Boris Johnson was subjected to an outspoken attack by Luxembourg’s leader today who accused the prime minister of holding people’s future “hostage for party political gains”.

Mr Johnson, who had joined Brexit talks in Luxembourg, abandoned a planned press conference with Xavier Bettel because of noisy Remain protests by British nationals living in the city.

The debacle overshadowed what had been largely positive discussions with the European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker at which both sides agreed to speed up the process of Brexit negotiations.

Talks are now expected to take place on a daily basis as they to unlock a compromise deal on the Irish backstop.

Speaking to the BBC afterwards, the prime minister declared himself “cautiously optimistic” about striking a deal. However he admitted