Keir Starmer's attempts to seal a controversial 'Brexit reset' are set to go to the wire amid attempts by France to move the goalposts yet again.
The Prime Minister said today he is 'positive' he can get an agreement aligning the UK more closely with Brussels ahead of a major summit in London on Monday, a move that has enraged Brexiteers.
But his hopes for agreements on defence co-operation and access for UK firms, and simpler food exports, have run into yet more brinkmanship by France and the Commission itself.
Emmanuel Macron, who is already demanding extended fishing rights in UK waters for French boats in exchange for UK firm accessing to a £150billion defence pact, is now reported to be demanding that access is minimised.
At the same time, Brussels has moved the goalpost on plans for free movement for the under 30s to work and study in Britain, insisting EU students are charged the same tuition fees as UK students, rather than higher fees billed to foreign ones.
