>> I agree that new years eve is a daft time for transition to end, particularly
>> when the deal was only signed off a day or two earlier.
31/12/2020 was essentially a political deadline to 'Get Brexit Done'.
It was the final withdrawal date (ie end of transition phase) in the May era's proposed withdrawal agreement. The politicking over May's agreement ate up nearly half of the transition period but Johnson wasn't prepared to extend it. There was a process to do so before 3/06/2020 and no doubt a fudged month or two could have been achieved last month.
Agreement was always going to be last minute. Perhaps last minute when trade and leisure travel are at low ebb was, to some extent, least worst option.
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