The Brussels negotiator warned a group of Christian Democrat MEPs the current deadlock will not be broken long as long as Remainers and Brexiteers continue to do battle in the House of Commons. Amid the madness, he claimed Boris Johnson is yet to come forward with a plan to replace the controversial Northern Irish backstop. Mr Barnier’s team is continuing talks with David Frost, the Prime Minister’s EU sherpa, today in another effort to break the deadlock.

The Brussels negotiator “wasn’t especially positive” on the prospect of a breakthrough during his earlier meeting with MEPs, one source noted.

He is torn “between the excitement of the political events in the UK and the fatigue of waiting for London to tell the European Union what they want,” they added.

Mr Frost continued his effort to tweak the political declaration on the UK’s future EU relationship during his meetings with Stephanie Riso, the EU’s deputy negotiator, today.

Last week he stressed the Government wishes to diverge from the level-playing field provisions signed up to by former prime minister Theresa May.

They are also expected to discuss the all-island food and agriculture standards zone proposed by Mr Johnson in recent weeks.

Mr Frost raised the question of governance of such a proposal to ensure that parties and institutions in Northern Ireland can give their consent.

He told his EU counterparts that “the answer is still no to a Northern Irish backstop” amid efforts in Brussels to revive the idea.

Meanwhile Germany’s Angela Merkel warned of allowing too much room for Britain to become overly competitive after leaving the EU.

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She also told the German parliament that talks should be allowed to go down to the wire to make room for a deal.

She said: “We still have every chance of getting an orderly Brexit and the German government will do everything it can to make that possible – right up to the last day. But I also say we are prepared for a disorderly Brexit.

“But the fact remains that after the withdrawal of Britain, we have an economic competitor at our door, even if we want to keep close economic, foreign and security cooperation and friendly relations.”

Spain’s Pedro Sanchez today warned that a no-deal Brexit still remains the most probable outcome of the talks.

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He also reinforced that the EU would not likely be forthcoming with any concessions in the coming weeks.

“A hard Brexit, without an agreement, has become the most likely scenario,” he said during a debate in parliament.

“It is not possible to make other concessions.

“European institutions and member states have acted with flexibility and good faith since the beginning…but making it clear from the outset that it is not possible to renegotiate the withdrawal agreement that has already been signed with the British Government.”

Diplomats and officials expect very little breakthrough in the Brexit process until October, after Mr Johnson’s Conservative party conference speech.

They believe the suspension of Parliament will also help give him political headway in his effort to seal a deal over the coming weeks.

An EU source said: “We would expect detail to begin coming after Johnson’s party conference speech in early October, in time for full blooded talks ahead of the EU summit.”

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