Macron offers UK Brexit hope

President Emmanuel Macron is preparing to throw Theresa May a lifeline by pushing other EU leaders to agree a close relationship with Britain after Brexit as part of his vision for a united Europe.

The French leader wants to use a summit in Austria next month to spell out a new structure for European alliances. It would be based on ‘‘concentric circles’’, with the EU and the euro at its core and Britain in a second ring, diplomatic sources have told The Times.

That would depend on an amicable Brexit, however. Macron’s decision to promote his vision at Salzburg suggests he is softening opposition to the prime minister’s Chequers proposals.

The sense of optimism was boosted yesterday when Michel Barnier, the EU’S chief Brexit negotiator, offered Britain an unprecedented trade deal that would ‘‘be as close as possible’’. His comments sent sterling to a three-week high against the dollar.

On Tuesday Macron said that any Brexit deal should not threaten the EU’S integrity. However, diplomats said yesterday that he was concerned a ‘‘no deal’’ departure would shatter European ties just as they were needed most.

‘‘He sees a no-deal scenario as something that would break links and poison relations at a time when Europe needs to be united beyond the EU,’’ a diplomatic source said.

British officials said that talks at the beginning of this month between Macron and May at his Fort de Bregancon summer retreat were cordial and more positive than expected.

Some of the themes he raised there have been taken up by British ministers during bilateral meetings in European capitals this month.

During a visit to France yesterday David Lidington, the Cabinet Office minister and de facto deputy prime minister, said that a no-deal outcome loomed unless the EU accepted the Chequers proposals as a basis for talks.

‘‘We face the choice between the pragmatic proposals we are discussing now with the European Commission or no deal,’’ he told the Mouvement des Entreprises de France, an employers’ body. ‘‘This is a time when Europe – Europe inside the EU and Europe outside the EU – needs to pull together to embrace the spirit of unity and cooperation that has been the cause of our success for more than half a century.’’ – The Times

‘‘He (Macron) sees a no-deal scenario as something that would break links and poison relations at a time when Europe needs to be united beyond the EU.’’