Brussels trip by PM fails to unblock stalemate as both sides harden stance

Intensive lobbying of EU leaders by Theresa May not enough to win agreement to open talks on transition periodTheresa May’s last-ditch attempt to persuade European leaders to open talks on a transition period look doomed to fail as Downing Street appeared to rule out fresh concessions on the UK’s divorce bill and Brussels hardened its approach days away from a crunch summit.Calls to the French president, Emmanuel Macron, and the Irish taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, along with a 90-minute d