STRASBOURG: The European Parliament overwhelmingly backed Tuesday a motion saying Brexit talks had not made enough progress to begin the next phase, dealing a fresh blow to London's hopes of moving negotiations on to trade, reports AFP.

MEPs approved by 557 votes to 92 against with 29 abstentions a motion urging EU leaders to postpone a decision on whether enough has been achieved in talks in order to start discussing a future relationship, at their next summit starting on October 19.

With all the major groupings in the European Parliament backing the non-binding resolution, the result of Tuesday's vote was a foregone conclusion.

Earlier, EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier told MEPs that while  May's speech had improved the mood in talks, "serious differences" remained on Britain's divorce bill, the rights of EU citizens living in Britain, and the fate of Northern Ireland.