Theresa May holds crunch Brexit talks with EU's Donald Tusk amid row over customs deal
THERESA May has held crunch Brexit talks with European Council chief Donald Tusk at Downing Street in a fresh bid to push negotiations forward.
The Prime Minister welcomed Mr Tusk to Number 10 amid a growing row over her plans for a post-Brexit customs partnership with the EU.
The proposal has been deemed unworkable by senior EU figures as well as Andrea Leadsom, a prominent Brexiteer in her own Cabinet.
Mr Tusk's meeting was his first visit to Number 10 since March, when he clashed with Mrs May over the Irish border issue.
His visit to London came hours after a meeting with French president Emmanuel Macron in Paris to discuss the migrant crisis.
I think the customs partnership looks quite bureaucratic and unwieldy
They will come face-to-face again at a crucial European Union summit on Thursday and Friday.
Britain is hoping to use the summit in Brussels to make major progress in securing a favourable Brexit deal with the EU.
Mrs Leadsom last night attacked Mrs May's customs partnership model, saying it might create more red tape for businesses.
The House of Commons leader said: "I think the customs partnership looks quite bureaucratic and unwieldy.
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"It has implications for needing to keep alignment with a lot of EU product regulations and so on.
"That does seem to lend itself to a more technology-driven solution than one where you're seeking to pick up tariffs on third parties which can get complicated.
"The problem with complications, particularly for businesses, they are not keen on more bureaucracy, more red tape.
"That is potentially a less attractive option for businesses themselves."
Asked about Mrs Leadsom's comments, Mrs May's spokesman insisted the proposal remained on the table.
He said: "The Prime Minister has been clear in relation to the new customs partnership that more work needed to be done in relation to that model."
More to follow...