In this Brexit special, we examine the last-minute trade deal that Prime Minister Boris Johnson brokered last week, the new checks and red tape that have been introduced, how Britain will use its regulatory freedoms and why the future of the United Kingdom will dominate politics in 2021.

Party leader Sir Keir Starmer said that, while the agreement is "thin" with "many flaws", the alternative is to leave the EU single market and customs union with no agreement, pushing up prices and driving businesses to the wall.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson called it an "amazing moment", which would make Britain "an open, generous, outward-looking, internationalist and free-trading" country. "Having a tie with the European Union is important", he said.

Big changes are coming on New Year's Day.

Under the new arrangements, freedom of movement rights end and, while United Kingdom citizens can still travel for work or pleasure, there are different rules.

The trade agreement sealed on Christmas Eve after months of tense negotiations ensures that the two sides can continue to buy and sell goods without tariffs or quotas.

But on Wednesday the prime minister sounded a more conciliatory note as parliament approved a new trade deal with the EU, saying: "This is not the end of Britain as a European country". His son Boris, on the other hand, has been vocal about why Britain must leave the European Union and said, Britain can "prosper mightily" as a fully sovereign nation independently of what he views as an overly bureaucratic EU. "That is certain", Stanley Johnson said. It's time now to put Brexit behind us.

- "New beginning" -In January, flag-waving Brexiteers led by populist anti-EU former lawmaker Nigel Farage cheered and pro-EU "remainers" mourned.

Stanley Johnson told broadcaster RTL on Thursday that he was in the process of "reclaiming" his French identity.

"They wanted to be sure that we had honoured the most basic promises of the referendum of June 2016, and taken back control of our money, our laws and our waters; and we have, in every particular".

Fear of disruption at the ports has stoked fears of food and medicine shortages, as well as delays to holidaymakers and business travellers used to seamless travel in the EU.

"I'm hopeful that we find other ways to rebuild ties", she said.

The key financial services sector also faces an anxious wait to learn on what basis it can keep dealing with Europe, after being largely omitted from the trade deal along with services in general, which account for 80% of Britain's economy.

The British government insisted that "the border systems and infrastructure we need are in place, and we are ready for the U.K.'s new start".

Johnson voted "Remain" during the 2016 referendum, but later changed his mind, and has since expressed support for leaving.