The European Union’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier said the bloc was increasing its planning for a no-deal Brexit at the end of this year, as his team briefs the 27 member states on the progress of trade talks on Friday.
Boris Johnson is facing revolt from dozens of Conservative MPs over his plan to tear up key parts of the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement, after Tory rebels tabled an amendment that would give parliament a veto on his Internal Market Bill.
Up to 30 backbench Tories are said to be ready to vote against the government. It comes as Ireland’s Europe minister said the move to renege on last year’s deal was a “unilateral provocative act” that was “uniquely unprecedented” in history.
