Trade talks can’t happen yet, says Merkel ally

A key ally of German chancellor Angela Merkel has warned Theresa May that Brexit trade talks will not get the green light next month.

German MEP Manfred Weber said it “doesn’t look like” the December summit of European leaders will agree to move on to the next phase of negotiations.

Mrs May hopes the December 14-15 summit will agree that enough progress has been made on divorce issues to allow for trade talks.

But Mr Weber, president of the centre-right EPP group in the European Parliament, said “the clock is ticking” and the UK had to put forward further proposals, adding: “In December it doesn’t look like as if we are going to be entering into the second phase.”

STICKING POINT: Angela Merkel, whose ally Manfred Weber is insisting the UK must make further proposals