The standoff turned nasty yesterday as Brussels voiced fury at UK threats to override parts of the Withdrawal Agreement thrashed out last year. Legislation would unilaterally ‚clarify‘ key parts of the settlement, including customs rules for Northern Ireland, that the EU insists should be resolved by a joint committee.

Despite Mr Barnier warning that step would end hopes for a trade deal, the PM‘s chief negotiator Lord Frost increased the temperature again today, demanding ‚more realism‘ from the EU that the UK was now a sovereign country.