The Prime Minister said he was “cautiously optimistic” of breaking the Brexit deadlock ahead of crunch talks with outgoing European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker and said the “rough shape of a deal to be done” was emerging. And his position now appears to have been further strengthened with Labour MPs Caroline Flint, Stephen Kinnock and Yvonne Fovargue indicating that they could support Mr Johnson’s emerging deal.

We need to bring this process to a swift conclusion and to deliver the result of the referendum

Yvonne Fovargue

Makerfield MP Ms Fovargue said: “We need to bring this process to a swift conclusion and to deliver the result of the referendum and all sides must be prepared to compromise.

“There are a number of Labour MPs who are committed to this process and want the chance to scrutinise and vote for a deal.”

Ms Flint, the MP for Leave-supporting Don Valley in South Yorkshire said said: “I think what we are hearing from the DUP and the prime minister is a willingness to compromise to get a deal.

“That will avoid most people’s worst outcome. There is a sizeable cross-party block building up in support of a deal.”

Tory insiders said Mr Johnson acknowledged a hardcore group of Tory Brexiteers would never back a repackaged version of Mrs May’s deal meaning his hopes rest on attracting support from across the political divide.

Mr Kinnock said Mr Johnson would have to bring back commitments offered by Theresa May to Jeremy Corbyn to ensure from Labour MPs and also urged more compromise.

The Aberavon MP said: “To maximise Labour support the Prime Minister must ensure that he includes the important commitments and concessions that were secured by the Labour negotiating team through the cross-party talks.

“If he is able to combine an acceptable position on the backstop with a declaration on the future relationship that protects jobs and livelihoods, he will have a package that can command a stable parliamentary majority.”

Downing Street announced Mr Johnson’s trip to Luxembourg yesterday amid a sense of growing optimism that compromise could be reached an a no deal Brexit avoided.

A European Commission spokeswoman said Mr Juncker was “looking forward to working constructively” with the Prime Minister.

She confirmed the talks were taking place in a neutral location rather than the British embassy or an EU building.

Mr Juncker is expected to update the European Parliament in Strasbourg with a progress report on Wednesday.

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