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Boris Johnson has been closing in on a possible Brexit deal as negotiators worked into the night in a bid to secure an agreement before tomorrow’s summit.
Hopes were raised as reports emerged that a draft treaty could be published as soon as this morning, but Downing Street insisted there was “more work still to do”.
Suggestions a deal was closing in came as Number 10 also declined to recognise a midnight deadline apparently set by EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier yesterday.
Last-ditch talks between the UK and the EU went on into the night. Mr Johnson’s official spokesman said: “We are working hard. The Prime Minister is aware of the time constraints that we are under.”
The Prime Minister and his team of negotiators are working to hammer out an agreement ahead of a crucial EU summit, which begins in Brussels tomorrow.
Mr Johnson is set to update his Cabinet on Brexit later in order to give them the most up to date information on the ongoing talks, which have reached a critical stage.
Sources on both sides of the negotiating table have spoken out to say a deal was now “within reach”.
And according to the Guardian, senior sources said that a draft treaty could be published today after the UK agreed in principle there will be a customs border in the Irish Sea.
But Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said it remained uncertain whether a deal would be ready in time for the summit. “The initial indications (from the EU) are that we are making progress, negotiations are moving in the right direction,” he told reporters.
“But whether we will be able to conclude a revised Withdrawal Agreement, which is an international treaty, in time for the summit, that’s as of now unclear.”
Mr Varadkar also revealed that the PM told him during their meeting last week he was “confident” he would be able to do what Theresa May thrice failed to do by getting a deal through the House of Commons.
DUP leader Arlene Foster dismissed speculation about a Northern Ireland-only backstop. It was expected that she would meet with Mr Johnson last night.
The UK proposed a plan that would see Northern Ireland remain in the UK’s customs territory but operating the EU’s rules and procedures on tariffs.
Various members of the European Research Group of Tory Brexiteers attended a meeting inside Downing Street yesterday afternoon. Chairman Steve Baker, who said the “constructive talks” were not with the PM, left feeling “optimistic” that a “tolerable deal” might be reached, in a boost for Mr Johnson.
Mr Barnier earlier struck a positive note after meeting Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay at the General Affairs Council. He debriefed EU27 ministers in Luxembourg before tweeting: “Talks are difficult but I believe an agreement is still possible.”
Jean-Claude Juncker, president of the EU commission, had previous said the bloc would not refuse an extension to the Brexit process if an agreement was not reached before the Halloween deadline.
Under the terms of the Benn Act, if the Prime Minister cannot secure a deal by Saturday, he must write to Brussels to ask for Brexit to be delayed beyond the end of the month.
However, Mr Johnson has insisted that the UK will leave the EU on October 31 whether a deal is in place or not.
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