What you need to know about tomorrow’s Brexit talks

David Davis is expected to meet Michel Barnier at the Commission’s headquarters in Belgian capital Brussels on Monday but it is not known how long the initial round of talks will last.

Mr Barnier is due to report back to leaders of the 27 other EU states on Thursday to review progress ahead of a two-day summit of the European Council attended by Theresa May which starts later that day.

The Government wants the talks to discuss a new trade deal, giving the UK “free and frictionless trade” with the EU, at the same time as talking about the process of leaving. This will include discussing whether the UK needs to pay a so-called divorce bill, reflecting its financial obligations to the EU.

However, Brussels has insisted talks on the fee the UK will have to pay must make progress before talks on a future trade agreement can begin.

Both sides have made finding a solution to the issue of citizens’ rights a priority. Theresa May has made it clear she wants a firm break with the EU.

This includes leaving the single market, and negotiating a new trade arrangement to replace it, and ending freedom of movement, which currently allows people from any part of the UK to come and work in the EU.

The Government also insists the UK must leave the Customs Union, which allows goods to be moved between countries without restriction. This is necessary for the UK to sign new trade deals freely with other countries, but leaving the Customs Union could also create difficulties for firms such as care manufacturers, who buy parts from suppliers across the EU.

Mrs May’s weakened position in the House of Commons as a result of losing her majority has fuelled speculation the Tories would be forced to soften their stance on Brexit.

What does Labour say?

There has been some confusion about Labour’s David Davis, Secretary of State for Exiting the EU

position on leaving the single market, but Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell and Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry have both confirmed in recent television appearances that the party wants to leave the single market and negotiate a new trade deal instead.

Labour’s General Election manifesto also stated that the party believes freedom of movement must end.

So Labour’s position is very

similar to the Government’s. However, Ms Thornberry appeared to suggest on BBC One’s Question Time last Thursday that she supports staying in the Customs Union.

Criticising the Conservatives, she said: “That kind of ‘let’s turn our back on the Customs Union’ also worries me.”

Labour focuses on Theresa May’s comment that “no deal is better than a bad deal”, which is a threat to leave the EU without any sort of trade deal if negotiations break down.

However, both parties say their aim is to negotiate a trade deal and then to leave the EU.

Are other options possible?

Yes. It’s possible to be a member of the single market even if you’re not in the European Union.

That would almost certainly mean continuing with freedom of movement too,

Norway is an example of a country which is not a member of the EU, but is a member of the single market and has freedom of movement with the EU.

Some people who support Brexit say that a Norway-style deal wouldn’t respect the result of the EU referendum.

But others say the referendum result was simply to leave the EU. They argue that nobody voted to destroy jobs, and the best way to leave the EU while protecting jobs is to stay in the single market.