Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Politics
Mikey Smith & Dan Bloom

Brexit talks break up with no 'clear shift in position' as May's summit looms

Brexit talks between Labour and Government ministers have broken up without an agreement 24 hours before Theresa May heads to Brussels for a crunch summit.

Labour said they had yet to see a "clear shift in the government’s position."

Tory ministers and Labour's shadow Brexit team sat down for a marathon, four hour session of negotiations in a bid to break the deadlock.

Number 10 say a further round of talks will take place on Thursday after the summit.

It's understood Mrs May's deputy David Lidington, Chancellor Philip Hammond, Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay, Environment Secretary Michael Gove and Business Secretary Greg Clark represented the Government in the talks.

Chief Whip Julian Smith and officials were also present.

(AFP/Getty Images)

Brexit: Theresa May arrives in Berlin for talks but nobody's there to greet her  

The Labour team included Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell, Shadow Brexit Secretary Kier Starmer and Shadow Business Secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey and Shadow Environment Secretary Sue Hayman.

A Number 10 spokesman said: “We have had further productive and wide-ranging talks this afternoon, and the parties have agreed to meet again on Thursday once European Council has concluded.

"We remain completely committed to delivering on Brexit, with both sides working hard to agreeing a way forward, appreciating the urgency in order to avoid European elections.”

A Labour spokesperson said: "We had further detailed and wide-ranging talks with cabinet ministers and officials today.

"We have yet to see the clear shift in the government’s position that is needed to secure a compromise agreement.

"We have agreed to hold further talks on Thursday in an effort to break the Brexit deadlock, and find a compromise that can win support in Parliament and bring the country together."

(AFP/Getty Images)

Brexiteer reading poetry with a Thatcher photo might be the most Tory thing ever  

Earlier, Mr McDonnell said there had been no movement to accept Labour's key demand of a customs union.

And he admitted the hot issue of a second referendum might not even come up in today's talks, saying: "It’s on the agenda - whether we reach it, we’ll see."

Asked if the government had moved on the issue Mr McDonnell told the Mirror: "Not yet, no.

"Not even changes in language to a large extent.

"But again we’ll see what comes out this afternoon.

“As I say, we’re going at this absolutely constructively and it will be another elaboration of what their ideas are.”

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.