DISCUSSIONS between the UK and European Union will not take place this weekend as anticipated, as Brussels gave its clearest indication yet that Boris Johnson 's new Brexit proposals are not acceptable.
Talks between the two sides were thought likely to continue today after the Prime Minister set out his plan to replace the controversial Irish backstop.
But the European Commission said EU member states had agreed the proposals "do not provide a basis for concluding an agreement".
A spokesman said discussions between the two sides would not take place this weekend and instead the UK would be given "another opportunity to present its proposals in detail" on Monday.
"Michel Barnier debriefed COREPER (The Permanent Representatives Committee) yesterday, where member states agreed that the UK proposals do not provide a basis for concluding an agreement," the spokesman added.
READ MORE: Boris Johnson caught out over delay claim in Brexit court row
The PM's Europe adviser, David Frost, has been in Brussels for technical talks with officials.
The move came after Johnson insisted that he would not delay Brexit despite his lawyers saying he will comply with a law calling for the October 31 exit date to be postponed if there is no deal.
The Prime Minister accepted he must send a letter requesting a delay to Brexit beyond the Halloween deadline if no deal is agreed with Parliament by October 19, Scotland's highest civil court heard.
But the PM later said the options facing the country were his proposed new Brexit deal or leaving without an agreement, "but no delay".
The Prime Minister has previously said "we will obey the law" but will also leave on October 31 in any circumstance, without specifying how he would achieve the apparently contradictory goals.
READ MORE: Irish Brexit spokesman warns of decade of No-Deal discussions
The Telegraph, citing EU sources, said senior ministers had reached out to the Hungarian government for assurances it would veto any request for a delay.
Johnson also declared that he would rather be "dead in a ditch" than ask for a delay.
Any extension to the Article 50 process – the mechanism by which the UK leaves the European Union – would have to be agreed by all 27 other EU leaders.
And the likelihood of Hungary – if it were to be sympathetic to an approach by the UK Government – vetoing against the position of 26 other European nations seems extremely slim.
The legal action – led by SNP MP Joanna Cherry QC, businessman Vince Dale and Jolyon Maugham QC – asked the court to require Johnson to seek an extension to avoid leaving the EU without a deal.
Judge Lord Pentland is to announce his decision on Monday.
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