Gibraltar in the Schengen Zone under UK-Spain deal. Will have to see what this means in practice but evidently passport checks when travelling from UK to Gibraltar from now on. Will raise further constitutional questions in the UK, in particular when it comes to Scotland.

https://twitter.com/andrewiconnell/status/1344637174189326336

From now on, @NicolaSturgeon and the SNP will be able to make the simple argument, if #Brexit has led to Gibraltar being in the Schengen Zone why can't Scotland be in the Schengen Zone, too? Sure, there are reasons as to why Gibraltar treated differently...

At 23:00 UK time this evening, UK passport holders will lose the automatic right to live, work and study visa-free, in the following 30 countries:
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🇵🇹 Citizens of the above countries will lose the automatic right to live, work and study visa-free in the following country:
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Conservative back-bench MPs to support the EU-UK TCA stating that the deal "preserves the UK's sovereignty" but as in the doc shared by @PaulBrandITV they also state that the "the protocol provides for continuing direct jurisdiction of the European Commission within NI"

https://twitter.com/PaulBrandITV/status/1343936540137951233

Whilst the Withdrawal Agreement and the TCA are separate documents, the ERG voted through the Withdrawal Agreement so therefore, in the package as a whole - WA + TCA - their argument about UK sovereignty being restored doesn't seem to hold up

On #Brexit, with the 1,200+ page deal only having been approved 5 days' ago, UK MPs will face only a few hours tomorrow to debate and vote on the necessary legislation to bring the Trade & Co-Operation Agreement into law. This is a very short period of time, in comparison to the amount of any time when it came to the Withdrawal Agreement.

overview from @EU_Commission on difference between EU membership and UK-EU agreement. *UK passport holders might want to look away* (thread)

European Commission brochure on implications of what the deal means - spoiler - it's not pretty for UK passport holders ec.europa.eu/info/sites/inf… harder to trade in goods

NEW: UK WILL continue to make payments into the EU budget - surely a broken promise by @BorisJohnson Security co-operation would also be jeopardised if the UK tried deviating from the European Convention of Human Rights

Speaking at the @epc_eu @MichelBarnier states that "Exactly 4 years ago today, we woke to discover that the UK voted to leave the EU and they set the clock ticking with very real deadlines." #Brexit .@MichelBarnier "The political #Brexit on 31 January was only the first step. Last week, @BorisJohnson confirmed that the UK would not request an end of transition. This is the UK's choice. Transition ends on 31/12 and UK leaves the CU + SM. Economic #Brexit will take place.

🚨Speaking @LordsEUCom both @DavidGHFrost and @michaelgove underline that "If the EU requests an extension [to the transition period] we will not agree to one". This is pretty clear. Increases chances of no deal #Brexit OR UK accepting an inferior deal at last minute. If no deal happens, it will hit both sides but UK will take a much bigger hit as it is more exposed to the EU than vice-versa. Negotiations can of course continue under "no deal" terms but economic hit will be adding up on both sides and EU will insist (at the very least) (cont)

.@MichelBarnier starts press conf after latest round of #brexit talks on future UK-EU relationship saying "Brexit is a game of patience" Barnier "Our aim was from the side of the EU to advance all areas of the negotiations together. I want to thank David Frost and his team of 250 negotiators this week for this week talks."

.@MichelBarnier starts press conf at end of latest round of #Brexit negotiations To @BorisJohnson Barnier states "All the best to you, Prime Minister"

NEW: The UK publishes its approach to negotiating the future #UK - #EU relationship gov.uk/government/pub… UK already saying that it wants a "Canada", "Korea" or "Japan" style relationship and wants to be seen as a "sovereign equal". None of this likely to fly anywhere... Here is the document itself with some key bits highlighted (thread) assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/upl…

Thoughts on the European Withdrawal Agreement bill:
1) part 1 as regards the implementation period very clear that EU law will apply during transition (despite the UK having given up its seat at the decision making table) so rule-maker to rule-taker. 1/ 2) EU customs and tariffs still apply to UK throughout 2020, despite UK having given up its representation at the top-table. Taking back control? 2/

If the UK ends up in a #CustomsUnion with the EU then it will a) do nothing for the UK's service sector (the backbone of the UK economy and where the UK's largest service trading partner is the EU27), b) tie the UK's hands on any of its own future trade agreements c) The UK will have to apply the EU's external tariff, whilst having no say over it d) will have to offer all countries in the world with whom the EU has an FTA the same market access without reciprocal access for UK firms

.@StefaanDeRynck senior advisor to @MichelBarnier, speaking at #LSEBrexit "Brexit means that the UK falls out of over 750 international agreements. We cannot speak on behalf of third countries [as to whether they will offer the UK the same benefits]" @Open_Britain .@StefaanDeRynck adds that .@MichelBarnier welcomed clarity on @theresa_may speech last week that UK would be leaving SM & CU and the trade-offs this will entail. "PM has acknowledged that this will mean less access to EU markets" @Open_Britain