British and EU officials will continue Brexit talks over the weekend amid rising speculation a deal is on the cards which could break the deadlock over the Irish border.

The EU's chief negotiator Michel Barnier gave the green light on Friday for intensive discussions between officials to start.

They blocked traffic from entering the roundabout at Trafalgar Square, and horns beeped as protesters chanted Extinction Rebellion through megaphones.

Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick said delivering Brexit on October 31 was the "sole focus" of ministers, who he said would do "absolutely everything in our power" to meet the deadline.

The Prime Minister has said he wants to get an agreement in place for the EU summit on October 17, paving the way for Britain to leave with a deal at the end of the month.

Under his proposal, the arrangements would have to be approved by the currently suspended Northern Ireland Assembly, which would then vote every four years on whether to keep them.

He says it’s a big compromise for the UK to offer to make the rules on farming and food the same in Northern Ireland as they are in the EU. The arrangements over the Irish border remain the big sticking point in withdrawal talks.

It follows claims that former model Jennifer Arcuri received public money and was afforded privileged access to foreign trade missions while Mr Johnson was London mayor.

This week also saw John Bercow resume Parliament for MP’s to debate Brexit. And we also had this week Dominic Cummings saying that being in Government is a ‘walk in the park’

MPs have urged the prime minister to apologise after he said the best way to honour Jo Cox, the MP murdered during the EU referendum campaign, was to get "Brexit done". This afternoon Mr Johnson defended his description of a law seeking to block a no-deal Brexit as "the surrender bill".

Mr Johnson accused Parliament of being "paralysed" and claimed its members were "sabotaging" Brexit negotiations by seeking to thwart his commitment to taking the UK out of the European Union on October 31, with or without a deal.