David Davis to face MPs amid claims he is stalling on Brexit
Mr Davis has been accused of failing to meet with senior MPs to smooth the way for the Brexit Bill and its nearly 400 amendments.
Thursday 26 October 2017 10:08, UK
David Davis will be questioned by MPs on the progress of Brexit talks amid claims that he has been moving too slowly.
The Brexit Secretary will appear before the Commons Exiting the EU select committee.
He has been accused of "not keeping his end of the bargain" and "not doing his prep", according to a cabinet source quoted in The Daily Telegraph.
Legislation to move current EU regulations into UK law cleared its first Commons hurdle early in September and was expected to return in October. This has not happened, however, and no date for its return has been set.
Mr Davis has also been accused of failing to meet with senior MPs to smooth the way for the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill and the nearly 400 amendments that have been tabled.
On Tuesday, European Council president Donald Tusk had , telling MEPs: "It is in fact up to London how this will end - with a good deal, no deal or no Brexit".
The UK Government has consistently ruled out holding a fresh vote on EU membership and insisted Britain will leave the bloc in March 2019.
Responding to Mr Tusk's comments, the Prime Minister's official spokesman had said: "Brexit is not going to be reversed."
The EU's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier, meanwhile, warned on Tuesday that talks for a free trade deal between the EU and Britain .
Disquiet is also growing about the UK's future outside the European Union among City businesses.
On Monday, that five major business lobby groups in the UK are to sign a strongly-worded letter urging the Brexit Secretary to agree a so-called honeymoon period as soon as possible.
The document demanded "urgent agreement on transition arrangements to give businesses the certainty and time they need to prepare for a new UK-EU economic partnership".
They called for the transition period to match as closely as possible current trading arrangements with the European Union.
Former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg has also had his say, describing Brexit as the "stupidest thing any country has ever done", except for the US electing Donald Trump as president.
The Guardian reported Mr Bloomberg's comments, which it said were made at a technology conference in Boston earlier this month.
During his speech, he reportedly said that "maybe I wouldn't have" opened a new European headquarters in London if he had foreseen the Brexit vote.
"I did say that I thought it was the single stupidest thing any country has ever done - but then we Trumped it," he said.
During a visit to London to open the building on Tuesday, Mr Bloomberg was more conciliatory.
He said: "Whatever London and the UK's relationship to the EU proves to be, London's language, timezone, talent, infrastructure and culture all position it to grow as a global capital for years to come.
"We are very optimistic about London's future and we are really excited to be a part of it."