Brexit - live: Reports deal is close should be taken 'with bucket of salt', Number 10 says

Gordon Brown is currently delivering a speech on Brexit at the Institute for Government. We'll be bringing you the main points as they happen. 

Speaking at the Institute for Government, Gordon Brown says "the long-term questions are unresolved" when it comes to Brexit.

The former prime minister says a further set of negotiations lie ahead in order to secure a free trade deal.

He says the UK's future relationship with the single market and the customs union remain unresolved, as is whether the final model will look more like Norway or Canada.

He says:

"After two years of negotiations, none of the major issues are resolved.

Theresa May's plan is simply a "short-term temporary fix in the absence of a long-term end point", he says.

Brown says the British public will be shocked when they realise that "we have years ahead of negotiation, we have no agreement on the long-term objections that we're trying to reach".

Gordon Brown says Brexit will make the UK more divided than it has been for centuries. 

He says: 

"If nothing changes, we will be an even more divided Britain. More divided than during the three-day week of the 70s, more divided than during the miners strikes of the 80s, more divided than the poll tax disagreements of the early 90s, more divided than after the Iraq War."

He says even major historical disagreements such as those over Irish independence or reform of the Corn Laws will not compare to divisions over Brexit. 

Gordon Brown says he thinks a fresh referendum will be needed to break the Brexit deadlock.

He says:

"I for one have always said that I think there will be a second referendum. I believe that, in the end, the situation will have been seen to have changed since 2016 and that the people should, in the end, have the final say."

He calls for a new royal commission charged with "hearing the voices of the British people" and carrying out a nationwide consultation about the type of Brexit they want to see.

Gordon Brown says "hardline" Eurosceptic Tory backbenchers are "the English nationalist tail wagging the British bulldog" and have stopped a proper debate on Britain's future relationship with the EU taking place.

He says:

"We must get away from the short-termism that has bedevilled everything the government has done in the last few years on this, and take a long-term view."

He predicts that the UK will either still be in the EU, or will have rejoined the EU, in a few years time, although admits it is possible that no one will be able to stop Brexit. 

Here's Gordon Brown backing calls for a fresh Brexit referendum...

Hopes of a Brexit deal being agreed and signed off this month are fading after No 10 admitted there were still "substantial issues" that need to be ironed out.

Lord Lester, who is facing a four-year suspension from the House of Lords over allegations of sexual harassment, has denied the accusations against him.

In a statement, the peer said:

"These allegations are completely untrue. I produced evidence which clearly demonstrated that what I was said to have done 12 years ago did not happen.

"Independent counsel who previously advised the committee on its procedures provided an advice which concluded that the investigation was flawed. I regret the committee's conclusions in the light of these materials.

"There has to be a fair process for investigating sexual harassment claims in Parliament. Parliament is supposed to be a bastion of the rule of law but has ignored calls to reform this procedure properly for 20 years.

"I hope to be judged by my work over decades for gender equality, race relations and free speech."

Michel Barnier has told EU foreign ministers that a Brexit deal is close.

The EU's chief negotiator is reported to have said “the parameters of a possible agreement are very largely defined”.

According to the Financial Times, he said: 

“Even through this weekend [the negotiating teams] worked tirelessly to reach an agreement. As of this moment, this agreement is still not reached. As in any negotiation, the final stretch is always the most difficult.”

He added:

“On the basis of our common efforts, the parameters of a possible agreement are very largely defined. On the British side, the cabinet will meet tomorrow [Tuesday] to examine these parameters. We are at an extremely sensitive moment. The smallest public comment from my side could be exploited by those who want the negotiation to fail.”

Jo Johnson, who resigned as a transport minister last week in order to speak out over Brexit, has accused Theresa May of deceiving the public over Brexit.

The MP told the Evening Standard:

“This is a calculated deceit on the British people. I challenge the government to come clean on the cost of Brexit. The reason they can’t look us in the eye, it’s because they know this will leave us worse off and with less control. It’s a gross abuse of civil service impartiality.”