Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s The World at One, the BBC editor argued the “immovable” positions of both the UK and the EU on the key issue of the customs union will force Brexit talks to collapse. Ms Kuenssberg added that the very limited amount of time available until the next EU summit next week will see Parliament trying to enforce the Benn Act and Boris Johnson “kicking and screaming” against a Brexit extension.

She said: “There are three things here: first off this administration is adamant they cannot and will not accept the existing deal that the EU has put on the table and agreed with Theresa May because it contains an element of the UK staying in the customs union.

“Tucked away in the withdrawal agreement is basically a proposal that says just that as part of the backstop. So this administration will not accept that.

“Therefore, they put forward different proposals.

The big picture is now it is extremely unlikely that there will be a deal next week

Laura Kuenssberg

“The second thing is the EU will not accept the proposals they have put forward and they believe it must still be the case that the idea of part of the UK staying in the customs union has to be part of this deal.

“Those two elements at the moment are immovable and they have not been able to come towards each other in any way shape or form that suggests they are getting close.

“The third thing is the immovable force of time. It is very, very, very short notice before the summit next week, where these two immovable forces might have been massaged together by the politics.

“Put those three things together, the big picture is now, whoever said what to whom and wherever it is now extremely unlikely that there will be a deal next week.”

She continued: “It could mean all manner of things.

“There are multiple scenarios possible here. It means that Parliament is likely to immediately – as they’ve now changed the law – force someone from the Government, the Prime Minister they hope, to write to the European Union to immediately seek an extension.

“It is also likely that, whether using political means or trying in some way to challenge the law in court, Number 10 will fight and kick and scream against doing that every step of the way.”

Ms Kuenssberg’s intervention comes as talks between the UK and the EU have once again come to a standstill after Brussels refused to accept Boris Johnson’s latest proposals. 

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The Prime Minister’s plan envisaged Northern Ireland to remain in the EU single market but leave the bloc’s customs union in an attempt to replace the controversial backstop protocol agreed between former Prime Minister Theresa May and the EU.

The Prime Minister and German Chancellor Angela Merkel this week held a phone call over the blueprint.

A source has said that Ms Merkel has made it clear that a deal based on Mr Johnson’s proposals is now “overwhelmingly unlikely”.

But Ms Merkel’s office has said it will not comment on “private” conversations.

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