Boris Johnson: no reason why Brexit deal cannot be sealed in July

EU agrees to look for early common ground as PM asks it to put a tiger in the tank' of talks

Boris Johnson has said there is no reason why the outline of a Brexit deal cannot be sealed by the end of July, after he asked EU leaders at a video summit to put a tiger in the tank" of stalled talks.

In a boost for the prime minister's plans to secure a deal by the end of the summer, the EU leaders agreed to strive to find early common ground on trade and security to avoid unnecessary economic chaos next year.