Theresa May calls on the EU to 'intensify' Brexit talks in bid to break deadlock
1 min read
Britain is ready to "intensify" the Brexit negotiations in a bid to break the deadlock of its so-called 'divorce bill', Downing Street has said.
Talks have stalled over Brussels' refusal to begin discussions on the UK's future relationship with the EU until more progress is made on the exit payment, the Irish border and citizens' rights.
Brexit Secretary David Davis yesterday accused the European Commission of being "silly", while Michel Barnier, the EU's chief negotiator, insisted Britain must be "educated" on the consequences of leaving the bloc.
The next round of detailed talks are scheduled for October, and a spokeswoman for the Prime Minister said: "We're ready to intensify negotiations. Nothing has been formally agreed, but that is something we can discuss. Typically in negotiations as time goes on you'll see the pace pick up, but certainly we wouldn't rule that out."
However, she dismissed suggestions that the Brexit deadline of 30 March, 2019, could be extended if the impasse continues.
"The deadline is there and it's right," she said. "I don't recognise at all this idea that we would look to extend it. Britian voted to leave, we triggered Article 50 and we'll be leaving the European Union in 2019."
It was reported last week that Mrs May was preparing to hold talks directly with Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron in a bid to kick-start the Brexit negotiations.
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