Brexit trade talks may grind on through Christmas and go to the wire on December 31 as the UK tries to get Brussels to budge on key stumbling blocks.
Britain’s chief negotiator Lord Frost will sit down with EU counterpart Michel Barnier again tomorrow. A deadline of tonight for a deal set by the European Parliament passed with no sign of progress.
No10 continued to be gloomy but some insiders suggested it was a negotiating strategy. Health Secretary Matt Hancock said Brussels has to withdraw “unreasonable demands” on fishing and competition rules.
He said: “We want these talks to reach a positive conclusion. Unfortunately, the EU has put in some unreasonable demands. "I am sure a deal can be done but obviously it needs movement on the EU