At the last general election Boris Johnson said he had an oven-ready deal, ready to go. He has yet to deliver it. Today we’ve had hot air and excuses over actual solutions. It’s time to take responsibility, Prime Minister. 1/6

This is now the third deadline Boris Johnson has set himself which he’s then missed. It's becoming a habit. Initially he said a deal with the EU would be sorted by July, then September, and then this week. 2/6

Of course everyone needs to prepare as best they can - but how on Earth can ministers lecture businesses to get ready, when the government can't even say if industries from farming, food and car manufacturing will face prohibitive tariffs to their biggest market in 10 weeks? 3/6

The Prime Minister blithely talks about an 'Australia' type arrangement but won’t have the guts or honesty to tell people that that means tariffs, increased costs & lost jobs. He needs to stop playing games and deliver the deal he promised to the British people last December. 4/6

The government's own preparations are a shambles - from lorry parks, border delays, shortages of customs agents and vital technology not even ready. We need focus and cool heads ahead of talks next week. 5/6

Finally, Boris Johnson must think long and hard about the implications of his approach in the coming days given we’re in the midst of a global pandemic & recession. Leaving with no deal is the last thing British jobs & businesses need. He must put our national interest first. 6/6