UK will reflect before setting out next steps for EU talks, says PM's spokesman

Britain will reflect on the outcome of the European Council meeting in Brussels before setting out its next steps for trade talks with the European Union, a spokesman for Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Thursday.

The spokesman said chief negotiator David Frost had updated Johnson on the latest state of play in the negotiations, which are stuck over fisheries and the so-called level playing field competition guarantees.

"We look forward to hearing the outcome of the European Council and would reflect on that before setting out the UK's next steps," he told reporters. "We've always been clear that a negotiated outcome is our preference."