What the papers say – December 24
Thursday’s papers are dominated by Brexit trade negotiations finally nearing their end.
The Times, The Daily Telegraph and The Guardian report the UK and EU are within “touching distance” of agreeing terms on a Brexit trade deal.
Britain and EU on brink of signing Brexit deal#tomorrowspaperstoday@BBCHelenapic.twitter.com/NgL0f09rSR
— The Times Pictures (@TimesPictures) December 23, 2020
The front page of tomorrow's Daily Telegraph:
'Johnson poised to seal Brexit trade deal'#TomorrowsPapersTodaypic.twitter.com/QaQoakc1Rs
— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) December 23, 2020
Guardian front page, Thursday 24 December 2020: Brexit deal in ‘touching distance’, says No 10 pic.twitter.com/lQJa2a32AU
— The Guardian (@guardian) December 23, 2020
The Independent says negotiations are “in the end phase”, while the Financial Times reports the legal teams for both sides are “poring over” the fine print of the agreement.
Tomorrow's @independent front page #tomorrowspaperstoday To subscribe to the Daily Edition https://t.co/XF8VnDpHYFpic.twitter.com/GpDZTMAv2J
— The Independent (@Independent) December 23, 2020
Just published: front page of the Financial Times UK edition Thursday December 24 https://t.co/qIWY8CffMjpic.twitter.com/VVkmvbGIEE
— Financial Times (@FinancialTimes) December 23, 2020
The i cites a French diplomat claiming the UK gave in to European demands.
Christmas Eve front page: Deal – UK and EU ready to sign agreement #TomorrowsPapersTodaypic.twitter.com/VWCvWFQJPa
— i newspaper (@theipaper) December 23, 2020
Formal confirmation of the deal is expected early on Thursday, according to the Daily Express and Daily Mirror.
Thursday’s Daily Express: The Deal is done! #tomorrowspaperstodaypic.twitter.com/utNY2DeZsU
— Helena Wilkinson (@BBCHelena) December 23, 2020
Tomorrow's front page: Deal done for Xmas #TomorrowsPapersTodayhttps://t.co/OqplPpjQiHpic.twitter.com/WloSBQipNb
— Daily Mirror (@DailyMirror) December 23, 2020
Meanwhile a number of papers take a festive theme over the news, with The Sun and the Daily Mail dubbing the occasion “Brexmas”.
Record breaking accord poised to be signed in less than a year of talks and will allow free trade to continue without tariffs of quotas in a major win for Britain.
Many said it was impossible… and No10 rejected MASSIVE pressure to drag out for another year because of Covid pic.twitter.com/wGB84tnSVg
— Harry Cole (@MrHarryCole) December 23, 2020
Thursday's @DailyMailUK#MailFrontPagespic.twitter.com/iNus8hSJn8
— Daily Mail U.K. (@DailyMailUK) December 23, 2020
Elsewhere, the Daily Star leads with the emergence of a new mutant strain of coronavirus and millions more Britons set to enter Tier 4 lockdown from Boxing Day.
Tomorrow's @dailystar#frontpage
And a merry @*&@! Xmas to you, too! New mutant super-strain of Covid has hithttps://t.co/Cd8pfkN5Az#TomorrowsPapersTodaypic.twitter.com/AFEwrCg6S2
— Daily Star (@dailystar) December 23, 2020