UK PM May: Brexit talks in 'endgame', unsolved issues remain - Reuters

As noted by Reuters, a public speaking engagement from the UK's Prime Minister Theresa May has wiped out months of endless rhetoric-spewing by Brexit soothsayers, with Britain's PM warning that significant barriers still remain in place, despite Brexit talks entering their "endgame".

Key quotes

"May’s compromise plan, which seeks to maintain close trade ties with the EU in the future, is facing opposition from Brexiteers, pro-Europeans, the Northern Irish party that props up her government, and even some of her own ministers.

“The negotiations for our departure are now in the endgame,” May said in a speech at the Guildhall in London’s financial district. “We are working extremely hard, through the night, to make progress on the remaining issues in the Withdrawal Agreement, which are significant.”

With under five months until Britain leaves the EU, talks have stalled over a disagreement on the so-called Northern Irish backstop, an insurance policy to ensure there will be no return to a hard border on the island of Ireland if a future trading relationship is not agreed in time.

May’s attempt to unblock the talks by considering an extension to a status-quo transition period beyond the current proposed end date of December 2021 has both angered eurosceptics and EU supporters in her party.

Negotiations are continuing this week, but officials are warning unless there is dramatic progress by the end of Wednesday there is unlikely to be a summit this month to approve a Brexit deal."