Theresa May says she’s WON legally binding changes to Brexit deal in last-ditch bid to avoid crushing defeat

THERESA May has tonight WON legally binding changes to her Brexit deal in a bid to avoid another crushing Commons defeat.

Talks went on deep into the night last night as Brexiteers considered whether it will be enough to ease their fears that the hated Northern Irish backstop would turn us into an EU colony forever.

As today’s Brexit vote remained on a knife edge, Mrs May told reporters her deal had secured the changes it needed for MPs to back her in the Commons.

In another rollercoaster day in Brexit:

• Theresa May flew to Strasbourg to seal changes to her deal at the 11th hour
• She won legally binding tweaks which “strengthen and improve the deal” including a promise to work on “alternative arrangements” to the hated backstop, her deputy David Lidington told MPs
• But the text said it would only “reduce the risk” of the UK getting trapped in the backstop – which may not be enough to win over Brexiteers and the DUP
• The Government’s official lawyer Sir Geoffrey Cox will say later today whether he thinks he can change his legal advice on whether we can escape the backstop
• Brexiteers were still split on whether they would rally around her and back the deal or not
• The EU’s Jean Claude Juncker said that there would be no more tweaks to the deal if MPs reject it today – and if they did Brexit might not even happen

The PM was “in negotiations” with EU bosses right up until the wire on trying to seal a way out of the backstop.

At a joint press conference with Mr Juncker she said: “a joint instrument with comparable legal weight to the Withdrawal Agreement will guarantee that the EU cannot act with the intent of applying the backstop indefinitely”.
And “if they do, it can be challenged through arbitration and if they are found to be in breach the UK can suspend the backstop.”

The documents also revealed that the two sides agreed a joint text which commits the UK and EU “to work together to replace the backstop with alternative arrangements by December 2020.”

And it also included an addition to our future relationship outline – saying both sides will “expedite the negotiation and bring into force” the future partnership as soon as possible.

But talks appeared to be stuck over the final point – a UK-based statement which would help the Attorney General change his legal advice on whether the backstop would last forever or not.

At the very last minute Mrs May revealed the statement, which said that if the EU tried to keep is in the backstop, there was “nothing in the withdrawal agreement” which would start the process of allowing us to get out.

The PM will go into more detail on this todaywhen she opens the debate on her deal in the Commons once more, which will surely be crucial to whether her deal will get through.

EU boss Mr Juncker said “there will be no third chance” to get more from the bloc and warned: “It is this deal or Brexit might not happen at all.”

Now is the time to come together, to back this improved Brexit deal.

Theresa May speaking in Strasbourg tonight

She will hold a second vote on her Brexit deal today – and could still suffer another crushing loss if Brexiteers don’t think it’s enough to win them over.

“Now is the time to come together, to back this improved Brexit deal, and to deliver on the instruction of the British people,” she begged MPs.

A spokesperson for kingmaker MPs the DUP said last night: “We note the Prime Minister’s latest statement and update on our EU exit negotiations. These publications need careful analysis.

“We will be taking appropriate advice, scrutinising the text line by line and forming our own Judgement.”

MP Jim Shannon warned improvements to the deal could be the “Emperor’s new clothes”.

He said: “He will know the story of the Emperor’s clothes and we just hope tomorrow morning the Emperor’s clothes won’t reveal something very embarrassing for the Prime Minister.”

Labour’s Sir Keir Starmer said the tweaks “adds nothing” to the deal and it still wouldn’t be good enough for them to get behind.

Tory Damian Collins said tonight: “I will be voting against the government’s motion on EU withdrawal. Nothing has really changed since last November. We have the power to apply to an arbitration panel to leave the back stop, but not the right to leave by ourselves.”

Top Tory Jacob Rees-Mogg said it was “too early to tell” but said it was “clearly a step in the right direction”.

Brexiteer Steve Baker said last night he was waiting to see the text of the deal, telling Sky News: “We may or may not be able to support it. 

“If in 5 to 10 years we found ourselves trapped in the backstop, in the customs union, people would rightly curse the day we had voted for the withdrawal agreement and ask why we’d been so weak.”

He added on Radio 4 it appeared tonight’s agreement was “something that has fallen short of what was expected” but said he would consult with the group’s lawyers to analyse whether they think Britain can exit the backstop or not.

DOWN TO THE WIRE

German Chancellor Angela Merkel had stirred hopes of a breakthrough by saying Brussels had made a “very important offer”.
She added: “It’s now up to Britain to respond.”

Meanwhile, Brussels is willing to grant an extension of Brexit talks until the end of May – but will only go beyond that if there’s an election or a second referendum.

Ahead of the crunch meeting today the PM was in talks with top Tories including Mr Baker, Owen Paterson, backbench boss Sir Graham Brady and Iain Duncan Smith, with speculation growing that she’s going to have something substantial to bring back from the EU ahead of the vote.

Other senior figures warned they’d kick her out of office if she chickened out of the meaningful vote.

Last month Mrs May promised to hold the binding vote on her deal by March 12 – and said that if she lost, MPs would be able to decide what happens next.

Ex-minister Nick Boles hinted he would vote to bring down the Government and trigger a snap election if the PM went back on her vow.

He tweeted: “I am sure that the Prime Minister will honour these three commitments. If she doesn’t she will forfeit the confidence of the House of Commons.”

Leading moderates have called on the PM to quit if her strategy flops this week.

Today senior Tory George Freeman said Mrs May’s days were numbered even if she does pull off a victory in today’s vote.

He told the BBC: “I hope the Prime Minister can get withdrawal through and then I do think we need to choose a new leader for a new generation with a new vision of a conservativism that can make sense of Brexit and reinspire and reunite the nation.”

Allowing the Commons to choose between No Deal and a Brexit delay could tear the Government apart and see at least a dozen ministers resign.

Last night Health Minister Steve Brine said he would quit if told to vote for a No Deal Brexit.

He called on Mrs May to offer Tory MPs a free vote if the motion does take place.

David Cameron yesterday backed the PM’s strategy – but warned against a possible No Deal.

Questioned outside his London home, the former Prime Minister said: “I support the Prime Minister and I think she is doing the right thing seeking a partnership deal with the EU, that’s the right approach.”

And he added: “I don’t think No Deal is a good idea at all.”

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