No extension of European Union (EU) links beyond year end: UK

Penny Mordaunt, the British government's postmaster general told the House of Commons (lower house of parliament) on Tuesday that to agree to an extension would just extend the negotiating period with the EU and prolong uncertainty, Xinhua news agency reported.

Mordaunt, updating lawmakers on the fourth round of talks between the British government and the EU, said there had been no progress on principle issues during last week's talks.

"There are some very tough areas, one of them on fishing. We are asking for our (fishing) rights to be upheld and we are not wavering from that," she said.

Britain ended its membership of the bloc on Jan. 31 but is still following EU rules during a transition period until Dec. 31 to enable a permanent future trade deal to be reached. During this period, Britain would have to pay into EU funds but have no say in laws imposed by Brussels.

Mordaunt resisted a number of calls from opposition MPs to extend the transition period by up to a year. (IANS)

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