Negotiations over the UK’s departure from the EU are “now in the endgame”, Theresa May says.
Addressing the Lord Mayor’s Banquet in the City of London, the prime minister said the talks were “immensely difficult”, but the sides were working “through the night” to make progress.
“This will not be an agreement at any cost,” the UK PM added.
Mrs May will address her cabinet on Tuesday, with some ministers believed to want a change of plan.
BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg said there was “huge frustration” in parts of the Conservative party and the cabinet about the PM’s approach.
On Monday night, some cabinet ministers met for drinks in International Trade Secretary Liam Fox’s office to discuss Brexit, including no-deal plans and the sticking point of the Irish “backstop”.
The prime minister is under pressure from both sides of the EU debate as she tries to seal a deal in time for Brexit in March.
Both sides want to schedule a special summit of EU leaders at the end of November to sign off the withdrawal deal, but time is running out.
Brussels says it will only agree to put the wheels in motion for the summit if agreement can be reached on the issue of the Irish border. -BBC
