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Theresa May warned that 'time is running out' to secure Brexit deal

<em>Theresa May has been warned that time is running out to reach a deal with the EU (Rex)</em>
Theresa May has been warned that time is running out to reach a deal with the EU (Rex)

As Theresa May travels to Brussels for talks with EU leaders, the Prime Minister has been warned that ‘time is running out’ to secure a Brexit deal.

A cross-party group of MPs said today that ‘even under the most optimistic outcome’ from the sluggish divorce talks, Parliament may still not have enough time to approve a deal before Britain officially leaves the bloc in March 2019.

Hilary Benn, chair of the Brexit committee, warned this morning that ‘time in not or our side’, as he discussed the latest report on the UK’s future relationship with the EU.

The committee’s report urged Mrs May to consider delaying Brexit if a suitable deal cannot be reached and approved by MPs before the Article 50 deadline.

The report emphasised that MPs’ scrutiny of any deal achieved would be ‘one of the most significant parliamentary debates in a generation’, urging the government to allow ample time for debate.

‘Time is not on our side’: The Brexit committee has warned that negotiations may not reach a satisfactory conclusion before the article 50 deadline (Reuters)
‘Time is not on our side’: The Brexit committee has warned that negotiations may not reach a satisfactory conclusion before the article 50 deadline (Reuters)

The PM is heading to Brussels for a summit with EU leaders, but little progress on the issue of Brexit is expected.

Instead, talks are likely to be dominated by the issues of EU immigration and Eurozone reform.

However leaders of the remaining 27 members will receive an update on negotiations in Mrs May’s absence on Friday.

This week Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said preparations for all Brexit outcomes – including no deal – were intensifying in Ireland.

He also repeated the assertion that the future of the Irish border is one of the most vexed issues outstanding in the negotiations.

He said: ‘Time is running out for the Withdrawal Agreement to be concluded satisfactorily by the October European Council.

<em>Irish leader Leo Varadkar described the lack of progress on negotiations as ‘disappointing’ (Rex)</em>
Irish leader Leo Varadkar described the lack of progress on negotiations as ‘disappointing’ (Rex)

‘I expect EU leaders to send a strong message to the UK that negotiations with the taskforce need to intensify.

‘The lack of progress in the negotiations on the withdrawal agreement has been very disappointing.

‘We still need to see detailed proposals from the UK on how it intends to deliver on the clear commitments it made in December and March.’

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It comes as the Prime Minister prepares for a Cabinet ‘awayday’, where she will attempt to heal increasing divisions and infighting between her own ministers.

Treasury chief secretary Liz Truss openly mocked Environment Secretary Michael Gove when she made a speech this week saying the Tories were a low-tax party of personal freedom..

Highlighting Mr Gove’s action against woodburning stoves, she joked: ‘There’s enough hot air and smoke at the environment department already.’

<em>The Cabinet has been the centre of infighting as Treasury chief secretary Liz Truss publicly attacked Michael Gove (Rex)</em>
The Cabinet has been the centre of infighting as Treasury chief secretary Liz Truss publicly attacked Michael Gove (Rex)

Business Secretary Greg Clark also took a swipe at Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, who is reported to have said ‘F*** business’ over their views on Brexit.

Pushing for a soft Brexit, Mr Clark insisted businesses should be ‘listened to with respect’.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt was also criticised for attacking Airbus concerns about the impact of a no-deal withdrawal from the EU.