THE FUTURE'S IN OUR HANDS

Brexiteer Tories are close to backing historic trade deal

- David Maddox

THE Brexit deal is “one of the biggest and broadest agreements” ever made and leaves the country in charge of its own destiny, the UK’s chief negotiator said yesterday.

Lord Frost called the agreement a “moment of national renewal” with Britain’s future now in its own hands.

Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal-maker praised his team for achieving what many thought impossible. His words come ahead of MPs meeting in Parliament and virtually to vote on the deal with the EU.

But with Sir Keir Starmer ordering Labour MPs to back it, the accord is expected to be passed with a healthy majority on Wednesday.

It comes after dramatic final negotiations and an unveiling of a new treaty on Christmas Eve by the Prime Minister and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Efforts have now been stepped up to get it passed in Parliament.

Speaking yesterday for the first time since the breakthrough, Lord Frost said: “This is one of the biggest and broadest agreements ever, covering not only goods but also services, aviation, road transport, social security, health cooperation, law enforcement. It is a really huge agreement.

“Many said we couldn’t do it in the time available and I always believed we could and we had a great team that got us there.

“We have also done another thing that many said we couldn’t which establishes the UK as a country which sets its own laws again and can choose democratically the direction it wants to follow in the future.”

He made it clear that his team had gone much further than the more limited ambitions set by former PM Theresa May’s administration.