'Important day' for Brexit negotiations as hopes of a deal ‘receding’ with deadline looming

An "important day" of Brexit talks began again on Friday amid warnings the prospect of a breakthrough is “receding”.

Leaving his hotel in London on Friday morning to meet with his UK counterparts, the EU’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier said it was a day of "determination" as he stressed the importance of these final hours of negotiations with a deal hanging by a thread.

Reports have suggested Mr Barnier would remain in London to continue talks over the weekend, having initially planned to travel back to Brussels on Friday, although this was not confirmed by the European Commission.

Number 10 did not confirm whether the UK-EU trade talks were likely to continue over the weekend.

A spokesman for the Prime Minister said the chief negotiators for both sides, Lord Frost and Michel Barnier respectively, continued to be personally overseeing the talks while Boris Johnson would be "working from Chequers" this weekend, but was "in regular contact with the negotiating team and is being kept up-to-date.”

The spokesman said only that time was “short” when asked whether Monday was regarded as a “hard deadline” in the talks.

Negotiations between the UK and EU seemed to stall on Thursday – with Britain claiming Brussels was calling for fresh concessions at the 11th hour.

And with the Brexit transition period due to end on December 31, there is little time to get a deal agreed by negotiators and approved by the EU’s leaders, Westminster and the European Parliament.

A senior UK Government source said: “At the 11th hour, the EU is bringing new elements into the negotiation.

“A breakthrough is still possible in the next few days but that prospect is receding.”

On Friday, the Prime Minister's spokesperson said Britain's negotiating team were "working extremely hard in order to bridge the gaps that remain.”

“We are committed to working hard to try and reach an agreement with the EU and the talks are ongoing.

“There are still some issues to overcome. Time is in very short supply and we are at a very difficult point in the talks.

“What is certain is we will not be able agree a deal that doesn’t respect our fundamental principles on sovereignty, fishing and control."

Business Secretary Alok Sharma said negotiations were at a "critical phase" and that there were still "difficulties" that needed resolving before an agreement could be reached, but refused to be pressed on a deadline for a deal.

"As I said, let's just see how these negotiations pan out, but you're absolutely right, time is now running pretty short."

He continued: "I'm not going to speculate on timings, of course we want to try and reach an agreement."

Speaking earlier on ITV's Good Morning Britain, Mr Sharma said for a deal to be done, the EU had to recognise "that the United Kingdom is a sovereign and independent nation".

"We want to try and reach an agreement, however time is really pretty short. And I think it’s fair to say that we’re at a difficult stage in these negotiations. There are a number of really tricky issues that still need to be resolved; I don’t want to go into the details of that, you’ll understand why," he told GMB presenters Charlotte Hawkins and Ben Shephard.

He added that the government was "continuing to talk in good faith".

Fishing and the so-called “level playing field” aimed at preventing unfair competition on state subsidies and standards remain the main issues to be resolved in the talks.

Irish premier Micheal Martin said he “fervently” hopes a trade deal will be reached between the UK and EU.

He added: “There has been intensive talks under way and ongoing between the United Kingdom Government’s negotiating team and the EU’s negotiating team, and that is continuing.

“My understanding and sense is that will continue over the weekend and there will be further engagement.

“I fervently hope there will be a deal. I think a deal is in the best interests of the United Kingdom, it’s in the best interests of the island of Ireland, it’s in the best interests of the EU.

“Particularly in the people we represent, workers, businesses, people involved in education across the broad.

“We need to give people certainty about the future.

“A sensible trade deal would be a very important step in the right direction for all of our peoples now, given the enormous negative impact of Covid-19 on our economic and social life.”

Mr Martin said the shock a no-deal Brexit would bring would be the “last thing” citizens need.

“I have faith and trust in the EU negotiating team, in Michel Barnier and in president Ursula von der Leyen of the (European) Commission.

“There have been some countries putting pressure on wanting to seek additional information – 27 states can’t negotiate collectively.

“We’ve got to allow them (the negotiating teams) the space to conclude their talks and hopefully achieve an agreement out of this.”

Earlier on Thursday, Ireland’s foreign minister Simon Coveney said there was a “good chance” of a trade deal.

It is reported the EU’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, is expected to return to Brussels on Friday, but could come straight back to London.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Boris Johnson will press ahead with plans allowing ministers to tear up the Brexit divorce deal he has already agreed, despite the current round of UK-EU talks being at a critical stage.

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The Government will ask MPs to reinstate controversial legislation giving ministers the power to break international law by ignoring provisions in the Withdrawal Agreement relating to Northern Ireland.

MPs will vote on the UK Internal Market Bill on Monday, potentially throwing the talks on a UK-European Union trade deal into deep crisis unless an agreement can be reached by then.

The EU has already taken the first steps towards legal action over the legislation.

The Government will also introduce the Taxation (Post-Transition Period) Bill, which reportedly includes measures to override parts of the divorce deal struck by the Prime Minister and the EU in 2019.

MPs will be asked to reinsert the controversial Northern Ireland provisions into the UK Internal Market Bill after the Lords voted to remove them.

Meanwhile, Labour is split over how to respond to a deal if it reaches the Commons, with senior figures at odds over whether to support it or abstain.

Sir Keir Starmer has confirmed there are differing opinions within the party on its approach to voting on a Brexit deal, but stressed that a trade agreement with the European Union was “in the national interest”.

And Labour former prime minister Tony Blair told the BBC’s Newscast podcast that “Brexit as a political argument is over” and that “there’s no point in raising (the) spectre” of a bid to rejoin the EU.

Mr Blair said: “Brexit as a political argument is over, but you can’t pretend it’s not a big event that’s about to happen in practical terms and therefore short-term it’s going to be very challenging for the country, especially in combination with Covid.”