The PM says he has been 'encouraged' by the recent reaction from the EU and it is 'now time for both sides to step up the tempo'.
Boris Johnson has said talks with the European Union will be stepped up in the coming weeks in a bid to secure a new Brexit deal.
UK negotiators will now meet their EU counterparts twice a week, a significant increase on the current rate. The prime minister had previously suggested there would be little point to discussions until the EU accepted the needs for changes to the existing agreement.But writing overnight, Boris Johnson said he was"encouraged" by the reaction from EU leaders, adding that it was"now time for both sides to step up the tempo".
Mr Johnson met with his European counterparts in Paris and Berlin last week and at the G7 Summit over the weekend.Downing Street indicated the two sides remain some distance apart on key issues but said the talks would include discussions about the Irish backstop. The ramping up of negotiations will be seen as an effort to quell concern among some in the party about the prime minister's Brexit strategy.
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