EU negotiator Michel Barnier finally conceded he would have to offer Britain a unique deal on Brexit today in the first hint of a climb down from Brussels.

In remarks that sent the pound soaring up against the euro and the dollar, Mr Barnier promised a 'partnership with Britain such as has never been with any other third country'.

Mr Barnier has repeatedly insisted Britain must choose from an existing model used by either Norway or Canada - deal the UK say are unacceptable.

The Brussels chief still insists Britain cannot have an 'a la carte' choice of benefits from the EU single market.

Prime Minister Theresa May being welcomed by Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari at the Aso Rock

Prime Minister Theresa May meets charity workers at a Salvation Army centre in Lagos on day two of her trip to Africa

Theresa May and Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari watch as Nigeria National Security Adviser Babagana Munguno, right, and British Deputy National Security Advisor, Chriatian Turner, left, signed a document

Prime Minister Theresa May meets Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari at the presidential villa in Abuja, Nigeria

Brexiteers welcomed his 'more optimistic tone' but warned that actions speak louder and urged the EU to get on with coming up with a new offer.

A Government spokesman responded to the comments, saying: 'Both the UK and the EU are committed to reaching the best deal possible for both sides.

'We have put forward our proposals for this deal in our White Paper and we stand ready to work at pace with the EU over the coming weeks.'

The intervention is a significant boost for Theresa May who has spent the summer trying to win support in EU capitals for her Brexit blueprint.

Her Chequers plan - which triggered the resignation of Boris Johnson and David Davis in July - had been rejected in previous statements by EU leaders.

EU negotiator Michel Barnier (pictured today in Berlin) has finally conceded he would have to offer Britain a unique deal on Brexit today in the first hint of a climbdown from Brussels

Theresa May (pictured today being welcomed to Nigeria by President Muhammadu Buhari, who is on the right of the photo) is working furiously to get a Brexit deal done by the end of the year

In remarks that sent the pound soaring up against the euro and the dollar, Mr Barnier promised a 'partnership with Britain such as has never been with any other third country'

Mr Barnier told reporters in Berlin: 'We are prepared to offer Britain a partnership such as there never has been with any other third country.

How has Michel Barnier changed his stance during the Brexit talks? As the clock ticks down on the Brexit talks, Michel Barnier has softened his stance towards Britain and what deal can be done. Here is how his rhetoric has changed since Article 50 was triggered in March 2017: September 2017 Michel Barnier welcomed the 'constructive spirit' of Theresa May's Florence speech. In a statement this afternoon, he said: 'In her speech in Florence, Prime Minister Theresa May has expressed a constructive spirit which is also the spirit of the European Union during this unique negotiation. December 2017: Mr Barnier said the UK must choose between one of two models of trade deals the EU already has already struck – Norway or Canada. He said: 'We won't mix up the various scenarios to create a specific one and accommodate their wishes, mixing, for instance, the advantages of the Norwegian model, member of the single market, with the simple requirements of the Canadian one. 'No way. They have to face the consequences of their own decision.' January 2018: Mr Barnier said the UK can get its own unique deal. He said: 'This agreement will of course be tailored to the specificities of the relationship between the Union and the United Kingdom, in the same way that our agreement with Canada is not identical to our agreements with Korea or Japan.' August 2 2018 Michel Barnier suggests the EU is ready to compromise on their proposals on the thorny issue of the Irish border, which threatened to derail Brexit talks. He said: 'What the EU has proposed is that Northern Ireland remains in a common regulatory area for goods and customs with the rest of the EU. 'We are ready to improve the text of our proposal with the UK.' August 29, 2018 Mr Barnier talked up the possibility the UK will get its own unique trade deal. He said: 'We are prepared to offer Britain a partnership such as there never has been with any other third country. 'We respect Britain's red lines scrupulously. In return, they must respect what we are. 'Single market means single market ... There is no single market a la carte.' Advertisement

'We respect Britain's red lines scrupulously. In return, they must respect what we are.

'Single market means single market ... There is no single market a la carte.'

The remarks appear to be a significant departure from the EU position, echoed as recently as Monday by French President Emmanuel Macron.

Government sources said they would look at the comments but played down the shift, suggesting Mr Barnier had made 'similar' remarks before.

Tory MP and Brexiteer Michael Fabricant said: 'I welcome this more optimistic tone, but words are one thing, deeds are another.

'We'll all await the offer with interest. But with the UK being the largest export market worldwide for German cars and other products, it was always clear to me that the UK has huge leverage in these negotiations.'

In other developments today, Dominic Raab admitted that a Brexit deal could be delayed until after the October deadline - amid fears the UK could crash out without an agreement.

The new Brexit Secretary insisted that ministers are 'ambitious' and still optimistic a deal can be done with Brussels.

But he said that finalising the agreement could 'creep beyond' the EU summit on October 18 and 19, which has been the deadline for the talks.

His remarks, made in front of the House of Lords select committee on the EU, is the first time a minister involved in talks has publicly admitted the deadline could slip.

Mr Raab made the admission as he called for the EU to match the UK's energy in coming up with a deal for the crunch talks.

He said: 'It's important as we enter the final phase of the negotiations to the lead up to the October council and the possibility that it may creep beyond that, we want to see some renewed energy.

'We are bringing the ambition and substance of our white paper on our future relationship, and also some pragmatism to go the extra mile to get the deal that I think is in both sides interests.

'We need that to be matched. Obviously.'

He said that a deal is 80 per cent done and that 'the contours of an agreement is there'.

He added: I'm confident that a deal is in our sights.

'We are bringing ambition pragmatism and energy and if it is matched as I expect it will be, if it is matched then we get a deal.

The chairman of the committee, Lord Boswell of Aynho, quizzed the minister on how delayed a deal may be.

He said: 'You have indicated it could go a bit further than that – can we ask you to go a it further.'

The new Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab (pictured at the Lords select committee today) said a deal could be delayed until after October this year but insisted that ministers are 'ambitious' and still optimistic a deal can be done with Brussels

Mr Raab said: 'My starting point is March next year when we are leaving the EU and I work back from there.

'We are aiming for the October council but there is some measure of leeway.'

What is in Theresa May's Brexit blueprint? These are some of the key features of the Chequers plan being pushed by the UK government: A new free trade area in goods, based on a 'common rulebook' of EU regulations necessary. This will require the UK to commit by treaty to match EU rules

'Mobility' rules which will end automatic freedom of movement, but still allow UK and EU citizens to travel without visas for tourism and temporary work. It will also enable businesses to move staff between countries.

Continued UK participation in and funding of European agencies covering areas like chemicals, aviation safety and medicines

A 'facilitated customs arrangement', removing the need for customs checks at UK-EU ports. It would allow differing UK and EU tariffs on goods from elsewhere in the world to be paid at the border, removing the need for rebates in the vast majority of cases. This is designed to avoid the need for a hard Irish border. But in theory it still allows Britain to sign trade deals.

Keeping services - such as banking or legal support - outside of the common rule book, meaning the UK is completely free to set its own regulations. It accepts it will mean less trade in services between the UK and EU.

Continued co-operation on energy and transport, a 'common rulebook' on state aid and commitments to maintain high standards of environmental and workplace protections.

A security deal allowing continued UK participation in Europol and Eurojust, 'co-ordination' of UK and EU policies on foreign affairs, defence and development.

Continued use of the EHIC health insurance card. Advertisement

His words are a shift in tone from the Government, which yesterday was still stressing that it is working towards the October deadline.

The PM's spokesman said yesterday: 'The PM has already addressed this. She has confirmed we are working to the October deadline and that remains the case.

'We are working to the deadline. There is a deadline the Commission set out and we are working to that.'

Mr Raab also played down reports in The Guardian today suggesting that the EU's lead Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier has failed to make himself available for face to face talks with him.

The newspaper reported that despite his assertion that he is available '24/7' for talks, Mr Raab had been left frustrated at his lack of meetings with Mr Barnier.

But the UK ministers poured cold water on the report today - insisting he has met with Mr Barnier several times and the two have a close working relationship.

Asked about it today, Mr Raab said: 'In relation to whatever tittle tattle will appear in whatever newspaper, I'm in Brussels tomorrow evening for a long substantive meeting with Mr Barnier on Friday.

'On a one to one level, we have established a good professional personal rapport.

'I would say we have a good working relationship and the beginnings of a good personal relationship….and these things matter.'

Mr Raab is making his first appearance in front of the Lords select committee since being promoted to Brexit Secretary in July after David Davis' shock resignation.

Mr Davis quit the role in protest at Theresa May's Chequers proposal - a compromise deal which would mean the UK sticks to EU rules for goods but leaves the single market and customs union.

The proposal sparked outcry from Brexiteers and Tory activists who warned it would leave the UK stuck half inside the Brussels bloc and hamper the country's ability to strike free trade deals globally.

And the EU also greeted the plan with scepticism - and it emerged yesterday that Mr Barnier threatened to boycott Brexit talks if Mrs May insisted on basing a deal on her Chequers plans.

His remarks, made in front of the House of Lords select committee on the EU, is the first time a minster has publicly admitted the deadline could slip