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MAY DAY

Brexit negotiations are OVER insist EU leaders despite Theresa May pleading for more concessions

Leaders from Spain, Germany, Ireland have all indicated that there will no changing their minds before the 'meaningful vote'

EU leaders have insisted Brexit negotiations are OVER despite Theresa May pleading for more concessions.

The PM - back at work today after the Christmas break -  came under fresh pressure to scrap the Commons vote on her Brexit deal as critics claimed that putting it back further would make Brussels offer the UK a better deal.

 Theresa May on December 13, at her last meeting with EU leaders
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Theresa May on December 13, at her last meeting with EU leadersCredit: Getty Images - Getty

Ex Brexit-secretary David Davis said leaving the decision to the "eleventh hour" could force Europe into opening fresh negotiations on May's withdrawal deal - that has so far won backing from the EU but has been blasted on all sides back in Britain.

But Davis' sentiments in his did not appear to resonate with EU leaders though, who have repeatedly poured cold water on the idea that there'll be further talks before the Commons vote.

Mrs May is understood to have spoken to German Chancellor Angela Merkel since Christmas, , but to no avail.

She is also said to have reached out to other leaders including Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez and Dutch Premier Mark Rutte - but none have done a U-turn so far.

 May has reportedly spoken twice to Germany's Angela Merkel since Christmas - but the Chancellor won't budge
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May has reportedly spoken twice to Germany's Angela Merkel since Christmas - but the Chancellor won't budgeCredit: Getty - Pool
 Irelands Taoiseach has vowed to stand by the EU Withdrawal Agreement
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Irelands Taoiseach has vowed to stand by the EU Withdrawal AgreementCredit: Reuters

Today Taoiseach Leo Varadkar echoed Merkel when he said he would not budge over the backstop plans or accept "any proposal that contradicts what's already in the Withdrawal Agreement".

Varadkar and Merkel spoke this morning for 40 minutes to discuss the deal and had both decided to "stand by" the deal, he said.

The Taoiseach said the Irish Government would be continuing with its contingency planning in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

At a press conference in Brussels, Mina Andreeva, deputy chief spokeswoman for the European Commission, confirmed Europe's position.

 Theresa May was back at work today ahead of a planned Commons vote on the deal from January 14 - but will it go ahead?
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Theresa May was back at work today ahead of a planned Commons vote on the deal from January 14 - but will it go ahead?Credit: London News Pictures

"We have said many times the deal that is on the table is the best and only deal possible," she said.

"And the EU27 leaders confirmed on December 13 in their conclusions that it will not be renegotiated."

Brexiteer sources also told the today that "no one is changing their minds about this deal because the deal itself remains the same".

The "meaningful vote" was delayed at the last minute in December and is currently due to take place in the week beginning January 14.

May's last-minute pulling of the vote triggered a vote of no confidence in her leadership, which she survived with a majority of 83.


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