Britain and EU to hold last-ditch Brexit talks as deadline loomsJohnson is obliged by law to seek an extension to Britain's Brexit date if he fails to agree a deal with the EULONDON - Britain and the European Union on Wednesday agreed to hold last-ditch talks aimed at securing a Brexit deal with just days left to thrash out an agreement, as each side trades accusations of a failure to compromise. Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay will meet his EU counterpart Michel Barnier in Brussels on Thursday in an attempt to break the impasse before an October 17-18 summit. But his proposals for a revised deal have not been well received in Brussels, and a new British law could force him to ask for more time. - Irish talks -Johnson is also expected to meet his Irish counterpart Leo Varadkar this week, with few signs Dublin is prepared to move on its position about border arrangements. - Rare Saturday parliament -Anti-Brexit campaigners in Britain believe Johnson, who took over from Theresa May in July, is using the EU talks to play a political game to cement his credentials as a eurosceptic leader.

Source: Bangkok Post October 09, 2019 13:52 UTC