BREXIT AMBUSH
As PM & EU say deal is final, DUP axes support, Spain threatens veto & France seeks fishing rights
THERESA May suffered a fresh onslaught as the DUP seemingly tore up the support deal that props up her Government.
The hardline Northern Ireland party, furious at the PM’s draft Brexit deal, abstained in crucial Budget votes last night and in one amendment even voted with Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour.
The move breaches the so-called “confidence and supply” arrangement, Prime Minister
which gave the PM her working majority after the 2017 election. The Mirror called it the “Coalition of Crackpots”.
The shock came after Spain threatened to torpedo her draft agreement if it didn’t get a veto to ensure Gibraltar is excluded from any future trade deals.
But No10 insisted talks included “the whole UK family”, adding: “We will not exclude Gibraltar from negotiations.”
Spanish foreign minister Josep Borrell told the PM to prepare for “last-minute surprises” at Sunday’s Brussels summit. France also piled on the pressure over fishing, reportedly pushing for a “sidedeclaration”, making it clear a deal would be dependent on Britain opening up its waters to European ships.
The PM had stayed in Westminster to convince business to back her. She and EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier both insisted the deal was “agreed in full”.
Then the DUP refused to back Mrs May’s key Finance Bill amendments. Barnier & Spanish officials Without their votes the PM has a working majority of just three and is vulnerable to a no-confidence vote, which would trigger a general election.
Labour MP David Lammy said: “The Prime Minister’s grubby deal has come back to bite her.”
Meanwhile, a “dolt’s revolt” of backbench MPs again failed to get 48 letters needed for a leadership challenge.