london months brexit talk make little progress deepen rifts party british prime minister theresa may try week put negotiations track reassert authority speech italian city florence may set friday vision future tie european union try fill apparent policy vacuum leave brexit team adopt brussels regard wreck tactics talk unravel four decades union 60-year-old leader deliberately choose eu city deliver speech speak directly 27 nations bloc work cut seize back initiative may largely quiet brexit since conservative party lose parliamentary majority june election need call say little beyond express support deep special partnership bloc britain leave march 2019. days speech foreign minister boris johnson lay brexit vision challenge cautious approach expose fault line party government eu negotiators also frustrate see britain policy drift talk august british officials spend almost three hours pick hole legal basis bill eu expect london pay leave source familiar presentation detail stretch 11 page illustrate 23 slide call show legal muscle brexit minister david davis say meet even tetchy one reason lawyers give two-and-a-half hour presentation government minister make decision policy say andrew hood legal adviser former prime minister david cameron still contact lawyers several government departments august talk almost cancel eu side britain lack position hood tell reuters always think foreign office ever need revert lawyers probably lose say hood advise company brexit strategy law firm dechert take part meet eu cameron resign last year britons vote brexit financial settlement brussels one difficult part brexit negotiations lack movement far even mechanics calculate sum show difficulties face britain may walk tightrope hardline conservative brexit supporters want make sure payment small possible top minister believe britain must pay keep tie close possible largely let government talk set wishlist future relations bloc aim close tie without cost may also stick belief play card close chest britain force eu negotiators concessions silence allow voice emerge main opposition labour party say would keep britain single european market customs union transitional period liberal democrats demand second referendum scottish national party want scotland remain part eu opposition expect criticism may team raise eyebrows weekend newspaper article johnson write expect britain pay access eu market put odds finance minister philip hammond may speak pay august talk leave without clear policy direction davis team detail dissection eu arguments brexit bill leave bloc main negotiator michel barnier wonder whether build trust start discuss future relationship weeks early former aide may praise emerge agreement cabinet need transition deal divorce settlement something seem remote last year brexit referendum though may agreement principle difference lie detail open deep rift hammond want transition close possible status quo others trade minister liam fox want stay single market pay access pro-brexit lawmakers also balk suggestions britain pay 60 billion euros 72 billion divorce may aid pour cold water report could compromise reduce headline figure pay 10 billion pound year eu transition move appear intend tighten control brexit talk may appoint top official brexit ministry eu adviser monday reset talk tough order aid silent whether may use florence speech try break deadlock financial settlement officials brussels hold breath eu take black veil get life one eu official say august talk brits either completely overconfident completely overwhelm take back control britain 's may make high-stakes brexit speech