Downing Street appeared to hint today that a Brexit trade talks may be thawing with Brussels - before then rowing back.
When asked directly, Boris Johnson ’s official spokesman did not repeat the PM’s claim, made only yesterday, that no deal on December 31 was the “most likely thing”.
In reply the spokesman said it was a “possible” and “potential” outcome, adding: “We have been clear that we will continue to work and hope to reach a free trade agreement."
Yet the spokesman later messaged journalists insisting no-deal was still the most likely outcome after all.
Despite the confusion, there does appear to be some progress in Brexit talks.
Mr Johnson made his comments only yesterday after he and the EU agreed to extend talks into this week. The PM said yesterday: “The most likely thing now is, of course, that we have to get ready for WTO terms, Australia terms.”
But reports this morning suggest the EU can now see a path to a deal within days on the two sticking points, fishing and EU rules.
An EU diplomat told Reuters: "There might now be a narrow path to an agreement visible - if negotiators can clear the remaining hurdles in the next few days."
“Australian terms” is just spin for no-deal, which would slap tariffs overnight on much of our £660bn a year of trade with the EU.
Meanwhile, Downing Street risked a new row after repeatedly refusing to guarantee MPs will get a clear vote on any deal.
After the briefing, however, just like with the no-deal issue, Downing Street then clarified that MPs would get a vote on the deal after all.
It has always been assumed a Brexit trade deal would be ratified by both the European and UK Parliaments before December 31.
And indeed, MPs will get a vote in some form anyway because legislation will need to be passed in the Commons to enable a deal to happen.
But talks are dragging on with both sides refusing the rule out the possibility they could stretch past Christmas Day.
The Prime Minister's official spokesman said it was for Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg to set out the business of the House.
He refused to commit to the principle of MPs having a vote.
The spokesman said: "I'm obviously not going to pre-empt the business of the House which obviously gets set out in the usual way.
"We are confident that there is time to do whatever we need to do in Parliament."
After repeatedly refusing to confirm that MPs will get a say, the spokesman was asked directly if No10 was not guaranteeing a vote.
He replied: ”I didn't say that.
“I just made the clear point that it's for the Leader of the House to set out the business of the House in the usual way."
Once again, he failed to guarantee MPs would get a vote, or if they do, what form that vote will take.
But he then later contacted journalists to say: "If a deal is agreed, it will require legislation to come into force.
"MPs will therefore of course get a vote on any deal before this legislation receives Royal assent and becomes law."
Any vote would likely pass because Labour have indicated they will support a deal that is in the national interest.
But it would be a vital democratic sign-off to one of the biggest political decisions in recent history.
Unusually neither side has set a deadline for the new round of talks, which gets under way today.
And a government source indicated new talks would go on for days at least, not hours.
The two main hold-ups to a deal are on fishing access and quotas, and the “level playing field” of how far the UK follows EU rules in future.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has offered an olive branch, saying the UK will not have to automatically follow all future EU rules on areas like the environment in future.
Instead Britain could face tariffs on a case-by-case basis if and when the country decides to follow a different path.
But UK officials fear Britain could be stung with surprise "lightning tariffs" over which the country has no control.
Reports yesterday suggested the EU could climb down on this point and any tariffs would not be automatic.
