Brexit - live updates: No deal in Brussels on Irish border or other major issues today, says Jean-Claude Juncker
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Theresa May has failed to strike a deal with Brussels that would allow Britain to unlock Brexit trade talks with the EU.
The Prime Minister had hoped to convince European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker that enough progress had been made to move on from the first phase of talks, which hinged on progress on issues including citizens rights, the so-called divorce bill and the Irish border
In a joint press conference after their lunch meeting, Mr Juncker said it was "not possible to reach a complete agreement today" but acknowledged that "significant progress" had been made.
Both leaders declared they were "confident" that a solution could be found in time for a crunch European Council summit on December 14.
But Ms May faces trouble ahead, as a leaked document outlining plans to keep Northern Ireland in the customs union to prevent a hard border prompted outrage among her allies in the Democratic Unionist Party.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon called for Scotland to have remain in the single market, if Northern Ireland was permitted to do so, while Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones and London mayor Sadiq Khan also piled in to demand bespoke deals.
Also today, Brexit Secretary David Davis leads a committee stage debate on the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill – which would transfer EU law onto British statute books.
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Responding to the reports mentioned below - that Britain will concede that there will be "continued regulatory alignment" between Ireland and Northern Ireland to protect the soft border - Theresa May's official spokesman told a regular Westminster briefing: "The PM has been clear that the UK is leaving the European Union as a whole and the territorial and economic integrity of the United Kingdom will be protected."
Responding directly to questions about the report by Irish broadcaster RTE, he said: "RTE also reported this morning we were holding a Cabinet meeting and I missed that if it occurred."
Philippe Lamberts, a Belgian MEP, has reportedly told Sky News the UK Government has agreed to implement a "special situation" for Ireland.
Asked about the prospect of the UK giving ground on the issue of regulatory divergence, Sinn Fein's Declan Kearney said his party was adopting a "wait and see" approach.
"We have been down this road too many times before," he said.
"Let's have clarity, let's have certainty, let's have clarity around the issue of there being no imposed Brexit border and let's have certainty around the rights of all citizens in this part of the island of Ireland."
Sinn Fein has called for Northern Ireland to be afforded special designated status within the EU.
"Anything that emerges we will stress test against the criteria and requirements of designated special status," Mr Kearney added.
PA
From our reporter Lizzy Buchan:
Asked about whether a deal would be secured today, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “As we’ve always said about today, good progress is being made.
“There is more still to agree upon but it’s an important staging post on the way to European Council in mid-December.
“I’ve said throughout this is a staging post on the way to mid-December - that’s what we are focused upon.”
The PM's spokesman refused to be drawn on further details, saying it was a matter for negotiations.
On Radio Ulster, the DUP's Brexit spokesperson Sammy Wilson was asked about the potential concession of "no regulatory divergence" after Brexit.
He said: "I think the first thing is that we've got to bear in mind this is purely speculation and we're commenting on speculation and I think it's better not to.
"Let me just spell out, however, the difficulties with what is being suggested if this is indeed true - the first thing is the Government has made it very clear and even today, again, have made it very clear that there will be no agreement made which would impact and create differences between... Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK.
He later told the Press Association: "I think that this is emanating from the Irish Government, obviously, trying to push the UK Government into a corner in the negotiations.
"It is not well thought through. I don't think, given its promises, the British Government could concede on this."
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