British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday set out his government's priorities at a parliamentary ceremony full of pomp and pageantry attended by the queen, with Brexit top of the agenda. But with time running out for an amicable divorce deal before EU leaders meet later this week, few of the proposals look likely to be enacted, with predictions of a snap election.

British-PM Boris Johnson was to brief his Cabinet on the progress of last-minute Brexit-talks with the EU, amid signs of progress but also deep-seated skepticism about the chances of a deal. Britain is due to leave the 28-nation bloc on October-31, and attempts to find a deal have foundered over plans for keeping an open border between EU member Ireland and UK's Northern Ireland.

Pessimism in British businesses rose in the three months to September to the highest level in almost eight years, as the escalating Brexit crisis weighed heavily on companies, a survey showed on Sunday. The Confederation of British Industry's (CBI) gauge of private sector activity held steady at -6% in the three months to September, the same as in the period to August.