Boris Johnson proclaimed “a new chapter in our national story” as MPs overwhelming approved a post-Brexit trade deal, drawing a line under Britain’s tumultuous 47-year membership of the EU.
The legislation to approve the treaty was due to be given royal assent by the Queen late on Wednesday night, just hours before Britain’s post-Brexit transition period ends at 11pm UK time on Thursday.
Mr Johnson claimed the deal, approved by 521 votes to 73, confounded critics who said it was impossible to have “free trade with the EU unless you conformed with the EU’s laws”.
He told the BBC that this had been compared to “having your cake and eating it”, adding: “That has turned out not to be true. I want you to see that this is a cakeist treaty.”
But Mr Johnson’s rhetoric will be tested in the coming hours when Britain leaves the EU’s customs union and single market, spawning what Labour leader Keir Starmer called “an avalanche of red tape”.