EU summit could last until Sunday

After three hours’ sleep, David Cameron returned to the European Council summit with the five areas on which he is seeking change still unresolved. As he walked into the summit, the Prime Minister said:

‘I was here until 5 o’clock this morning working through this and we’ve made some progress but there’s still no deal and as I said I’ll only do a deal if we get what Britain needs so we’re going to get back in there, do some work, and I’ll do everything I can.’

Sources are now saying that the summit could, if necessary, go on until Sunday. It might not, but it’s clear that the original timetable is slipping somewhat, as they are also saying that if there is a deal later today, Cameron can hold Cabinet into the evening today, or tomorrow morning if necessary. 

It’s difficult to tell how much of this is bluff to make an eventual deal look more impressive.