NEWS of a post-Brexit trade agreement between the UK and the EU will bring "some degree of clarity and certainty" for businesses across the district.

That was the message this afternoon from the leader of Bradford Council, Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe.

She said: "It’s a relief that a deal has finally been achieved.

"On top of austerity, Covid, a deep recession and thousands of lorries queuing in Kent, if we had left the EU without a deal it would have overwhelmed our nation.

"The Government is really cutting it fine but at least now we will have some degree of clarity and certainty for UK and Bradford-district businesses.

“Of course the agreement still needs to be ratified through the UK Parliament before the end of the year and we need to look at the full detail before any of us can have any real understanding of what it means for jobs, businesses and their trading partners in Europe. Inevitably though there will be big changes and we must adapt to those as quickly as possible.

“As a council we will continue to monitor the situation, provide up-to-date information for residents and businesses where we can, and provide support where it is needed – including for those Bradfordians who still have to register with the EU Settlement Scheme to continue living in the UK after June 30, 2021.”