BORIS Johnson acknowledged that “outstanding issues” to get a Brexit deal remain on the final day before a crucial EU summit, but said there was still a “chance” of success.

Officials on both sides of the Channel said yesterday that numerous obstacles still needed to be surmounted for a fresh agreement to be brokered.

The Prime Minister needs to get a deal approved at the summit of EU leaders starting in Brussels today if he is to avoid an almighty clash over asking for a delay to the UK’s departure.

His official spokesman said the Prime Minister had updated his Cabinet, which gave its “full support” to get a deal ahead of the summit after a “positive discussion”.

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“He said there was a chance of securing a good deal but we are not there yet and there remain outstanding issues,” the spokesman added.

It comes as French president Emmanuel Macron said that he wants “to believe that a deal is being finalised”.

During a brief address to the 1922 Committee of Tory backbenchers, Johnson compared the situation to climbing Mount Everest, according to MPs who attended.

Referring to the Prime Minister, leading Brexiteer Mark Francois said: “He said ‘we are not quite at the summit, we are at the Hillary Step’.

“The summit is not far but at the moment there is still cloud around the summit’.”

Francois added: “The other thing he said was if we cannot achieve a deal despite the best efforts of the United Kingdom, we will still leave the European Union at Halloween.

“He was absolutely crystal clear about that.”

The reported comments appeared at odds with remarks earlier in the day by Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay, who confirmed that Johnson will write a letter asking for an Article 50 extension if no deal is in place by Saturday, something the Prime Minister has repeatedly ruled out.

Talks in Brussels resumed yesterday morning after running into the early hours. After a briefing by EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier, EU commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos said: “Talks have been constructive but there still remains a number of significant issues to resolve.”

Saturday is a key date for the Prime Minister, with the Benn Act passed by MPs trying to prevent a No-Deal Brexit stating he must write to Brussels asking for a delay if Parliament does not agree to a deal by then.

Barclay reiterated that Johnson would write to Brussels asking for an Article 50 extension, as previously revealed in documents submitted during a Scottish court challenge.

If Johnson succeeded in bringing a deal home to the UK, he would then face a battle to do what Theresa May failed to do three times and get it approved by Parliament.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said he was “deeply concerned” about the negotiations and ruled out his party backing a deal under Johnson’s reported terms.

Pressure to sign off on a draft agreement is peaking. A legal text needs to be published ahead of the summit if the EU27 are to consider ratifying the Withdrawal Agreement at the two-day event.

Their approval would allow Johnson to put the deal to MPs in a proposed extraordinary sitting of Parliament on Saturday, between 9.30am and 2pm.

Meanwhile, anti-Brexit campaigners plan to lodge a legal action in a bid to ban the Government from putting its proposed Withdrawal Agreement before Parliament.

Jo Maugham QC said he believes the agreement, due to be debated in a special parliamentary sitting on Saturday, contravenes legislation stating it is “unlawful for Her Majesty’s Government to enter into arrangements under which Northern Ireland forms part of a separate customs territory to Great Britain”.

Reports suggest a border in the Irish Sea with differing customs arrangements for Northern Ireland than elsewhere in the UK may form part of the Withdrawal Agreement, with negotiations ongoing in Brussels.

Maugham plans to lodge a petition at Scotland’s highest civil court, the Court of Session, today and expects it to be heard tomorrow.

He claimed if the court finds the proposed agreement is unlawful the Government will be obliged to request an extension to Brexit negotiations, under the Benn Act.