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Brexit negotiator David Frost admitted the UK and EU had not yet been able to break the deadlock in trade negotiations. While speaking to the BBC, Mr Frost insisted the EU had to change their stance if a Brexit trade deal was to be agreed on time. He insisted the UK was clear with its demands and the EU must recognise that if progress is to be made.

Mr Frost said: “The biggest problem that remains is that when we began this intense negotiating process the Prime Minister set out the principles to Ursula von der Leyen.

“These principles were intrinsic to our status in the future as an independent state.

“The EU has heard some of that but not all of it.

“The big underlying difficulty is the fact the EU hasn’t yet recognised that it needs adapts its position to those principles if we are going to reach an agreement.”

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Mr Frost was also asked whether the EU needed to change its mandate if a Brexit trade deal was to be agreed.

Mr Frost replied: “I don’t know whether the EU needs to change its formal mandate.

“I wouldn’t comment on the EU’s own processes.

“But it is clear that until the EU has internalised and accepted that we will be an independent state and have the ability to determine our own laws, control our own fishing grounds then it will be difficult to reach an agreement.”

Mr Frost has previously hinted that he believes a Brexit trade agreement could be achieved by September.

The BBC reporter asked if the UK would be willing to negotiate beyond this point if a deal isn’t agreed.

Mr Frost replied: “We will negotiate energetically, we have a round in August and we will certainly talk through September if we can.

“We will have to see what can be done.

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“Obviously, the UK Government must prepare for every outcome and it is possible that we won’t reach agreements but we are going to work very energetically to do so.”

The EU’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier also admitted that a Brexit deal was looking unlikely.

After meetings this week, Mr Barnier said: “The UK refuses to commit to maintaining high standards in a meaningful way” and that “no progress at all” had been made on state aid.

He added: “This is all the more worrying because we have no visibility on the UK’s intention on its future domestic subsidy control system and regime.

“Over the past few weeks, the UK has not shown the same level of engagement and readiness to find solutions respecting the EU fundamental principles and interests.”

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