Brexit: Johnson to go to Brussels after call with Von der Leyen ends with ‘significant differences’ – politics live

3.06pm EST 15:06

Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove met his counterpart on the UK-EU joint committee in Brussels, although the discussions are separate from the trade negotiations.

But in an olive branch to Brussels, the Government said it was prepared to remove three controversial clauses from the UK Internal Market Bill relating to the Irish border.

In a statement, the Government said the UK and EU have “worked constructively together through the Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee”.

Discussions continue to progress and final decisions are expected in the coming days. If the solutions being considered in those discussions are agreed, the UK Government would be prepared to remove clause 44 of the UK Internal Market Bill, concerning export declarations.

“The UK Government would also be prepared to deactivate clauses 45 and 47, concerning state aid, such that they could be used only when consistent with the United Kingdom’s rights and obligations under international law.”

2.51pm EST 14:51

Labour MP Angela Rayner tweets her reaction to the protracted talks.

2.26pm EST 14:26

A Downing St source said there was no guarantee of a deal – and said it was clear only political intervention could save the talks.

“Talks are in the same position now as they were on Friday. We havemade no tangible progress,” the source said.

It’s clear this must now continue politically. Whilst we do not consider this process to be closed, things are looking very tricky and there’s every chance we are not going to get there.”

Updated at 2.27pm EST

2.24pm EST 14:24

Lisa O’Carroll

Ireland’s Simon Coveney who was in Brussels on Monday to meet fellow foreign affairs ministers was downbeat on return to Dublin.

He said the EU wanted a deal but many member states were steeling themselves for a potential no deal.

The next two days need to be “very different” from the last two he said in order for things to change, he told RTE news.

“I think there is a great deal of frustration on the EU side, not just within the EU negotiating team, but also across member states.

Many of the ministers I spoke to today are just getting increasingly frustrated and increasingly resigned to the fact that there may be no deal, when it comes to a trade deal or future relationship deal possible this week. In Brussels certainly the mood is starting to shift to contingency planning for a no deal, as opposed to the compromises that are necessary to get a deal done. That is not where we want this to go.

Updated at 2.33pm EST

2.14pm EST 14:14

Rachel Reeves, Labour’s shadow minister for the Cabinet Office, urged the UK government and the European Union to “get on with reaching an agreement”.

She said:

“Day after day we see this government failing to deliver their promises to the British people and failing to get the deal they promised done.

Securing a deal is critical to the British national interest for jobs and security. Even at this 11th hour, we urge both sides to get on with reaching an agreement. We can then focus on the job at hand which is securing the economy and rebuilding our country from the pandemic

Updated at 2.24pm EST

2.04pm EST 14:04

In a joint statement, Johnson and Von der Leyen said: “As agreed on Saturday, we took stock today of the ongoing negotiations.

We agreed that the conditions for finalising an agreement are not there, due to the remaining significant differences on three critical issues: level playing field, governance and fisheries.

“We asked our chief negotiators and their teams to prepare an overview of the remaining differences to be discussed in a physical meeting in Brussels in the coming days.”

Updated at 2.07pm EST