By Brexit talks enter critical deadline day
Post-Brexit trade talks were held through the night but there is little sign of an agreement, it is being reported today (Sunday).
The terms offered by the European Union continue to be “unacceptable” to the UK, according to a government source reported by the BBC.
The UK and EU have entered a critical day – with leaders set to decide whether a deal can be done. Both sides have said today is when the leaders will decide either to carry on trade talks or abandon them.
However post-Brexit trade talks between the UK and EU could slip beyond tonight’s deadline, the foreign secretary has suggested in an interview this morning.
Speaking to Sky News’ Sophy Ridge On Sunday, Dominic Raab said “I can’t close the door” on that possibility but admitted “there is still a long way to go” before an agreement is possible.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to hold another phone call with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen later today at around lunchtime.
Mr Raab suggested the negotiations could carry on – as the clock ticks down to 31 December when the transition period ends.
“If we’re 99% there on the outstanding issues, you wouldn’t want to leave any stone un-turned, but I think it’s quite a high bar,” he said.
Mr Raab, who said earlier this week that Sunday would be a “point of finality”, added now it is getting to the “eleventh hour” so what needs to happen is “moving the political logjam”.
“That can only happen at the political level of prime minister and Commissioner Von der Leyen,” he said.
