MAY’S LAST ROLL OF THE DICE
HOPE OF BREXIT BREAKTHROUGH IN STRASBOURG TALKS »»11th-hourdash for Juncker meet »»Legally binding backstop change
THERESA May last night claimed she had secured “legally binding” changes to the Northern Irish backstop in a desperate bid to win today’s meaningful vote on her Brexit withdrawal deal.
Cabinet Office minister David Lidington gave the Commons a late-night update on the last-minute talks taking place in Strasbourg between the Prime Minister and Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay and EU leaders.
The de facto deputy PM said: “Tonight we will be laying two new documents in the House – a joint legally binding instrument on the Withdrawal Agreement and protocol on Northern Ireland and a joint statement to supplement the political declaration.
“The first provides confirmation that the EU cannot try to trap the UK in the backstop indefinitely and that doing so would be an explicit breach of the legally binding commitments that both sides have agreed.”
And he said the “joint instrument” reflects the commitment to “replace the backstop with alternative arrangements by December 2020”. Lidington added the Attorney General would be publishing advice ahead of today’s debate, but needed time to consider the new changes.
Shadow Brexit Secretary Sir Keir Starmer said the change “adds nothing” from a letter May returned with from negotiations on January 14.
He said: “If all that’s happening is to turn this letter into an interpretative tool for legal purposes, I remind the House what the Prime Minister said on January 14 about this letter.
“She said she had been advised this letter would have legal force in international law.
“To stand here today and say this is a significant change when she’s repeating what she said on January 14 is not going to take anyone here far.”
May made her 11th-hour dash to France just hours before the deadline to table a motion for today’s crucial meaningful vote.
She only had until Parliament closed for the night to table any new documents on the deal.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn earlier said MPs would not put up with more delay.
Despite striking a last-minute compromise, there was no guarantee last night that mutinous Tory Brexiteers would back her deal.
Senior ministers believe her plan, which was defeated by 230 votes in January, could be dismissed by more than a 100-vote margin this time.
One said: “We’re a long way up s*** creek. Never mind a paddle, we don’t have a boat.” May had come under pressure from Brexiteers to cancel the meaningful vote and hold one to show that MPs could approve a deal with a time limit to the backstop. But No10 said the vote, and others promised on no deal and a delay later this week, would take place. May was at Westminster Abbey earlier yesterday, marking Commonwealth Day alongside the Queen. She read from Corinthians: “The body does not consist of one member but of many… “If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honoured, all rejoice together with it.”