Boris plans to quit Brexit talks as they stall on fish quotas

BORIS Johnson is ready to walk away from Brexit trade talks tomorrow.

The Prime Minister is waiting for a clearer picture to emerge after leaders of the 27 European Union countries set out their positions at a dinner tonight in Brussels.

Mr Johnson wants a “strong and credible” sign a breakthrough can be made after clashes over fishing rights continued to hold up progress.

UK negotiators are frustrated that the last round of discussions “lacked energy” – despite pledges they would intensify as the clock counts down.

Last night Mr Johnson spoke to Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, and Charles Michel, president of the European Council, to assess the EU’s position.

A Downing Street spokesman said: “The Prime Minister… expressed his disappointment that more progress had not been made over the past two weeks.

“He said that he looked forward to hearing the outcome of the European Council and would reflect before setting out the UK’s next steps in the light of his statement of September 7.”

It was on that date that the PM threatened to cut off negotiations on today’s date if there was no progress.

An EU official, familiar with the contents of the call, said the EU side pushed back against what it saw as UK attempts to leave fisheries as the last sticking point to be sorted out.

They told Mr Johnson it was part of a whole package needed for an overall agreement, according to the official, including on energy ties from 2021 and financial services – areas where London’s negotiating position is weaker than on fishing rights.

Splits have emerged between France and Germany, with Angela Merkel wanting Emmanuel Macron to reconsider his hardline fishing demands, which threaten to prevent a deal.

The French president wants to maintain the same level of access to the UK’s coastal waters after the end of the transition period.

A German government source said: “Everybody knows that if there is no deal then European quota in British waters is zero – now it’s 100.”