The European Union rejected a government request yesterday to allow Brexit talks to run through the weekend as Michel Barnier, the lead Brussels negotiator, said the British proposals did not provide a basis for a deal.
In a snub to David Frost, Boris Johnson’s chief negotiator, the EU turned down his plea to continue working before next week’s deadline to find an agreement.
“If we held talks at the weekend it would look like these were proper negotiations,” an EU diplomat said. “We’re still a long way from that. We need to work out quickly whether there is the opportunity to close that gap.”
Another EU source said: “We agree we should leave no stone unturned, but there is nothing useful that could be