Ministers now believe that Britain and the EU will fail to sign a post-Brexit trade deal, with just days remaining until Boris Johnson’s July deadline for an outline agreement passes, writes The Telegraph.

“UK and EU negotiators began the latest round of negotiations in London on Monday, but remain deadlocked on the stumbling blocks of fishing rights, so-called “level playing field” guarantees, governance of the deal and the role of the European Court of Justice.

Senior sources said there was now an assumption that “there won’t be a deal”, though it remains possible that a “basic” agreement could be reached if the EU gives ground in the autumn.

Businesses have already been told to start preparing for a no trade deal exit from the transition period, a scenario that comes closer with each day of failed negotiations.

The current round of formal talks between David Frost, the UK’s chief negotiator, and the EU’s Michel Barnier is due to finish on Thursday, with no expectation on either side of a breakthrough”, - reads the article.