicholas Soames - last year when they defied him, there was barely a murmur of disquiet.
Only two veteran Tory eurosceptics, Owen Paterson and Sir John Redwood, abstained.
All the talk of "Spartans", a "Star Chamber" and the hard men - and they are nearly all men - of the Tory right holding the PM's feet to the fire came to nothing.
The PM will regard this outcome - two thumping majorities - as a good day's work. A triumph, indeed.
For his part, Sir Keir Starmer will be relieved.
For both major party leaders, in party management terms this Brexit D-day could have been a whole lot worse.


skynewspolitics--2020-12-31--Living in a 'parallel universe': Government criticised over mass testing for schools

The government has been accused of living in a `` parallel universe '' over its plans to roll out mass coronavirus testing in secondary schools and colleges .
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has told Sky News he is `` absolutely confident '' that schools and colleges will be able to carry out mass COVID-19 testing with an extra week to prepare .
Follow COVID updates as further 20 million people are under Tier 4 Defending the decision to push back the return of pupils to secondary schools and colleges , he said the move was about `` rooting out coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as another 20 million people moved into Tier 4 restrictions , the education secretary said he was `` confident '' the country would not be moving into another national lockdown .
He announced on Wednesday that the phased reopening of secondary schools and colleges will be pushed back by a week , a move that was labelled a `` last-minute mess '' by teachers .
Students in exam years will now return from 11 January , with other secondary and college students going back a week later .
This is to allow schools @ @ @ @ @ @ @ widespread testing of pupils and staff .
Mr Williamson told Sky News he was `` absolutely confident '' the extra time would be sufficient .
`` In terms of secondary year groups , the reason that we have moved that back is so we give all schools , every single school , every single college that teaches secondary-age pupils the opportunity to roll out a mass testing regime , making sure we root out this coronavirus , '' he said .
`` It 's not just about making it safer for pupils , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safer for those who work in schools , but actually it 's about rooting out coronavirus in our communities and we did need to give schools a little bit extra time . ''
Mr Williamson added : `` We 'll be seeing all the testing equipment that is needed for schools being delivered on the 4th January , schools have already had notice of the guidance of what they need to do , they 've also had notification of the extra £78m that we 're offering . ''
But a number of teaching @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Barton , general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders , said the government was `` in a parallel universe '' on mass testing .
`` It is asking them to recruit and train large numbers of staff , and set up testing centres , in an incredibly short timeframe , '' he said .
`` The support it has announced is nowhere near being sufficient . ''
Patrick Roach , general secretary of the NASUWT union , said relying on military support is `` not a credible way to deliver @ @ @ @ @ @ @ testing '' .
He said : `` The government is in danger of misleading parents and the public into believing that it has a system of mass testing , whilst it is putting the responsibility on to thousands of individual schools and colleges to develop the infrastructure and to recruit an army of willing volunteers who will also need to be vetted , trained and supervised to deliver a competent and consistent programme of testing . ''
Kevin Courtney , joint general secretary of the NEU union , said : `` Serious questions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's plans for lateral flow testing in secondary schools and the readiness of schools and colleges to be able to get a system in place by January 11 to administer them .
`` We do not think it likely that these tests alone can make our schools Covid-secure , nor protect the communities they serve . ''
Meanwhile , around a million primary school pupils in some of the areas with the highest rates of COVID-19 will not go back to the classroom next week as planned , with no date yet set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker This will include primaries in 22 London boroughs , which between them have more than half a million pupils , and many primaries in Essex and Kent and some in East Sussex , Buckinghamshire , and Hertfordshire .
Mr Williamson said the measure will be reviewed on 13 January - and ministers want schools that are not open to be able to welcome back pupils as soon as possible .
`` I want to see schools , any school , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , opening at the earliest possible opportunity , '' he said .
Mr Williamson added : `` It 's not what any of us would want to do , it 's not a decision that any of us would be wanting to have to implement , but we 've had to do that because circumstances have dictated it .
`` I think the British public expect the government to do what is right and even though that is sometimes uncomfortable , it is taking the right actions , dealing with these extraordinary times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sky News as it was announced that the return of schools in Northern Ireland will be delayed by a week , with schools now delivering remote learning in the first week of term .
Asked why teachers have not been prioritised for vaccination against COVID-19 , the education secretary said the government had prioritised `` those people who are most vulnerable '' in the first wave of jabs .
`` I think we all recognise where the first vaccines need to go , to those who are most likely to lose their lives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Mr Williamson added .
He said that when it came to `` future waves '' off the vaccine rollout , `` I 'll be wanting to see teachers and all those support staff being up there on that list getting that vaccine '' .
Mr Williamson added : `` It 'd be great to see more teachers right up there getting the vaccine , but it 's got to be made on clinical judgment as to how best we deal with and beat this virus . ''

The government has been accused of living in a "parallel universe" over its plans to roll out mass coronavirus testing in secondary schools and colleges.
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has told Sky News he is "absolutely confident" that schools and colleges will be able to carry out mass COVID-19 testing with an extra week to prepare.
Follow COVID updates as further 20 million people are under Tier 4
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:42 Secondary school pupils face delayed return
Defending the decision to push back the return of pupils to secondary schools and colleges, he said the move was about "rooting out coronavirus in our communities".
And speaking as another 20 million people moved into Tier 4 restrictions, the education secretary said he was "confident" the country would not be moving into another national lockdown.
He announced on Wednesday that the phased reopening of secondary schools and colleges will be pushed back by a week, a move that was labelled a "last-minute mess" by teachers.
Students in exam years will now return from 11 January, with other secondary and college students going back a week later.
This is to allow schools and colleges to make preparations for the widespread testing of pupils and staff.
Mr Williamson told Sky News he was "absolutely confident" the extra time would be sufficient.
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Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:25 Gavin Williamson tells the Commons when schools will return under current plans.
"In terms of secondary year groups, the reason that we have moved that back is so we give all schools, every single school, every single college that teaches secondary-age pupils the opportunity to roll out a mass testing regime, making sure we root out this coronavirus," he said.
"It's not just about making it safer for pupils, it's not just about making it safer for those who work in schools, but actually it's about rooting out coronavirus in our communities and we did need to give schools a little bit extra time."
Mr Williamson added: "We'll be seeing all the testing equipment that is needed for schools being delivered on the 4th January, schools have already had notice of the guidance of what they need to do, they've also had notification of the extra £78m that we're offering."
But a number of teaching unions have criticised the government.
Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said the government was "in a parallel universe" on mass testing.
"It is asking them to recruit and train large numbers of staff, and set up testing centres, in an incredibly short timeframe," he said.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:58 Minister 'confident we won't go into national lockdown'
"The support it has announced is nowhere near being sufficient."
Patrick Roach, general secretary of the NASUWT union, said relying on military support is "not a credible way to deliver a robust and reliable programme of mass testing".
He said: "The government is in danger of misleading parents and the public into believing that it has a system of mass testing, whilst it is putting the responsibility on to thousands of individual schools and colleges to develop the infrastructure and to recruit an army of willing volunteers who will also need to be vetted, trained and supervised to deliver a competent and consistent programme of testing."
Kevin Courtney, joint general secretary of the NEU union, said: "Serious questions have to be asked about the government's plans for lateral flow testing in secondary schools and the readiness of schools and colleges to be able to get a system in place by January 11 to administer them.
"We do not think it likely that these tests alone can make our schools Covid-secure, nor protect the communities they serve."
Meanwhile, around a million primary school pupils in some of the areas with the highest rates of COVID-19 will not go back to the classroom next week as planned, with no date yet set for their return.
Subscribe to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
This will include primaries in 22 London boroughs, which between them have more than half a million pupils, and many primaries in Essex and Kent and some in East Sussex, Buckinghamshire, and Hertfordshire.
Full list of areas where primary schools face delayed return
Mr Williamson said the measure will be reviewed on 13 January - and ministers want schools that are not open to be able to welcome back pupils as soon as possible.
"I want to see schools, any school, that's closed for those first two weeks, opening at the earliest possible opportunity," he said.
Mr Williamson added: "It's not what any of us would want to do, it's not a decision that any of us would be wanting to have to implement, but we've had to do that because circumstances have dictated it.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 3:09 UK reacts to latest coronavirus measures
"I think the British public expect the government to do what is right and even though that is sometimes uncomfortable, it is taking the right actions, dealing with these extraordinary times."
Mr Williamson was speaking to Sky News as it was announced that the return of schools in Northern Ireland will be delayed by a week, with schools now delivering remote learning in the first week of term.
Asked why teachers have not been prioritised for vaccination against COVID-19, the education secretary said the government had prioritised "those people who are most vulnerable" in the first wave of jabs.
"I think we all recognise where the first vaccines need to go, to those who are most likely to lose their lives as a result of catching COVID," Mr Williamson added.
He said that when it came to "future waves" off the vaccine rollout, "I'll be wanting to see teachers and all those support staff being up there on that list getting that vaccine".
Mr Williamson added: "It'd be great to see more teachers right up there getting the vaccine, but it's got to be made on clinical judgment as to how best we deal with and beat this virus."


skynewspolitics--2020-12-31--Britain and Spain reach initial agreement on Gibraltar's post-Brexit status

Britain and Spain have reached an initial agreement over Gibraltar 's post-Brexit status , Spain 's foreign minister has said @ @ @ @ @ territory will remain part of European Union agreements such as the Schengen free movement area @ @ @ @ @ reporters .
London and Madrid had been negotiating how to police the land border between @ @ @ @ @ excluded from the last-minute exit deal reached between Britain and the EU last week .

Gibraltar will remain part of Europe's Schengen area of free movement under a last-minute Brexit deal struck between Britain and Spain.
Fabian Picardo, the territory's chief minister, said the eleventh-hour "agreement in principle" would avert the "worst effects of hard Brexit".
Britain's foreign secretary Dominic Raab said it would "ensure border fluidity, which is clearly in the best interests of the people living on both sides".
Image: Thousands cross the border every day
Prime Minister Boris Johnson welcomed the agreement "wholeheartedly".
Spain's foreign minister Arancha Gonzalez Laya said it would mean people living in the territory "can breathe a sigh of relief".
She said that without the agreement, tens of thousands of Spaniards and Gibraltarians who cross the border every day would have been forced to go through checks and passport stamping.
Technical details such as how Gibraltar's port and airport will be policed will be published in the new year, she added.
Mr Picardo said: "This has not been easy and we have gone to the wire.
"We are so close to the wire in fact that I think all of us involved in the negotiations felt the wire cutting into our flesh."
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Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:56 What's in the Brexit trade deal?
London and Madrid had been negotiating how to police the land border between Spain and Gibraltar which was excluded from the last-minute exit deal reached between Britain and the EU last week.
Mr Picardo warned that there were still tough negotiations ahead and that "we may end up with a deal on the (free) movement of people but not goods".
A major hurdle in the negotiations has been whether EU representatives could be stationed in the British territory. Spain will be responsible for implementing Schengen rules.
Mr Picardo said this would be managed by the introduction of a Frontex operation - referring to Europe's border agency - to control "entry and exit points from the Schengen area at the Gibraltar entry points" for an initial period of four years.
The chief minister added: "We could not allow a backward step in the mobility of people to become the new normal.
"As the world becomes more united, we could not see ourselves more cut off from the physical continent of Europe."
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Mr Raab said that following "intensive discussions" the two sides had reached agreement on a political framework as the basis of a separate treaty to be negotiated between the UK and the EU over the territory.
"In the meantime, all sides are committed to mitigating the effects of the end of the transition period on Gibraltar, and in particular ensure border fluidity, which is clearly in the best interests of the people living on both sides," he said.
"We remain steadfast in our support for Gibraltar, and its sovereignty is safeguarded."
Ms Gonzalez Laya said she expected the new treaty to be signed within six months.
Home to around 34,000 people, Gibraltar relies on access to the EU market for its economy. More than 15,000 people live in Spain and work in Gibraltar.
Image: 'We have gone to the wire,' said Gibraltar's chief minister Fabian Picardo
In the Brexit referendum of 2016, 96% of voters in Gibraltar supported remaining in the EU.
Without the deal announced with hours to spare on Thursday, they faced entering the new year with tight controls on what for decades has been an open border with Spain.
Gibraltar has been a British territory since 1713, with its citizens voting overwhelmingly, with 99% in favour, to remain under UK sovereignty at a 2002 referendum.
However, Spain has long maintained its own claim to Gibraltar, which sits at the southern tip of the Iberian peninsula, and has previously used the Brexit process to press the issue.


skynewspolitics--2020-12-31--Boris Johnson's father applies for a French passport

Prime Minister Boris Johnson 's father has revealed he is applying for a French passport to maintain ties with the EU post-Brexit .
Stanley Johnson , a former member of the European Parliament , who voted Remain in Britain 's 2016 referendum , told RTL radio he wanted to become a French citizen because of strong family links to France .
He told the host , in French : `` If I understand it correctly , I am French - my mother was born in France , her mother was totally French as was her grandfather .
`` So for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already have .
And that makes me very happy . ''
Mr Johnson 's son Boris was the public face of the Leave campaign in the 2016 referendum and has said he believes Britain can `` prosper mightily '' as a fully sovereign nation outside what he sees as an overly bureaucratic EU .
But on Wednesday , as the Brexit deal was voted through parliament by MPs , the prime minister sounded a more conciliatory note saying : `` This is not the end of Britain as a European country .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ European civilisation ... and we will continue to be that . ''
Mr Johnson senior echoed his sentiment , adding : `` I will always be a European , that 's for sure .
One can not tell the British people : you are not Europeans . ''
But he also added : `` Having a tie with the European Union is important . ''
The UK officially leaves the EU on New Year 's Eve .
Find out how these changes will affect Britons .

Prime Minister Boris Johnson's father has revealed he is applying for a French passport to maintain ties with the EU post-Brexit.
Stanley Johnson, a former member of the European Parliament, who voted Remain in Britain's 2016 referendum, told RTL radio he wanted to become a French citizen because of strong family links to France.
He told the host, in French: "If I understand it correctly, I am French - my mother was born in France, her mother was totally French as was her grandfather.
"So for me it is about reclaiming what I already have. And that makes me very happy."
Mr Johnson's son Boris was the public face of the Leave campaign in the 2016 referendum and has said he believes Britain can "prosper mightily" as a fully sovereign nation outside what he sees as an overly bureaucratic EU.
Image: Boris Johnson this week signed the post Brexit Trade Deal Signing at No10 Downing Street
But on Wednesday, as the Brexit deal was voted through parliament by MPs, the prime minister sounded a more
conciliatory note saying: "This is not the end of Britain as a European country.
"We are in many ways the quintessential European civilisation... and we will continue to be that."
Mr Johnson senior echoed his sentiment, adding: "I will always be a European, that's for sure. One cannot tell the British people: you are not Europeans."
But he also added: "Having a tie with the European Union is important."
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The UK officially leaves the EU on New Year's Eve. Find out how these changes will affect Britons.