Boris Johnson’s no-deal rhetoric is not matched by reality

The latest stand-off with the EU is serious, but that doesn’t mean all hope for a trade agreement is lost, writes Andrew Grice

Johnson is pretending to play hardball with the EU (POOL/AFP/Getty)

At first glance, Boris Johnson’s tough “prepare for no deal” message suggested there is little hope for a UK-EU free trade agreement when the transitional period ends on 31 December.

However, as usual with Johnson, the rhetoric is not always matched by the reality. This was a controlled explosion. It followed a similar outburst by Emmanuel Macron, the French president, who played to the domestic gallery at the EU summit by declaring he would not sell out French fishermen by accepting a bad deal on access to UK waters. Fisheries is the biggest roadblock to an agreement.

Downing Street increased the pressure on the EU by declaring bluntly: “The trade talks are over.” But the EU side insisted that Michel Barnier, its lead negotiator, would head to London on Monday for further negotiations, as planned. To which Number 10 replied he should come only if the EU is ready to “fundamentally change” its position.