EU leaders share 'heavy responsibility' to help secure Brexit deal, Jeremy Hunt warns

Jeremy Hunt will today tell EU leaders that they share a "heavy responsibility" to help finalise a Brexit deal.

Speaking in Berlin, the foreign secretary will warn that the UK leaving the EU without an agreement would be "deeply damaging, economically and politically".

Mr Hunt is on a tour of European capitals in a bid to help convince European leaders to offer the UK fresh concessions on the Northern Ireland backstop.

As the government steps up its lobbying of EU leaders, Theresa May will meet with European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker in a last-ditch attempt to convince Brussels to agree to changes ahead another Commons vote on Brexit next week.

And he will stress that the blame for failure would not be borne solely by the UK, but by all those involved in the negotiations between Britain and the remaining 27 EU states.

Mr Hunt will say: "At this momentous time, a heavy responsibility falls upon all of us.

"We do not want historians in the future to puzzle over our actions and ask themselves how it was that Europe failed to achieve an amicable change in its relationship with Britain - a country that is not simply a partner but a friend and ally in every possible sense."

He will add: "None of us should have any doubt that failing to secure a ratified withdrawal agreement between Britain and the EU would be deeply damaging, economically and politically.

"In the vital weeks ahead, standing back and hoping that Brexit solves itself will not be enough.

"The stakes are just too high: we must all do what we can to ensure such a deal is reached."

Mr Hunt has previously insisted that the UK would "flourish and prosper" even if there is a no-deal Brexit.

The foreign secretary will meet German foreign minister Heiko Maas and economic minister Peter Altmaier in Berlin, as well as Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, who is predicted to take over from Angela Merkel as the next German chancellor.

He held talks with Danish ministers in Copenhagen on Tuesday and met other EU foreign ministers in Brussels on Monday.