Brexit talks set to enter intensive ‘tunnel’ phase

Major boost for prime minister as the EU agrees to move on to the next phase of negotiations

Brexit negotiations will now enter the “tunnel” phase of intensive and secretive talks in a boost for Boris Johnson’s prospects of brokering a fresh deal.

The accelerated negotiations were agreed to by the EU27 after a “constructive meeting” between Michel Barnier and Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay in Brussels yesterday.

After talks came close to hitting the buffers, the prime minister managed to win some confidence that he can secure an agreement after meeting Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.

Mr Johnson declined to say what concessions he made but said “under no circumstances” would he agree to a deal that damages the ability of all of the UK to “take full advantage” of Brexit.

Both camps hailed yesterday’s discussions as “constructive” and Mr Barnier went on to meet the EU27 ambassadors who, the European Commission said, agreed to “intensify discussions over the coming days”.

This takes the negotiations into “the tunnel”, which is Brussels jargon for an in-depth phase of talks among a select group of negotiators.

While the talks were going on, Mr Tusk offered the PM some tepid positivity and revealed he had threatened Mr Johnson with publicly announcing he had exhausted all opportunities of securing a deal by the crucial EU summit on October 17 and 18.

But he ruled out making that declaration, offering to hold out for the “slightest chance” of success, after speaking with Mr Varadkar.

The meeting between Mr Johnson and Mr Varadkar came after a week of acrimonious exchanges between London, Dublin and Brussels signalled the talks were close to collapse.

The PM must return from the crucial summit of heads of government with a deal he can get past MPs by October 19 if he is not to face demands to comply with the Benn Act.

Many MPs believe that, if he cannot get a deal, Mr Johnson will use the occasion to push for a “people versus Parliament” general election.

The prime minister took a break from Brexit to visit St Mary’s and All Saints Primary School in Beaconsfield, where he met four-yearold Scarlet Fickling.