UK looking to ‘intensify’ Brexit negotiations with European Union

BRITAIN is ready to “intensify” the pace of negotiations over Brexit, Downing Street has indicated.

The comment came amid reports the UK wants to ditch the current pattern of negotiating for one week each month in Brussels and move to continuous talks.

It followed claims by former deputy prime minister Nick Clegg that talks were moving too slowly to be completed by the deadline of March 2019.

“It’s a bit like staring at a building site and saying we’ve made progress because we’ve made a cup of tea,” Mr Clegg told BBC Radio 4’s programme. The Politico website reported that officials at David Davis’s Department for Exiting the EU have requested rolling talks to begin on September 18 and continue until a breakthrough is achieved.

Asked about the prospect of stepping up the tempo of talks, a Downing Street spokeswoman said: “We are ready to intensify negotiations. Nothing has been formally agreed but that is something that we can discuss.

“Typically, with negotiations, as time goes on you see the pace pick up.

“Certainly we wouldn’t rule that out, but nothing has been agreed yet.”

It comes after a leading Tory remainer said no Conservative MPs planned to vote against the Government’s Repeal Bill at its second reading.

Former Minister Anna Soubry said suggestions of a rebellion were “an absolute nonsense”, as she called on Prime Minister Theresa May to build a consensus over Brexit. MPs return to Westminster this week and are due to debate the EU Withdrawal Bill on Thursday, with votes on its second reading expected on Monday next week.