Leaked Irish paper reveals EU politicians' scathing views on Brexit progress

The scathing views of top EU politicians on Brexit have been revealed in a leaked document.

Top ministers including Brexit Secretary David Davis and Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson were slammed in the internal paper, drawn up by the Irish government and obtained by RTE News.

It Is a compilation of reports from Irish embassies based across Europe in early November.

According to the document, Mr Davis barely mentioned Brexit in a meeting with the French foreign and defence ministers - viewed as a wasted opportunity.

In another meeting, a Czech minister called Mr Johnson "unimpressive", but noted that he had at least "avoided any gaffes" during a visit in September.

The country's deputy minister for foreign affairs, Jakub Durr, told colleagues "he felt sorry for British ambassadors around the EU trying to communicate a coherent message when there is political confusion at home".

While the British judge in the European Court of Justice, Ian Forrester, bemoaned "the quality of politicians in Westminster".

He wondered if Britons would view Brexit as a "great mistake" when they realised what it entailed.

And senior EU figures were reportedly alarmed by "chaos in the Conservative Government", claiming ministers and civil servants were unable to agree on Brexit policies.

The document also revealed member states believed it would be difficult to break a deadlock in negotiations by December, preventing talks moving on to trade.

Theresa May told MPs in October: "I have a degree of confidence that we will be able to get to the point of sufficient progress by December.

Liberal Democrat MP Tom Brake said in Parliament that the leaked report "paints a rather unflattering picture of the UK Government's negotiating skills".

He asked for a debate on "the Government's incompetence and inability to deliver Brexit".

Commons leader Andrea Leadsom accused Mr Brake of "talking the country down".

The Prime Minister's spokesman said: "I don't comment on leaked documents. The Government is working hard on preparations for Brexit."

"There is good and constructive working relationship with the Prime Minister and the Taoiseach [Irish Prime Minister]."

The Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin has declined to comment.