The Democratic Unionist Party has dealt Theresa May’s Brexit deal another mortal blow by announcing not enough “progress” has been made to support it.
The Ulster party, which props up the Tories in power, pointed to the attorney general’s legal advice that the UK still risked being trapped in the Irish backstop.
“We recognise that the prime minister has made limited progress in her discussions with the European Union,” a statement said.
“However, in our view sufficient progress has not been achieved at this time.”
The statement left open that the 10 DUP MPs might abstain in tonight’s vote, rather than vote against – but either decision would leave the prime minister facing another heavy defeat.
The announcement came shortly after the hardline European Research Group of Eurosceptic Tories also rejected her revised deal.
Its legal panel, set up to analyse the legal implications of the changes secured in Strasbourg, said they did not meet the government's own tests.
The DUP statement said the party would “support the right deal which respects the referendum result and Northern Ireland’s place as an integral part of the United Kingdom”.
And it attacked the EU for being “intransigent”, warning it would “require all sides to be reasonable and in deal making mode”.
But it stated: “It is clear that the risks remain that the UK would be unable to lawfully exit the backstop were it to be activated.”
