Boris tells EU to decide if it wants a deal as Barnier flies back into London for crunch fishing talks

BORIS Johnson threw down the Brexit gauntlet to Brussels last night as he warned the EU must finally decide if they want a deal.

The PM talked tough as Michael Barnier U-turned and dashed to London for last-ditch talks.

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Bojo said he is ready and waiting to ink a deal – if Brussels finally accepts Britain’s red lines.

Speaking ahead of a make or break Brexit week, said: “The likelihood of a deal is very much determined by our friends and partners in the EU.

“There’s a deal there to be done if they want to do it, which would I think benefit people on both sides of the Channel.

“But let’s be absolutely clear – this country can prosper and will prosper mightily in either event and if we have to come out with a so called Australian style model, an Australian relationship with the EU.

“We will make a great success of it."

But he warned there are still "substantial and important" differences between the sides.

Mr Barnier will arrive in London tonight for a crunch weekend of meetings with No 10's dealmaker David Frost. 

The Frenchman had threatened to scrap the planned trip unless British officials caved into his demands on fishing and following EU red tape.

But he U-turned and decided to travel anyway despite briefing the bloc's ambassadors that there has been no fresh progress in recent negotiations.

Ahead of the showdown talks Lord Frost insisted he won't sign up to any agreement that doesn't respect the UK's sovereignty. 

He said: "It is late, but a deal is still possible, and I will continue to talk until it's clear that it isn’t." 

Mr Barnier arrived in London with warnings from France to stand firm and "not be intimidated"  ringing in his ears.

FISHING FOR A DEAL

Emmanuel Macron's gloomy Europe adviser Clement Beaune said the two sides are still "far from an agreement" on fishing.

He said: "The British need a deal more than we do. The Europeans must be confident of this, and confident of their strength in this negotiation." 

The bloc's capitals have now called on Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen to immediately activate contingency plans. 

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Mr Barnier told ambassadors there are "only a few days left for further negotiations" and he can't guarantee they'll succeed. 

An EU diplomat said: "Without London taking the necessary decisions quickly, reaching a deal will be all but impossible."