Brexit delay 'inevitable' as Brussels talks meander

Theresa May's government has continued to struggle in talks with the European Union and a senior cabinet minister has said that a Brexit delay is now "inevitable".

The minister's comments, made to Sky News on Wednesday, echo those of the EU's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier, who warned this weekend that a delay to the current 29 March deadline will be needed even if a deal is passed.

"It's now inevitable there would have to a technical extension of a couple of months," the minister told Sky, adding that this fact was "accepted in government".

Less than a week remains until May's deal will be put to a vote in the House of Commons, though the PM has insisted that the original 29 March leaving date remains "within our grasp".

May's attorney general Geoffrey Cox has been engaged in Brexit talks with EU counterparts in Brussels but failed to emerge with a deal on Tuesday.

Speaking to reporters after the talks, Cox said: "We’ve put forward some proposals, they’re very reasonable proposals, and we’re now really into the detail of the discussions. Both sides have exchanged robust, strong views and we’re now facing the real discussions, talks will be resuming soon."

Meanwhile, EU Commission spokesman Margaritis Schinas told reporters that "while the talks take place in a constructive atmosphere, the discussions have been difficult".

If MPs fail to back May's deal, votes on a no-deal scenario and extensions to the current deadline will follow, likely joined by a vote on whether to conduct a second referendum now that the Labour Party has thrown its considerable weight behind the proposal.

In an effort to bolster support for May's deal and bring hardline Brexiteer Tory MPs in line, chief whip, Julian Smith, told cabinet ministers on Tuesday that Parliament would force a softer Brexit in the event that May's deal is shot down in the Commons for a second time.