Davis forced to backtrack on Brexit deal

DAVID DAVIS was forced to change tack on the legality of the Brexit deal yesterday as he admitted the agreement would become British law as “soon as possible” following an avalanche of criticism from EU officials.

They unleashed a series of rebukes against Mr Davis over his suggestion that the UK could backtrack on promises made in the divorce settlement, which had only been agreed on Friday.

Guy Verhofstadt, the European Parliament’s chief Brexit coordinator, accused the Brexit Secretary of scoring an “own goal” with his “unacceptable” comments and said he had “undermine[d] trust” with London.

Michel Barnier, the EU’S Brexit negotiator, stressed that there could be “no backtracking”.

The EU had refused to begin negotiations on trade and transition until it judged “sufficient progress” was made on the Brexit bill, Ireland and citizens’ rights. On Friday, Britain was given the green light after sealing the deal.

Meanwhile, Donald Tusk, the president of the European Council, warned that both sides were now locked in a “furious race against time” to agree on the terms of transition and future trade in just 10 months.

The EU’S heads of state are expected to rubber-stamp sufficient progress at a summit on Friday.

Mr Davis attempted to calm the troubled waters yesterday afternoon. He wrote on Twitter: “Pleasure, as ever, to speak to my friend @guyverhofstadt – we both agreed on the importance of the Joint Report. Let’s work together to get it converted into legal text as soon as possible.”

EU sources said Mr Davis’s comments prompted them to toughen up the language in the draft European Council resolution. MEPS in the European Parliament followed suit, amending a resolution to condemn Mr Davis.