Theresa May, who visited Northern Ireland to hear farmers’ concerns about Brexit, is to ask for an extended transition period to cover the Irish border

An all-Ireland regulatory area for agriculture forms part of the UK’s solution for the Irish border aimed at breaking the impasse in Brexit talks, The Times can reveal.

The Irish government, with the full backing of the EU, has insisted that the UK provide the outline of a plan at the June EU summit. It has said that any proposed solution must ensure the border remains frictionless after Brexit or wider talks will collapse.

The British government has settled on a package of measures it hopes can get enough support in Brussels and Dublin for a withdrawal bill to be agreed.

Theresa May will ask the EU for a second transition period to run until 2023 covering customs and trade in goods to avoid a