Boris Johnson may enjoy a day in the sun, but now the hard work really begins

There’s now an end in sight for the two major issues facing the UK: Brexit and coronavirus. But Johnson will still have to work hard as he finally looks to the long-term economy, writes Chris Blackhurst

Time to focus on the levelling up agenda and to save the union (Anadolu/Getty)

One down, one to go. Of the two enormous challenges to beset Boris Johnson’s first year in office, one, Brexit with a deal, has been accomplished.

All credit to him for achieving what many people, myself included, thought would be well nigh impossible – although, lest we forget, the need was self-inflicted. If you’re a die-hard Remainer and wish to stay in the single market, the agreement Johnson struck will never be acceptable; likewise if you’re an arch-Brexiteer and want all ties with the EU to be scrapped. But if you fall somewhere in the middle, then what has been accomplished is fine. It’s a horrible, weaselly word, fine. Not brilliant, not perfect, just fine. It’s the same as OK. A nod, a shrug. This will do.

There’s a worry as to what is not in the document. As an island nation we’re fixated with our sea ports. The White Cliffs of Dover are seared on our collective consciousness. Something, it seems, isn’t actually exported from our shores until it is driven by a lorry on to a waiting ship. Yet the reality is that most of what we sell overseas is invisible, ours is a service economy, it has been for years now, and little reference was made to services in the 1,000 pages accompanying the Brexit accord.