Brexit news latest: Boris Johnson's plans on knife-edge as hopes of deal before crucial summit fade

Boris Johnson’s Brexit plans have been left on a knife-edge as hopes of securing a deal ahead of a crucial summit starting today began to fade.

The Prime Minister was in a race against time to win backing for his newly-negotiated agreement after EU leaders suggested they were ready to give it the stamp of approval.

Mr Johnson was poised to have his deal approved after last night's the last-gasp talks, but DUP leader Arlene Foster appeared to hold out and the party refused to drop objections to key elements.

Negotiations were set to continue through the night before the PM heads to Brussels for the EU leaders’ meeting, where any potential deal would be signed off.

Mr Johnson needs to get an agreement approved at the summit if he is to avert a major political bust-up over asking Brussels to delay Brexit beyond the scheduled October 31 deadline.

A compromise could see the leaders looking at a political agreement, rather than a legal text.

As the struggle to secure a withdrawal agreement continues, MPs are also today expected to agree to sit on Saturday so Mr Johnson will be able to put an agreement to the Commons.

If a deal is agreed by both the government and the EU, Mr Johnson will need the support of 320 MPs to get it through.

Earlier Mr Johnson's Cabinet threw its “full support” behind the PM to secure a new Brexit deal amid last-gasp talks with the EU. Ministers were pictured smiling as they left Downing Street after a Cabinet meeting yesterday afternoon.

Mr Johnson's spokesman said: "The Prime Minister gave an update to Cabinet on the progress in the ongoing Brexit talks. He said there was a chance of securing a good deal but we are not there yet and there remain outstanding issues.

"Following a positive discussion, Cabinet gave the PM its full support in the Government's continuing efforts to secure a deal ahead of European Council."

Tory MP Steve Baker, chairman of the pro-Brexit European Research Group of MPs, whose support in Parliament could also be vital, spoke to reporters after a meeting in Downing Street.

Mr Baker said that his colleagues will be looking at any deal “with a view to supporting it”. He said: “We have made great progress in our discussions with Number 10."

He added: “Really at this point, it just remains to wish the Prime Minister every possible success as he goes to negotiate for our country."

Asked if he would back a deal, he said: “I know everybody is desperate for us to say whether we can vote for it, but until we can see it, we can’t say.

“We really must see the text in time to read it in order to vote on Saturday.”

However, the Leader of the Independent Group for Change and former Conservative Anna Soubry has described the amount of time MPs would have to scrutinise Boris Johnson’s prospective deal on Saturday as “plain wrong”.

“It is increasingly clear Johnson’s ‘new’ deal is worse than May’s,” she tweeted.

“Parliament will get 5 hours debate on Saturday without any independent assessments, analysis or select committee scrutiny of the most important set of decisions we will make in generations.

“That’s plain wrong.”

Efforts to stop the Prime Minister from putting his deal before Parliament are now being made as anti-Brexit campaigner Jo Maugham QC said he plans to launch a legal action.

He tweeted: “I intend to lodge an immediate petition for an injunction in the Court of Session preventing the Government from placing the Withdrawal Agreement before Parliament for approval.

“We expect that petition to be lodged tomorrow and to be heard on Friday.”