Brexit: Boris Johnson says talks in 'serious situation' after call with EU chief

PM says no deal is very likely' after speaking to Ursula von der Leyen

Boris Johnson claimed the Brexit talks were in a serious situation" after a call with Ursula von der Leyen, even as the EU's chief negotiator raised hopes of a weekend Brexit agreement by persuading the European parliament to delay its deal deadline to Sunday.

In a statement released after a short stock-take telephone call on Thursday evening with the European commission president, the prime minister repeated his suggestion that it was very likely" that an agreement would not be reached, with fisheries the standout issue.