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Evening Standard
Politics

Brexit news latest: Theresa May prepares to head to Brussels for crunch talks bolstered by failed coup to oust her

Theresa May and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker (file image) (Picture: REUTERS)

Theresa May is preparing to head to Brussels for crunch talks on the state of her Brexit deal.

Bolstered by a failed coup to oust her from her own MPs, the Prime Minister will meet European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker for talks today ahead of the special EU Brexit summit on Sunday.

She is under pressure to make changes to the Northern Irish backstop contained in the Brexit divorce agreement, making it clear how the UK can exit the controversial arrangement.

The trip to Brussels comes amid mounting evidence of tensions between Mrs May and the Democratic Unionist Party over the EU divorce deal.

Mrs May will face the usual Prime Minister's Questions session in the Commons before heading to Brussels for 4.30pm on Wednesday.

The Government caved in to a series of opposition amendments to its Budget-enacting Finance Bill in the latest sign that the DUP's MPs would not support Mrs May's minority administration.

Brexiteer ministers want her to press for clarity on how the UK can avoid or end the use of the backstop, which would require the whole UK to be in a single customs territory with the EU.

It would also force Northern Ireland to align with many of Brussels' single market rules after 2020 unless an alternative is found.

Brexit plans: Theresa May (Getty Images)

Brussels has indicated the withdrawal agreement, setting out the terms of the UK's divorce from the bloc, will not be rewritten - although work is ongoing to flesh out the political declaration on the future UK-EU relationship

Ireland's deputy premier Simon Coveney told parliament in Dublin: "This is a text that has been agreed between the negotiations teams, it has been agreed by the British government.

"So to that extent, it is not a draft text, it's now the text, and it is not going to be reopened."

The Brexit deal has angered the DUP and jeopardised the confidence and supply deal which props up Mrs May's minority government.

After a DUP revolt in the Commons on Monday, the Government accepted a series of amendments on Tuesday without votes to avoid a repeat.

The Prime Minister is set for crunch talks in Brussels later today (EPA)

DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds said: "We have kept to our word in relation to the confidence and supply agreement, but even Cabinet members have found themselves having to resign because this deal does not represent those shared objectives in relation to the Union.

"The Government will require DUP support to deliver its domestic agenda. We will continue to use our influence for the good of everyone across the United Kingdom."

Leading Tory Brexiteer Boris Johnson - a prominent critic of Mrs May's approach - is expected to address the DUP's conference at the weekend.

In a sign that the Government is seeking to keep its arrangement with the DUP alive, Chancellor Philip Hammond is also expected to attend the gathering in Belfast, according to Co Fermanagh newspaper the Impartial Reporter.

Jacob Rees-Mogg leaves after the Q&A session with reporters on Brexit (EPA)

But Labour claimed the DUP's approach meant the Government was on the brink of collapse.

Shadow chancellor John McDonnell said: "It's absolutely staggering that the Government has accepted all Labour amendments to the Finance Bill because it couldn't rely upon the DUP's support.

"The Tories are in office but not in power. We're watching a government falling apart in front of us."

The DUP may have given the Prime Minister a political headache, but she appears to have averted an immediate challenge to her position from Tory critics.

The attempt to force a vote of no confidence in her leadership spearheaded by Jacob Rees-Mogg has so far failed to win enough support to force a showdown.

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