13:32

No 10 was been quick to downplay the significance of the date cited by Dominic Raab in his letter. (See 3.25pm.) “We hope to reach an agreement as soon as possible,” the prime minister’s official spokesman said in a briefing to journalists.

Downing Street sources also indicated that they were still expecting a deal to be concluded by the end of November. Any acceptance that the UK could live with a December agreement would guarantee that the talks would drift into the last month of the year; although it is perfectly possible this could still happen.