Fisheries Last Sticking Point On UK-EU FTA, 'Tunnel Talks' Likely: FT

Seb Payne at the FT tweets: "Despite the EU launching legal proceedings against the UK over the internal market bill, officials in London are increasingly optimistic a Brexit deal. "We've gone from about 30% chance of a deal to the other way around. I think it's almost certain we'll enter the tunnel." Officials with knowledge of the talks say a landing zone on state aid has been identified but "fishing is the last sticking point. We both have to jump together." The mood in Whitehall as "cautiously optimistic" but insiders warn "it's going to go to the brink.""

• These comments come in stark contrast to those emanating from EU sources earlier in the day that seemed to point towards state aid issues being a major obstacle to progress.
• Consistently over the past couple of weeks the mood described to journalists by UK sources seems much more upbeat and optimistic than those coming from EU sources. Notably this has been the case following many of the negotiating rounds, with EU chief negotiator Barnier often more downbeat on prospects of a deal than his UK counterpart Lord Frost.