Brexit negotiations will restart despite Boris Johnson’s make-or-break talks with the EU failing to bridge “very large gaps”.
The prime minister will return from a Brussels dinner with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen having ordered negotiators to continue talking and keeping hopes of a deal alive.
But a “firm decision” must be taken by Sunday on “the future of the talks” because significant differences remain, a senior No.10 source said.
Von der Leyen suggested the talks at the Berlyamont were heated at times, describing a “lively and interesting” discussion and acknowledging that the UK and EU “remain far apart”.
Talks had been stalled on the key issues of fishing rights, the extent to which the UK and EU would maintain similar standards, and how the deal would be governed.
But negotiations are now going down to the wire, with the UK due to default to World Trade Organisation terms for trade with the EU from January 1 – widely predicted to be the most damaging outcome – if agreement cannot be found.
The high-level summit got off to an awkward start as Johnson and von der Leyen grappled with coronavirus social distancing rules.
A dinner of scallops and turbot also provided a wry backdrop to the intense discussions on fishing rights.
But the two sides agreed that talks between the UK’s Lord Frost and EU’s Michel Barnier could resume because the PM “does not want to leave any route to a possible deal untested”, a senior No.10 source said.
“The PM and VDL (von der Leyen) had a frank discussion about the significant obstacles which remain in the negotiations,” the source said.
“Very large gaps remain between the two sides and it is still unclear whether these can be bridged.
“The PM and VDL agreed to further discussions over the next few days between their negotiating teams.
“The PM does not want to leave any route to a possible deal untested.
“The PM and VDL agreed that by Sunday a firm decision should be taken about the future of the talks.”
Responding, Labour's shadow Cabinet Office minister Rachel Reeves said: “The prime minister promised an oven ready deal.
“He needs to get it done so we can focus on what matters to the British people: securing our economy, protecting our NHS and rebuilding our country.”