Boris Johnson has cancelled today’s cabinet meeting after late-night talks with a DUP delegation at Number 10 last night - with a Irish broadcaster RTE suggesting fresh proposals for breaking the Brexit deadlock will now be tabled when UK negotiators with European Commission representatives in Brussels this morning.


Mr Johnson had been due to meet with ministers today to brief them on the state of play - but BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg reported a change of plan. At 9.10 last night Ms Kuenssberg tweeted: “DUP have been in No 10 tonight. “Not clear at this stage what they were discussing or with who.”

More than an hour later she added: “Interesting - Cabinet this week has been moved to Wednesday so there is more time to give them a fuller update on Brexit state of play.

“Could read the runes in plenty of different ways - Number 10 being genuinely tight lipped.”

RTA reporter Tony Connelly said the DUP delegation had included leader Arlene Foster and Parlamentary leader Nigel Dodds, tweeting: "Two well-placed sources have confirmed that UK negotiators will bring forward a new text when they meet European Commission negotiators in Brussels this morning."

The DUP have been key players in the Brexit saga up to now, famously intervening at the 11th hour after Theresa May unveiled details of withdrawal agreement proposals thrashed out with the EU to voice their concerns about the idea of a border down the Irish Sea.

Mr Johnson’s proposals, which would see Northern Ireland quit the Customs Union but stay in the single market for goods, have been characterised as likewise cutting Northern Ireland off from the rest of the United Kingdom.

Speaking to Express.co.uk earlier this month, Brexit Party MEP Dr David Bull, a vehement opponent of the Prime Minister’s proposals, asked: “Why is the DUP supporting them? I don’t think any of us knows.

“I’m assuming they have been offered some sort of financial settlement because I’m not sure what’s in it for them really.”