EU leaders ink UK-EU post-Brexit trade deal

EU heads have signed the long-awaited post-Brexit trade deal.

Officially called the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, it has taken months of negotiation to agree.

European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen signed on behalf of the European Union on Wednesday morning.

It will now be flown to London by a Royal Air Force plane where Prime Minister Boris Johnson will sign for the UK in 10 Downing Street.

European leaders welcomed the deal, describing it either as a moment of "historical importance," an "important milestone," or a "major step forward."

But most have also reiterated warnings that despite the deal, changes to the current relationship will come into force on January 1.

The signing of the deal on Wednesday comes ahead of British MPs and MEPs holding votes on whether to ratify the agreement.