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Brexit debate: My deal delivers on referendum, says May Brexit: Theresa May 'looking at MPs' role on backstop'
(35 minutes later)
Theresa May has told BBC Radio 4's Today programme her EU deal delivers on the result of the 2016 referendum. Theresa May says she "is talking to colleagues" about their concerns over the Northern Ireland "backstop" ahead of a crucial vote on her EU deal.
She said she was "talking to colleagues" about their concerns over the Northern Irish backstop. She suggested MPs could be "given a role" in deciding whether to activate the backstop, which is designed to stop the return of a physical border.
But she said no deal with the EU was possible without a backstop. But she told the BBC there could be no deal with the EU without a backstop.
Before the third of five days' debate, it has been suggested by some Conservatives that the prime minister ought to postpone next Tuesday's vote to avoid defeat. Meanwhile No 10 said the Commons vote will go ahead on Tuesday despite claims it could be delayed to avoid defeat.
A government source told the BBC that whips were looking at all options to deliver a majority. And in another development, the European Court of Justice has said it will deliver a ruling on Monday on whether the UK could unilaterally cancel Brexit by reversing Article 50 - the day before the MPs' crunch vote.
Asked if a vote would take place on Tuesday, Mrs May said: "We are in the middle of five days of debate in Parliament which will lead to a vote on this issue." Mrs May told BBC Radio 4's Today programme she had not given up on winning the vote on her Brexit deal - negotiated over the past 18 months or so - despite dozens of her own MPs and all opposition parties being against it.
Mrs May conceded that the UK could not unilaterally withdraw from the backstop, which is meant to prevent the return of a physical border in Northern Ireland. She said she recognised concerns about the Northern Ireland border backstop keeping the UK tied to the EU indefinitely.
She said the backstop was "an integral part of the withdrawal agreement". She conceded that the UK would have "no unilateral right" to pull out of the backstop under her EU withdrawal agreement, but she said the UK would have a choice over whether or not to enter into it.
But she said she was looking at "the role of Parliament" in the decision to trigger the backstop, or extend the transition period. "The backstop is something nobody wants to go into in the first place, and we will be working to make sure that we don't go into it," she said.
"If we get to the point where it might be needed, we have a choice as to what we do, so we don't even have to go into the backstop at that point."
She suggested Parliament could be "given a role" in deciding whether to enter the backstop and how the UK would get out of it.
"I recognise there are concerns from colleagues about the role of Parliament, about the sovereignty of the UK in relation to that issue, so I am talking to colleagues about how we can look at Parliament having a role in going into that and, if you like, coming out of that," she told Today.
She again ruled out a further referendum and rejected alternative Brexit plans suggested by different factions of her party.
"None of the other arrangements that people have put forward fully deliver on the referendum. This deal delivers on the referendum," she told Today.
The BBC's Political Editor Laura Kuenssberg said she was not convinced Mrs May's words on the backstop would "peel away many rebels" and they would also cause concern in the EU because the backstop was part of a "legal text" agreed with the prime minister.
Brexit's economic effects will be the focus of a Commons debate later.Brexit's economic effects will be the focus of a Commons debate later.
Ministers will say it creates a unique partnership with the EU, while Labour argues it will make people poorer.Ministers will say it creates a unique partnership with the EU, while Labour argues it will make people poorer.
Late on Wednesday, chief whip Julian Smith tried to win over pro-Brexit Tories, while civil servants will brief senior MPs on a no-deal scenario later.
However, one Brexiteer complained this was a bid to "spook grandees".
BBC political correspondent Nick Eardley said there was "fervent speculation around Westminster" about what ministers could offer to win support, including giving backbench MPs more of a say on whether the controversial "backstop" is adopted or not.
However, he added: "As things stand delivering parliamentary approval for the Brexit deal still appears a tall order."
The Daily Telegraph reported that the EU could be prepared to discuss extending Article 50 - delaying Brexit until after 29 March - if the deal was rejected by MPs.The Daily Telegraph reported that the EU could be prepared to discuss extending Article 50 - delaying Brexit until after 29 March - if the deal was rejected by MPs.
Meanwhile, Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party, which props up Mrs May's administration, has said it would support the government in a confidence motion if the deal was thrown out. Meanwhile, Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party, which keeps Mrs May's in power, has said it would support the government in a confidence motion if the deal was thrown out.
The backstop is designed to protect the Northern Ireland peace process by preventing the return of customs posts and checkpoints at the Irish border, in the event a future UK-EU trade deal was not agreed.The backstop is designed to protect the Northern Ireland peace process by preventing the return of customs posts and checkpoints at the Irish border, in the event a future UK-EU trade deal was not agreed.
However, while it would keep the entire UK temporarily under EU customs rules, it would require some new checks on goods transported to Northern Ireland from Great Britain, which the DUP says is unacceptable.However, while it would keep the entire UK temporarily under EU customs rules, it would require some new checks on goods transported to Northern Ireland from Great Britain, which the DUP says is unacceptable.
The full legal advice presented to cabinet before the Brexit deal was agreed was published on Wednesday, after the government lost a bid to keep it confidential.The full legal advice presented to cabinet before the Brexit deal was agreed was published on Wednesday, after the government lost a bid to keep it confidential.
It revealed the chief law officer's opinion that the backstop risked a "protracted rounds of negotiations" with the EU, could potentially last "indefinitely", and that the UK could not "lawfully exit" without EU agreement.It revealed the chief law officer's opinion that the backstop risked a "protracted rounds of negotiations" with the EU, could potentially last "indefinitely", and that the UK could not "lawfully exit" without EU agreement.
The DUP said this would be "devastating" for the UK.The DUP said this would be "devastating" for the UK.
Sammy Wilson, the DUP's Brexit spokesman, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "We would certainly not vote to topple the government because we would have no reason to do so.Sammy Wilson, the DUP's Brexit spokesman, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "We would certainly not vote to topple the government because we would have no reason to do so.
"Our grievance with the government has been that the government made a promise to us and to the people of Northern Ireland that Brexit would be delivered for the whole of the United Kingdom, and provided there is nothing introduced to break that promise, we have no reason to have no confidence in the government.""Our grievance with the government has been that the government made a promise to us and to the people of Northern Ireland that Brexit would be delivered for the whole of the United Kingdom, and provided there is nothing introduced to break that promise, we have no reason to have no confidence in the government."
However, he said the DUP could still withdraw support for the government at a future date.However, he said the DUP could still withdraw support for the government at a future date.
The chairman of the pro-Brexit Conservative backbench European Research Group (ERG), Jacob Rees-Mogg met DUP Westminster leader Nigel Dodds on Wednesday.
The Press Association quoted Mr Rees-Mogg telling the ERG later that if Mrs May's deal went through, the Conservatives risked losing the DUP's backing, raising the possibility of a general election being triggered.
Parliament could 'steal Brexit'Parliament could 'steal Brexit'
Thursday's debate will be opened at 11:30 GMT by Chancellor Philip Hammond, with International Trade Secretary Liam Fox expected to round off proceedings after about eight hours.Thursday's debate will be opened at 11:30 GMT by Chancellor Philip Hammond, with International Trade Secretary Liam Fox expected to round off proceedings after about eight hours.
On Wednesday, Mr Hammond told the Commons Treasury committee: "When there is a deal on the table that has very, very modest costs to the economy, which will allow us to move on as a nation both economically and politically, I judge that even narrowly, economically that will be in the best interests of the country."On Wednesday, Mr Hammond told the Commons Treasury committee: "When there is a deal on the table that has very, very modest costs to the economy, which will allow us to move on as a nation both economically and politically, I judge that even narrowly, economically that will be in the best interests of the country."
Mr Fox has warned of a risk of Parliament trying to "steal Brexit from the British people", after MPs voted to give themselves a greater say over the process.Mr Fox has warned of a risk of Parliament trying to "steal Brexit from the British people", after MPs voted to give themselves a greater say over the process.
He said there was a "natural Remain majority" in Parliament and that any attempts to delay the UK's departure or overturn the 2016 referendum result would be a "democratic affront".He said there was a "natural Remain majority" in Parliament and that any attempts to delay the UK's departure or overturn the 2016 referendum result would be a "democratic affront".