‘Optimism’ on the Brexit deal

– The United Kingdom (UK) and the European Union (EU) are almost in touching distance of a Brexit deal which could be clinched in the next 24 to 48 hours, Prime Minister Theresa May’s de facto deputy said yesterday.

“We’re not quite there yet,” British Cabinet Office Minister David Lidington told BBC radio. “We are almost within touching distance now. The PM has said it can’t be a deal at any price.”

Asked if he was saying it was possible there could be a deal in the next 24 or 48 hours, he said: “Still possible but not at all definite, I think pretty much sums it up. Cautiously optimistic.”

May said on Monday that there were still considerable unresolved issues over Brexit as the two sides approached the “endgame” in negotiations.

Both the EU and the UK need an agreement to keep trade flowing between the world’s biggest trading bloc and the fifth largest national economy.

But May has struggled to untangle nearly 46 years of membership without damaging trade or upsetting the lawmakers who will ultimately decide the fate of any deal she can secure.

With under five months until Britain leaves the EU, negotiators are haggling over the so-called Northern Irish backstop, an insurance policy to ensure there will be no return to a hard border on the island of Ireland if a future trading relationship is not agreed in time.

Lidington declined to say whether the UK would have to start preparing in earnest for a no-deal if no deal was clinched by the end of today. –