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Sir Keir Starmer and European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen restated the need to swiftly implement the post- Brexit reset deal, amid reports of an impasse over UK access to Brussels’ flagship defence fund.

The Prime Minister told the commission president that “any deals must result in tangible benefits to the British public,” according to a Downing Street read-out of their call on Wednesday evening.

Ms Von der Leyen said work was ongoing to reach “a mutually beneficial outcome” on the defence scheme, and that the pair had agreed to start formal talks next

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