Barrow MP Simon Fell 'optimistic of a Brexit deal' following tough negotiations this week in Westminster

UK and EU negotiators, led by Lord Frost and Michel Barnier, talked late into the night on Wednesday, fortified by a delivery of pizzas, as efforts continued to thrash out a deal which needs to be in place by the end of the month.

Simon Fell, MP for Barrow and Furness, said: "This was always going to be a negotiation that went right down to the wire.

"I'm optimistic that we'll get a deal."

SIMON FELL: Column

The Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney has also said he believes there is a "good chance" of securing a Brexit deal in the coming days.

However, MPs will vote on the UK Internal Market Bill on Monday, potentially throwing talks on a UK-European Union trade deal into crisis unless an agreement can be reached by then.

The EU has already taken the first steps in a legal action over the legislation.

The Government will also introduce the Taxation (Post-Transition Period) Bill, which reportedly includes measures to override parts of the divorce deal struck by the Prime Minister and the EU in 2019.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "Intensive talks are continuing in person in London as they have throughout the week, with the negotiating teams continuing to work hard to resolve the differences that remain.

"Our focus remains, and will continue to be, on trying to secure a free-trade agreement, as it has throughout the negotiations."

Fishing and the so-called "level playing field" aimed at preventing unfair competition on state subsidies and standards remain the main issues to be resolved in the talks.

Reports have suggested that the UK has watered down its demands for control of fishing rights, by asking EU fishing fleets to hand over up to 60 per cent of the value of stocks currently caught rather than the 80 per cent previously sought.

But this falls short of EU demands in one of the most symbolically important aspects of the negotiations.