#Brussels

The statement comes amid stalled Brexit talks, which provoked cabinet havoc in the UK and a disagreement between Brexiteers and Brussels on the Irish border issue some eight months before Britain's scheduled departure from the bloc.

UK businesses have greeted Friday's breakthrough in Brexit negotiations with cautious optimism; 18 months after the Brexit vote, they are hoping that the impending start of phase two of the negotiations, on a trade deal, will allow businesses to operate with more certainty.