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Brexit news: UK-EU negotiations to resume after Downing Street welcomes Barnier's 'significant' comments

No 10 welcomes Michel Barnier's comments in European parliament (AFP via Getty Images)
No 10 welcomes Michel Barnier's comments in European parliament (AFP via Getty Images)

Downing Street has said it will return to face the EU at the table in Brexit trade negotiations on Thursday, with both sides promising concessions after talks broke down last week.

EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier had earlier said a Brexit deal was still “within reach”, stressing the bloc’s willingness to compromise and move to “legal texts” – one of Boris Johnson’s key demands. No 10 welcomed Mr Barnier’s “authoritative” comments as “significant”.

It came after Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer told Mr Johnson at PMQs to “stop bargaining with people’s lives” and give more support to people in Manchester facing pay cuts because of tier 3 curbs. He condemned the “grubby, take-or-leave-it way” funding deals were done with local leaders.