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Brexit - as it happened: David Davis hails 'significant step' as UK and EU strike draft transition deal

Brexit Secretary David Davis has hailed a "significant step" in negotiations as the EU and the UK agreed the terms of a transition period after Britain leaves the bloc.

Speaking alongside his EU counterpart Michel Barnier in Brussels, Mr Davis said the Britain would be allowed to sign its own trade deals during the transition but conceded that it would allow full free movement rights for EU citizens who arrive during the period.

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson also won support from EU leaders on a visit to Brussels after accusing Russia of breaching international law by secretly stockpiling a deadly nerve agent used in the Salisbury attack.

It comes as international inspectors arrived in the UK to examine samples used in the poisoning of ex-spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia, which ministers believe contain a Russian-made agent known as Novichok.

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