Despite key EU leaders sounding more upbeat at the prospects of a deal in recent days, Brussels appears set to reject key aspects of the Prime Minister's Chequers proposals on Wednesday. Such a move would need the UK to be outside the EU customs union and able to set its own tariffs. In the run-up to the summit, Brussels is expected to release a draft policy paper on Brexit this week. EU leaders have already expressed concern at prime features of the Chequers plan such as the UK collecting tariffs on behalf of the EU. Tory hardline Brexiteers want a much looser association with the EU than envisaged by Chequers, one that would be close to a wider-ranging version of the free trade deal Brussels has agreed with Canada.

Source: Daily Mirror October 08, 2018 05:03 UTC