David Davis calling the phase one Brexit deal a "statement of intent" was "unhelpful and undermines trust", the European Parliament's chief Brexit coordinator has said.

Guy Verhofstadt has gone as far as proposing amendments to the European Parliament document that approves the deal so that it reflects his displeasure.

He tweeted two pictures of the amendments.

One says Mr Davis' comments were a "risk to undermine the good faith that has been built during the negotiations".

After @DavidDavisMP’s unacceptable remarks, it’s time the UK government restores trust. These amendements will further toughen up our resolution. pic.twitter.com/zKfVlJtOi5 — Guy Verhofstadt (@guyverhofstadt) December 12, 2017

The other says phase two talks could only happen "if the UK Government also fully respects the commitments it made".


Mr Davis responded hours later on Twitter saying it was a "pleasure, as ever" to talk to Mr Verhofstadt.

He wrote: "We both agreed on the importance of the Joint Report. Let's work together to get it converted into legal text as soon as possible."

Liberal Democrat MP Tom Brake responded by calling for Mr Davis to "put a sock in it".

He said: "David Davis has endangered the entire divorce agreement because he couldn't resist playing to the Brexit gallery and because the Cabinet can't even agree among itself what kind of Brexit it wants.

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"The sheer incompetence and chaos coming from the Government is unprecedented in my lifetime. Every time David Davis speaks, the Brexit divorce grows worse for Britain."

The row broke out after Mr Davis said the deal struck between Downing Street and Brussels last week was not "legally enforcable".

Irish government chief whip Joe McHugh quickly shot back that they would "be holding the United Kingdom to account, as will the EU".

He told broadcaster RTE: "My question to anybody within the British Government would be: why would there be an agreement, a set of principled agreements, in order to get to phase two, if they weren't going to be held up?

"That just sounds bizarre to me.

"This, as far as we're concerned, is a binding agreement, an agreement in principle."

Image: EU chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier insisted there is 'no possibility' of a trade deal by 2019

Leaders of the remaining 27 EU member states will meet in Brussels at the end of this week to decide whether to formally sanction the start of Brexit trade talks.

Ahead of the summit, European Council president Donald Tusk wrote to heads of government confirming he will recommend a progression to the second phase of negotiations.

But, in an apparent warning over the chances of agreeing a final Brexit agreement before the UK's departure in March 2019, Mr Tusk wrote: "The conclusion of the first phase of negotiations is moderate progress, since we only have ten months left to determine the transition period and our future relations with the UK.

"This will be a furious race against time, where again our unity will be key."

Meanwhile, EU chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier insisted there is "no possibility" that Britain and the EU can conclude a free trade deal by the time Britain quits the bloc.

The European Commission official said only a "political declaration" outlining a future EU-UK relationship will be ready by March 2019.