Last-ditch talks resume to secure post-Brexit trade deal

It's back to the drawing board for British and EU negotiators today, as they attempt to secure a trade deal, against the ticking clock.

Time is of the essence, because the negotiation period expires at the end of the month.

Lord Frost and Michel Barnier will meet in an attempt to resolve the remaining issue - which are fishing policy, competition rules and governance.

It's after an hour-long call between Boris Johnson and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen yesterday (Saturday), in which they agreed on a final push to get an agreement.

They pushed out a joint statement afterwards. It said: "Whilst recognising the seriousness of these differences, we agreed that a further effort should be undertaken by our negotiating teams to assess whether they can be resolved."

Ahead of today's meeting in Brussels, British sources said success was not guaranteed.

"This is the final throw of the dice," said one UK source close to the negotiations.

"There is a fair deal to be done that works for both sides, but this will only happen if the EU is willing to respect the fundamental principles of sovereignty and control.''

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood took to Twitter to say it appears 'lots of theatrics' are going on.

The Foyle MP reckons this might be a precursor to a positive outcome.

Meanwhile, the UK Government is will again consider overriding parts of the previously agreed deal with the EU.

MPs will vote on whether to overturn amendments by the House of Lords, which removed the provisions in the UK Internal Market Bill relating to the Irish border.