Blow for May in Salzburg as EU asks for more concessions over Ireland

Theresa May has been told her Brexit plans need to be “reworked” in a blow to hopes of reaching an agreement in time, and to the Prime Minister’s political fortunes less than two weeks before the Conservative Party conference.

European Council president Donald Tusk said the Prime Minister’s Chequers blueprint was a “welcome evolution” in the UK’S approach, but major issues remained to be resolved including avoiding a hard border in Ireland and the future trading relationship between 0 Theresa May says the UK is willing to ‘evolve’ its position

Britain and the EU. Warning that there was “less and less time” to reach a deal before the UK’S March 29 2019 exit date, Mr Tusk confirmed he would propose an emergency EU Brexit summit in November. Last night Mrs May addressed EU leaders over dinner at a summit in Salzburg, and was expected to says Brussels plans for customs checks between Northern Ireland and Great Britain would see the UK be “carved up”.

The Prime Minister told fellow leaders the UK is willing to “evolve” its position if the EU is also be prepared to show flexibility.

Demands from Brussels for further concessions will make Mrs May’s bid for unity at the Tory conference in Birmingham even harder, with former Brexit Secretary David Davis calling her Chequers strategy a non-starter”.