Brexit: Theresa May meeting EU leaders in bid to rescue deal

Theresa May is meeting European leaders and EU officials later for talks aimed at rescuing her Brexit deal.

She is holding talks with Dutch PM Mark Rutte and Germany’s Angela Merkel after postponing a Commons vote on the deal.

The UK PM has said she needs “further assurances” about the Northern Ireland border plan to get backing from MPs.

European Council President Donald Tusk insisted the EU would “not renegotiate” but said leaders would discuss how to help “facilitate UK ratification”.

Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd said further talks with Brussels would focus on the Brexit “backstop” on the Irish border, which Mrs May earlier admitted had caused MPs “widespread and deep concern”.

Critics object to the backstop – a temporary customs arrangement designed to prevent the need for checkpoints at the Irish border if a long-term solution cannot be agreed – because it imposes different regulations in Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK and risks becoming permanent.

The PM’s abrupt U-turn, after days of repeated insistence that the vote would go ahead, prompted Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn to secure a three-hour emergency debate on Tuesday.

“It cannot be right that the government can unilaterally alter the arrangements,” said Mr Corbyn, who earlier accused Mrs May of “losing control of events”.

No date has been set for the Brexit deal to be put before MPs, although Mrs May indicated the final deadline for the vote was 21 January.

Leading Conservative Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg said Mrs May lacked the “gumption” to put her “undeliverable” deal before MPs.

He is trying to get enough Tory MPs to submit letters of no confidence in the PM to trigger a leadership contest.

The Times reported that Crispin Blunt became the 26th MP to do so on Monday.

“I want to encourage those who are thinking about it; get it done,” Mr Blunt told the paper.

Forty eight Conservative MPs must submit letters for any challenge to be initiated.

Former Brexit minister Steve Baker told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “It is a grave decision to make but what I would say to my colleagues is: you now face the certainty of failure with Theresa May, you must be brave and make the right decision to change prime minister.”

So, what next for Mrs May?

The prime minister told MPs on Monday that a number of European leaders had “indicated that they are open to discussions to find a way to provide reassurance” over the backstop.

However, Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said it was not possible to renegotiate the Irish border backstop proposal without “opening up all aspects” of the Brexit withdrawal agreement.

And Mr Tusk pointed out in a tweet that time for discussion was running out.