May: Brexit talks in their endgame

Negotiations go ‘through night’

THERESA May last night declared that Brexit negotiations have entered their “endgame” as time runs out to strike a deal.

The Prime Minister said the “immensely difficult” talks are running through the night in a bid to thrash out a backstop for the issue of the Northern Ireland border.

Mrs May told the Lord Mayor’s Banquet in London: “The negotiations are now in the endgame and we are working extremely hard, through the night, to make progress on the remaining issues. Both sides want to reach an agreement. But what we are negotiating is immensely difficult.”

And insisting she “will not compromise on what people voted for in the referendum”, she added: “This will not be an agreement at any cost.”

The Cabinet meets this morning but it is understood a potential pact will not be ready for them to see.

It was earlier reported EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier briefed ministers from the remaining 27 member states that “the parameters of a possible agreement are largely defined” but still needed political backing. Germany’s DIFFICULT PM last night Europe Minister Michael Roth said: “The clock is ticking and we must now come to a good outcome.” French counterpart Nathalie Loiseau added: “The ball is in the British court. It is a question of a British political decision.” Meanwhile, Labour will use a “humble address” parliamentary device to try to force the Government to publish its Brexit legal advice ahead of a crunch Commons vote on any pact. ■ A no-deal Brexit could force the NHS to fork out £2.3billion by 2020 due to increased purchasing of supplies, the Nuffield Trust claims.