Meet the six politicians who dictate Brexit course

EU INTERVENES WITH ASSURANCES OF LEGAL VALUE

May sounds warning to MPs ahead of crucial parliamentary vote today

Prime Minister Theresa May yesterday published further assurances from the EU on the eve of a crucial parliamentary vote on her Brexit deal, and warned MPs that rejecting it would lead to “paralysis” that could see Britain stay in the bloc.

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and European Council President Donald Tusk repeated in a letter that they would not reopen the divorce deal, but said they could offer clarifications with “legal value” on a controversial clause on Ireland.

In a speech shortly afterwards in Stoke, a Brexit-backing city in central England, May admitted their offer fell short of what she wanted.

But she said: “I’m convinced that MPs now have the clearest assurances that this is the best deal possible and is worthy of their support.”

May had promised clarifications on the so-called Irish backstop arrangement when she postponed a vote on the agreement in December, facing certain defeat in the House of Commons.

But as MPs prepare to finally cast their judgement later yesterday, large numbers of her own Conservative MPs and her Northern Irish allies are still strongly opposed.

Anti-Brexit MPs have now stepped up efforts to tie the government’s hands in parliament in a bid to avoid the damaging prospect of Britain leaving the EU on March 29 with no deal at all.

May signed the divorce deal with other EU leaders in November after 18 months of tough negotiations, but it has faced huge opposition in Britain.

The most contentious element is the backstop, which would keep Britain tied to some EU trade rules, with even closer alignment for the province of Northern Ireland, if and until another way was found to avoid border checks with Ireland. Tusk and Juncker said the EU “does not wish to see the backstop enter into force” and noted that if it was necessary, it would only be temporary.

They promised to work quickly to find alternatives to keep open the border, including using technology, a solution backed by Brexit supporters.

The pair repeated that similar assurances to this nature made at an EU summit in December “have legal value”.

AFP Anti-Brexit supporters demonstrate outside the Houses of Parliament yesterday. Prime Minister May ramped up warnings to MPs poised to reject her EU divorce deal that failing to deliver Brexit would be catastrophic for British democracy.