David Davis wins battle over Brexit negotiations

Sam Lowe, from the Centre for European Reform, said Mr Davis’s plan may well fail. “The fact David Davis thinks we can substantively negotiate on the future relationship is slightly odd, as the EU vision and UK’s still seem a long way apart,” he said.

“The commission isn’t able to substantively negotiate the future relationship until it receives a mandate from the council. Olly Robbins is almost certainly right that Brussels wouldn’t engage with hundreds of British officials turning up in weeks.”