UK Official: Government Downbeat On Chances Of Brexit Deal
The EU and UK are racing to get a Brexit deal over the line in the coming hours as Boris Johnson seeks to drum up political support for plans hammered out during marathon negotiations in Brussels.
Talks between British and EU teams ended at around 1.30am and were due to resume this morning as the two sides face a shrinking window of time to work through the details of a plan ahead of an EU Council summit on Thursday.
Downing Street insiders are nervous over whether the Democratic Unionist Party will eventually come on board to back a new Brexit deal, with one official describing the mood as “jittery”. The support of the DUP will be crucial if any deal is to pass in parliament.
Following a 90-minute meeting between DUP leader Arlene Foster, the party’s Westminster leader Nigel Dodds and Downing Street officials last night, an official with the DUP said: “it would be fair to indicate gaps remain and further work is required”.
The pound slipped in early London dealings on Wednesday after a 1.4 per cent rise against the dollar on Tuesday on hopes of a breakthrough in Brexit talks. Sterling was off 0.24 per cent at $1.2756 in early Wednesday trading.