Brexit talks appear deadlocked as EU negotiators clash with their UK counterparts on key sticking points. The bloc’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, appears stumped – the same can be said for Prime Minister Boris Johnson, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Mr Johnson’s negotiator Lord David Frost. For months the two sides have clashed on fishing rights and common standards.
The EU has insisted that to access its single market, Britain needs to sign up to regulatory alignment, creating a “level playing field” on which EU member states and other countries can trade.
On the other hand, Downing Street insists Brexit is about regaining the sovereignty to be able to set its own rules, outside of regulations from Brussels.
If no agreement is reached by the end of the month, the two sides will part ways without a deal and the UK will operate on “Australia-style” terms.
But boxer Tyson Fury sees it far more clearly and does not appear remotely phased by the thought of no deal.
Speaking when the country faced a similar prospect as the UK was yet to settle on a withdrawal agreement with the EU, Fury was asked about his thoughts on whether Mr Johnson should walk away without a deal.
He said: “I don’t get involved in politics too much but we voted to leave and if you don’t do as the public says we might as well have a dictatorship.
“I say leave and give them nothing, pay no divorce bill.”
Fury was speaking to ITV’s Good Morning Britain before his fight with Otto Wallin in September 2019 – the bout that preceded his career-defining win over Deontay Wilder.
READ MORE: Ronnie O’Sullivan’s ‘moving to Germany’ claim after ‘years of lies’
He joins snooker legend Ronnie O’Sullivan, England cricketer Stuart Broad, Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton, jockey Hollie Doyle and footballer Jordan Henderson.
Like his views on Brexit, he has made his position on this evening’s events clear.
The WBC heavyweight champion asked to be taken off the list last month but the BBC said he would stay on.
His legal team sent the state broadcaster a letter requesting for his name to be removed from the list – but the BBC remained defiant.
In an interview with The Telegraph, Fury said: “They shouldn’t have nominated me.
“I’m not interested in their awards or anything they have to say because it’s really unimportant to me.
“I’ve told them to take me off. I don’t want any part of it.
“I do not need a s*** award from a TV company to say ‘well done’ for what I’ve done this year. I know who I am, I know what I’ve done.”
A BBC spokesperson said: “The shortlist is decided by an independent expert panel who choose contenders based on their sporting achievement in a given year.
“On this basis Tyson Fury will remain on the list.
“As always the winner will be decided by the public voting during the live show and it is of course up to Tyson if he chooses to participate in the show.”
