Michel Barnier has warned Boris Johnson to stick to his promises as he warned there would not be a trade deal otherwise. The EU's chief Brexit negotiator is playing hard ball with the Prime Minister ahead of a fourth round of trade talks this week as he insisted the prospect of a no-deal end to the transition period this year would be compounded by the impact of the Covid-19 crisis.
Mr Barnier told The Sunday Times there would not be an "agreement at any cost". With talks on future trading arrangements seemingly in deadlock over issues like fisheries, Britain has only until July 1 to seek an extension to the transition period.