PM rang Angela Merkel for second time in nine days in desperate bid to improve Brexit deal ahead of crunch Commons vote
THERESA May rang German boss Angela Merkel for the second time in nine days as doom was cast on her desperate race to improve the Brexit deal.
The PM has just seven days left to hammer out new concessions over the hated Irish backstop before MPs start debating the deal again next Wednesday.
Mrs May has ripped up her Christmas break to try to find a compromise between EU leaders and the DUP.
The Ulster unionists’ Westminster leader Nigel Dodds also came into Downing Street for talks about it with the Government’s Chief Whip.
No10 kept a strict silence over whether any progress had been made, after admitting on Monday there had been no breakthrough.
But One senior figure closely engaged in the talks was downbeat and played down hopes of success. The figure told The Sun: “We’re not there yet, not at all.
“It looks like it’s going to be very hard in the time we have left to get there as well. The PM is talking to European capitals now at least, but I’m pretty sceptical this is going to work.”
But the Foreign Secretary revealed Mrs May was still pursuing “clearer language” to ensure the backstop – that will keep the UK within a customs union – is time limited.
Jeremy Hunt said on a visit to Singapore: “Theresa May has been very clear: this isn’t just about words but about text which has legal force.
“The EU has agreed the backstop is temporary. So what we’re saying, very simply, is we’re not asking for anything new but we are asking you to define what temporary means so we can have confidence we’re not going to be trapped in the customs union for ever against the wishes of the British people.”
Spain boss Pedro Sánchez is among the tricky EU opponents that she has already spoken to over the Christmas period, as well as a call expected with French president Emmanuel Macron.
Mr Hunt also warned the chaos from a No Deal Brexit could last months or even years in a bid to ramp fresh pressure on rebel Tory MPs.
Issuing his most gloomy alarm yet about the consequences of Theresa May’s deal falling the Foreign Secretary said: “A no deal Brexit would cause disruption that could last some time.
“Even if you are someone who believes Britain will flourish and prosper, that is not something that any Government should willingly wish on its people”.
The senior Cabinet minister also attacked the growing campaign for a second referendum, insisting that for politicians to ignore the landmark 2016 decision would be “devastating”. Meanwhile, Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay will summon ministers from every Government department for a major stocktake on no deal preparations.
He will use the midday meeting on Thursday to ensure all ministries know what is expected of them in the project, code-named Operation Yellowhammer, with just 85 days to go until Brexit.
A DUP spokesman said: “The DUP has been consistent in these negotiations.
“The Withdrawal Agreement would undermine the constitutional and economic integrity of the United Kingdom.
MOST READ IN POLITICS
“The Prime Minister has committed to secure changes. We will be holding her to her word. We want to work with the Government in the coming days to ensure the United Kingdom leaves the EU with a good deal.”
Last night former Brexit Secretary David Davis urged Mrs May to delay the crunch Commons vote on her Brexit deal for a second time.
Writing in the Daily Telegraph he said the PM should call the EU's bluff and not sign up to the current deal being offered. The vote is currently scheduled for the week of January 14 but many expect the deal to be rejected by MPs.
Mr Davis said time was Mrs May's "friend" and said a deal will be reached "at the eleventh hour" because the EU fears losing our £39 billion divorce bill that they wouldn't get under a no deal Brexit. He wrote: "The more we prepare to leave the EU without a deal, the more likely a good deal becomes”.
- GOT a story? RING The Sun on 0207 782 4104 or WHATSAPP on 07423720250 or EMAIL [email protected]