So what if we walk?

Desperate May: Give me something I can defend Spy boss: It may not happen

THERESA May last night urged EU leaders to give the UK a Brexit deal she can “defend” back home.

The Prime Minister warned them of the “risks” they face if they cannot “work together” to secure an agreement.

And she vowed Britain and Europe would enjoy a “deep” new relationship if the EU was willing to give ground.

But EU chiefs told her, as they dined at a crunch Brussels summit, she needs to do more to break the deadlock. Dutch PM Mark Rutte said “a lot more clarity” on the UK’S financial offer was needed before talks could progress.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said there were “encouraging” signs but progress so far was “not sufficient” to open trade talks.

Mrs May told the 27 EU nations’ leaders at the European Council dinner the UK is keen to be a “strong, committed” partner of the EU.

But she sounded caution on the perils of not reaching a deal. Mrs May confessed for the first time that Brexit talks FORMER MI6 chief Sir John Sawers hinted Brexit might not go ahead.

Sir John, head of the spy agency from 2009 to 2014, warned Brexit could leave the UK “weaker”.

He also told a House of Lords committee: “The vehicle through which we conducted sanctions for the last 20 or so years has had stalled in the summer. But she went on: “I took stock, listened to what UK people and my friends and partners in Europe were saying and made a step forward.”

She said Britain and the EU must “work together” to get a deal “we can stand behind and defend to our people”.

The PM put the onus back on the other chiefs by saying “the clear and urgent imperative must be that the dynamic you create enables us to move forward together”.

The 27 rival leaders will today hold a meeting which the UK will not attend.

They are expected to conclude officially that “insufficient progress” has been made on the first topics to enter Phase 2 of trade discussions.

Those are citizens’ rights, our financial obligation and Northern Ireland’s border.

Jeremy Corbyn met EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier in Brussels yesterday.

The Labour chief said the UK should agree to pay what is legally owed for quitting Europe but declined to put a figure on the divorce bill. been the EU. So clearly Brexit, assuming it goes ahead, will have an impact on how we take part in coercive foreign policy strategies.” Sir John did not expand on his remark, but said it was “vital” to invest in diplomacy after Brexit to keep Britain’s influence.

OFF TO DINNER Theresa May in Brussels yesterday WARNING Sir John Sawers IN THE BACKGROUND PM with Mrs Merkel and France’s President Macron FLAGGING Union Jack and EU banners outside Commission HQ in Brussels HERE’S the negative side of what could...