May to insist UK is not ‘trapped’ by Irish backstop as Corbyn reveals his five key Brexit demands

Theresa May is preparing for a political punch up in Brussels today after European Union chiefs hinted they are prepared to go the distance – rather than concede on her Brexit wishlist.

Last night she was spotted smiling as she left the annual Conservative Black and White Ball – but as she headed to Brussels the British PM was expected to swap her powder for war paint.

The Prime Minister has the enormous task of getting massive compromises on the deal which was rejected in the House of Commons – so she can return with an agreement to win over MPs before the exit date on March 29. 

But her meeting with President of the European Council, Donald Tusk and President of the European Parliament Antonio Tajani could be a bruising one.

Downing Street indicated before she left the deadline to vote on a final Brexit deal could be moved until the end of February.

Prime Minster Theresa May smiling as she leaves the party at Battersea Park in London for the annual Black and White Ball – before heading off to Brussels for tough talks

While it is claimed the Bloc’s bosses may sign off on a legally binding letter to ensure the ‘backstop’ over Ireland’s border is temporary, it may not be agreed this week, The Times reported.

Wednesday was a tough time for the Conservative leader who travelled for talks in Belfast, while Irish premier Leo Varadkar met with EU bosses in Brussels to agree their position before May landed.

During their time together Donald Tusk tweeted there is a ‘special place in hell’ for Brexiteers and he was later backed by Guy Verhofstadt who said vote leavers would ‘divide Hell’.

The PM will hold talks with European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker, European Council president Donald Tusk and other senior EU figures during her trip to Brussels. 

Earlier May’s allies said she will use top level meetings in Brussels to insist the UK will not be ‘trapped’ in Brexit backstop arrangements, Downing Street said.

The Prime Minister will stress during a round of talks on Thursday that changes to the Withdrawal Agreement will be needed to ensure legally binding guarantees regarding the backstop.

At present the backstop, which is intended to prevent the return of a hard border in Ireland, would see the UK continue to obey EU customs rules after a transition period if no wider trade deal had been reached.

Mrs May insists she has a clear mandate from Parliament to seek fresh, binding guarantees on the issue from Brussels. 

Downing Street said that Mrs May is ‘open to different ways’ of achieving her objectives on the backstop.

The PM will use the meetings to state that Parliament has sent ‘an unequivocal message that change is required’.

Instead of going ahead as scheduled next week, Julian Smith indicated in the cabinet on Tuesday that the vote will not be held next week as May is not expected to have renegotiated her deal in time, the Telegraph revealed. 

One of the PM’s key messages for EU leaders will be that the Commons has now made it clear it could support the Withdrawal Agreement as long as concerns about the backstop are addressed.

Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay wore a bright pink tie for the bash

Attorney General Geoffrey Cox

Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay and Attorney General Geoffrey Cox also shelved Brexit worries for the evening

Reality TV star Georgia Toffolo arrives for the Conservative Party Black & White Ball at Battersea Evolution

Reality TV star Georgia Toffolo arrives for the Conservative Party Black & White Ball at Battersea Evolution

James Cleverly MP arrives with his phone in hand in Battersea

Leader of the House of Commons Andrea Leadsom focused on her phone as she arrived 

Leader of the House of Commons Andrea Leadsom focused on her phone as she arrived, as did James Cleverly 

Mrs May also intends to stress that Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn also has concerns about the backstop, so it is not just an issue for the Tories and their DUP allies.

Meanwhile, Jeremy Corbyn has set to cause further problems for May after he wrote to the Prime Minister setting out five Labour Brexit demands which he says can bring the country together.

Ahead of Theresa May’s talks with EU leaders on Thursday, Mr Corbyn has insisted that the PM needs to get Labour’s priorities enshrined in the Political Declaration setting out future relations with the EU.

Mr Corbyn said that securing the demands in law is the only way of achieving Labour support and uniting the country.

The Labour leader has told the PM that just seeking modifications to the Northern Irish backstop proposals is not enough to win widespread backing and that she must change tack on key red lines.

In the letter to the PM, which follows their Brexit meeting last week, Mr Corbyn calls for a ‘permanent and comprehensive UK-wide customs union’.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn signs a letter he has written to Prime Minister Theresa May laying out Labour's five Brexit demands

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn signs a letter he has written to Prime Minister Theresa May laying out Labour’s five Brexit demands

Iain Duncan Smith arrived at the Black and White Ball, a fundraiser held by the Conservative Party. Brexiteers were slammed in Brussels today before Mrs May goes over renegotiate  

Iain Duncan Smith arrived at the Black and White Ball, a fundraiser held by the Conservative Party. Brexiteers were slammed in Brussels today before Mrs May goes over renegotiate  

He states: ‘This would include alignment with the union customs code, a common external tariff and an agreement on commercial policy that includes a UK say on future EU trade deals.

‘We believe that a customs union is necessary to deliver the frictionless trade that our businesses, workers and consumers need, and is the only viable way to ensure there is no hard border on the island of Ireland.’

In Brussels however the PM will be focusing on winning over the bloc.

She will state that both sides must ‘show determination’ to get an exit deal ‘over the line’.

Downing Street said the EU meetings are part of a process leading to the Government bringing back a ‘meaningful vote’ on Brexit to the Commons as soon as possible.

Mrs May travels to Brussels as a war of words between London and Brussels erupted after Mr Tusk said there was a ‘special place in hell’ for people who promoted Brexit without any plan for delivering it. 

When she returns to the UK, Theresa May will have to deal with Corbyn’s letter.

He said Labour wants close alignment with the single market ‘underpinned by shared institutions and obligations, with clear arrangements for dispute resolution’.

Mr Corbyn also called for ‘dynamic alignment on rights and protections so that UK standards keep pace with evolving standards across Europe as a minimum’.

EU Council President Donald Tusk earlier caused online chaos as he said there was a 'special place in hell for Brexiteers'

EU Council President Donald Tusk earlier caused online chaos as he said there was a ‘special place in hell for Brexiteers’

Labour wants commitments on participation in EU agencies and funding programmes, as well as ‘unambiguous agreements on the detail of future security arrangements, including access to the European Arrest Warrant and vital shared databases’.

Mr Corbyn also calls for further talks with the PM ‘with the aim of securing a sensible agreement that can win the support of parliament and bring the country together’.

The Labour leader tells the PM that last month’s rejection by MPs of her Withdrawal Agreement means a different approach is needed.

He writes: ‘Without changes to your negotiating red lines, we do not believe that simply seeking modifications to the existing backstop terms is a credible or sufficient response either to the scale of your defeat last month in Parliament, or the need for a deal with the EU that can bring the country together and protect jobs.’

The Labour leader states: ‘There is, as was demonstrated last week, a clear majority in Parliament that no deal must now be taken off the table and that there can be no return to a hard border in Northern Ireland in any circumstance.

‘We recognise that any negotiation with the EU will require flexibility and compromise.

‘Our first priority must be a deal that is best for jobs, living standards, our communities, in the context of increased and more equitable investment across all regions and nations of the UK.’ 

 

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