Junker 'unhelpful' in Brexit talks, says MP

The Labour MP for Wolverhampton South East said EU Commission President Mr Juncker's comments had hindered 'many stages' of the UK's discussions with the EU.

It comes after Mr Juncker said it would take a 'miracle' for Brexit talks to progress quickly enough to persuade the EU to open discussions on trade in the near future.

Mr McFadden, who sits on the cross-party Brexit Select Committee, said: "I don't think Mr Juncker's comments have been helpful at many stages of this process.

"What needs to happen now is that the temperature needs to be cooled.

"It is clear that the Government will have to reach some kind of agreement on issues such as the rights of EU citizens and the Irish border, before meaningful talks on our future relationship can happen."

Theresa May said there had been movement on issues such as citizens' rights, during the fourth round of Brexit talks which concluded on Thursday.

British negotiators, led by Brexit Secretary David Davis, suggested there had been 'decisive' steps forward, although his EU counterparts suggested there was plenty more work to be done.

At a meeting next month, the other 27 EU leaders could decide whether 'sufficient progress' has been made in the talks to date.

Asked for his view as he arrived at the summit in Estonia, Mr Juncker said: "By the end of October we will not have sufficient progress."

Although he acknowledged 'we are making progress', he said 'at the end of this week I am saying there will be no sufficient progress from now until October, unless miracles would happen'.

European Council President Donald Tusk has already suggested that meeting the deadline is unlikely.