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Boris Johnson and Leo Varadkar have said they can “see a pathway” to a possible Brexit deal after last-ditch talks to break the deadlock before the Halloween deadline.
After more than two hours of discussions at a country manor on the Wirral, the Prime Minister and Irish Premier said they believed a deal was “in everybody’s interests”.
In a joint statement, they said they would now “reflect further” on their discussions while their officials would continue to “engage intensively”.
“Both continue to believe a deal is in everybody’s interest. They agreed that they could see a pathway to a possible deal,” the statement said.
“They agreed to reflect further on their discussions and that officials would continue to engage intensively on them.”
The meeting at the 19th century Thornton Manor was seen as a last chance for Mr Johnson to save his hopes of getting an agreement on a Brexit deal ahead of next week’s crucial EU summit.
In their statement, the two leaders said their discussions had concentrated on the “challenges” of future customs arrangements and “consent” in Mr Johnson’s new Brexit blueprint.
The Irish and other EU governments have objected to proposals to take Northern Ireland out of the EU customs union – along with the rest of the UK – meaning the return of customs checks in Ireland.
They have also voiced strong concerns about proposals for the new arrangements to require the consent of the Stormont Assembly, effectively handing a veto to the DUP.
The statement said Mr Varadkar will now consult with Brussels while Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay will meet the EU’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier on Friday.
It comes as French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday that Britain will have to pay the price should it decide to proceed with a position over Brexit that is unacceptable for the other 27 European Union countries.
“If they want to make a move which is compatible with what could be accepted by the 27, it is fine,” Mr Macron said at an event in Lyon.
“If they don’t want to make any move or make something which is not accepted, they will have to take the responsibility.”
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