British business leaders have reacted with relief at the agreement of a transition deal between Britain and the EU amid fear firms could have faced a "cliff edge" break when the UK leaves in March 2019.

The UK wants to continue post-Brexit collaborations with the EU on science and innovation projects, ministers are stressing in a new position paper being put out as part of the withdrawal negotiation process.

Ministers in the UK have been warned they could face a fresh legal challenge to Theresa May's Brexit plans unless they guarantee British Parliament a vote on the outcome of negotiations with the EU.

The British Government comfortably defeated attempts to give British MPs a decisive say over the final terms of Brexit in the face of anger among Tory remain campaigners.