The United Kingdom will depart from the EU customs union and single market “in all circumstances”, a spokesman for UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Tuesday. According to the spokesman, UK businesses will be prepared for this eventuality.
The negotiations about the future relationship between the EU and the UK are expected to begin as soon as possible after Britain has withdrawn from the bloc, he added. According to him, the United Kingdom is looking to launch a new relationship with the EU by January 2021. The spokesperson emphasised that the Conservative election manifesto was explicit in ruling out any extension of the transition period after Brexit.
He added that the prime minister had spoken with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and that the two committed to cooperating with "great energy" to secure a future relationship by the end of 2020.
Brexit Bill
Last week, the Conservatives secured a clear majority in the House of Commons in a snap general vote touted as a "Brexit election".
Following the Tories' triumph, British media outlet ITV reported that Prime Minister Johnson is looking to amend the current Brexit Withdrawal Agreement Bill in a bid to rule out any extension beyond 31 December 2020.
The prime minister’s spokesperson previously stated that work on amending the Withdrawal Agreement Bill will begin as soon as the newly-elected MPs are sworn in and the Queen delivers her speech.