Michel Barnier travels to UK in final bid to get a post-Brexit trade deal

Michel Barnier is heading to London today for round-the-clock talks in a final bid to get a post-Brexit trade deal over the line.

The EU’s chief negotiator issued a statement saying that “both sides” were ready to “work constructively and in a spirit of compromise”.

Downing Street will be hoping that it signals a climb down by the EU after its leaders recently told the UK it had to be the one make concessions.

The UK’s chief negotiator Lord Frost and Mr Barnier are due to start an “intensified phase of talks” this afternoon that will last through to Sunday.

Number 10 has acknowledged that “significant gaps” remain between the two sides and it was “entirely possible that negotiations will not succeed”.

It comes after Boris Johnson told Brits to prepare for no deal after his deadline passed last week and talks broke down.

However, it has been reported that Lord Frost believes that Brussels is applying a “fundamental” change of approach to the talks.

With just ten weeks until Britain leaves the EU single market, fishing rights remain a major sticking issue as well as the governance of any deal and the “level playing field” aimed at preventing unfair competition.

Both sides had previously said a deal would need to be reached by mid-October in order to allow time for ratification.

Mr Barnier said: “We will seek the necessary compromises on both sides in order to do our utmost to reach an agreement and we will do so right up until the last day which it’s possible to do so.”

Downing Street said the UK’s position was clear that the EU had to be serious about talking intensively, on all issues, and bringing the negotiation to a conclusion, as well as accepting that it was dealing with an “independent and sovereign country”.

A Number 10 spokesman said: “We welcome the fact that Mr Barnier acknowledged both points... and additionally that movement would be needed from both sides in the talks if agreement was to be reached.

“As he made clear, ‘any future agreement will be made in respect of the decision-making autonomy of the European Union and with respect for British sovereignty’.”

If a deal is not possible, the UK will end the transition period on “Australia terms” - without a deal with its largest trading partner.

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