Merkel hails 'encouraging' signs for Brexit trade talks.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel gave Theresa May a Brexit boost as EU leaders gathered for a summit in Brussels, saying there were "encouraging" signs that talks on the future UK/EU trade relationship could begin as early as December.

Britain had already given up hope of receiving a green light for trade talks at the two-day European Council, after chief EU negotiator Michel Barnier said last week that insufficient progress had been made in divorce talks to move on to the second phase, dealing with trade.