Ireland

Agreement on a transition period after Brexit has been thrown into doubt by the UK’s demands, the EU’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, has said.

David Davis has clashed with the Irish government after claiming that the Brexit divorce agreement between Britain and the EU was a “statement of intent” rather than something legally enforceable.

Recent events show the strengths of a confidence and supply arrangement.

Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, has told member states that the British government has just 48 hours to agree a text on a potential deal or it will be told that negotiations will not move on to the next stage.

Boris Johnson has expressed his frustration at the failure to move the stalled Brexit negotiations on to the next phase, as Theresa May appeared to be running out of time to secure a breakthrough.

Any Brexit deal that applies to Northern Ireland will also cover the rest of the UK, David Davis has promised in an urgent bid to reassure the Democrat Unionist party on whom the government relies for votes.

Brexit-backing Conservative MPs have lined up to echo the warning of Democratic Unionist party leader, Arlene Foster, that “any form of regulatory divergence” between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK would be an unacceptable concession in Brexit negotiations.