Government '90 per cent of the way' to securing Brexit deal, Culture Secretary tells LBC | LBC

The Government is "90 per cent of the way" to securing a post-Brexit trade deal with the EU, Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden has told LBC.

But he said the remaining areas are "quite tricky," adding that the Prime Minister has the "full backing of the Cabinet" in refusing to concede over key issues such as fishing rights.

Mr Johnson said on Thursday there is a "strong possibility" the UK will fail to strike Brexit deal with EU, and told his Cabinet to "get on and make those preparations" for a departure on terms like Australia's, which does not have a trade deal with Europe, unlike Canada.

But former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said the arrangement ensured the country faces "very large barriers" to trading with the EU and warned Mr Johnson that "Australia's relationship with the EU is not one from a trade point of view that I think Britain would want, frankly."

Asked about Mr Turnbull's comments, Mr Dowden told LBC's Nick Ferrari: "I would much prefer that we had a free trade relationship with the European Union, like that Canada has with the European Union, but that can't be achieved at any price and there are two areas of significant difference between us.

#NickFerrari #Brexit #LBC

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