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Brexit: Not too late for real change to PM's deal - Johnson Brexit: Not too late for real change to PM's deal - Johnson
(32 minutes later)
It would be "absurd" to hold another vote on the PM's Brexit deal before attempting further talks with the EU, Boris Johnson has claimed.It would be "absurd" to hold another vote on the PM's Brexit deal before attempting further talks with the EU, Boris Johnson has claimed.
Writing in the Daily Telegraph, the leading Brexiteer said it was "not too late" to get changes to the deal, with EU leaders due to meet on Thursday.Writing in the Daily Telegraph, the leading Brexiteer said it was "not too late" to get changes to the deal, with EU leaders due to meet on Thursday.
But security minister Ben Wallace said Mr Johnson and other opponents of the deal were "ignoring the facts".But security minister Ben Wallace said Mr Johnson and other opponents of the deal were "ignoring the facts".
The PM's plan is expected to be voted on for a third time in the coming days.The PM's plan is expected to be voted on for a third time in the coming days.
But the BBC's political editor Laura Kuenssberg said the situation remained highly unpredictable.But the BBC's political editor Laura Kuenssberg said the situation remained highly unpredictable.
She said it was "eminently feasible" the PM would delay a vote until after the EU summit at the end of this week - where European leaders will discuss a UK request to extend the process and to delay Brexit and for how long.She said it was "eminently feasible" the PM would delay a vote until after the EU summit at the end of this week - where European leaders will discuss a UK request to extend the process and to delay Brexit and for how long.
What's the current state of play?What's the current state of play?
Last week, MPs rejected Theresa May's deal for a second time - this time by 149 votes - and then backed plans to rule out leaving the EU without a deal.Last week, MPs rejected Theresa May's deal for a second time - this time by 149 votes - and then backed plans to rule out leaving the EU without a deal.
They also voted in favour of an extension to the process - either until 30 June, if the deal is supported before 20 March; or a longer one that could include taking part in European elections if MPs reject her plan again.They also voted in favour of an extension to the process - either until 30 June, if the deal is supported before 20 March; or a longer one that could include taking part in European elections if MPs reject her plan again.
All 27 EU member states would have to agree to an extension.All 27 EU member states would have to agree to an extension.
The BBC's Europe editor Katya Adler said there were growing divisions about the length of any delay or what conditions should be attached.The BBC's Europe editor Katya Adler said there were growing divisions about the length of any delay or what conditions should be attached.
Are Tory MPs changing their minds?Are Tory MPs changing their minds?
The possibility of Brexit being delayed or overturned in another referendum has seen some MPs reluctantly back Mrs May's deal.The possibility of Brexit being delayed or overturned in another referendum has seen some MPs reluctantly back Mrs May's deal.
A group of 15 Tory MPs from Leave-backing constituencies, including former Brexit Secretary David Davis, wrote a letter urging colleagues to back the deal to ensure Brexit goes ahead.A group of 15 Tory MPs from Leave-backing constituencies, including former Brexit Secretary David Davis, wrote a letter urging colleagues to back the deal to ensure Brexit goes ahead.
But so far the number of Tories publicly switching positions falls far short of the 75 MPs Mrs May needs to switch sides.But so far the number of Tories publicly switching positions falls far short of the 75 MPs Mrs May needs to switch sides.
Mr Johnson, writing in his weekly Daily Telegraph column, said that further changes were needed to the Irish backstop in Mrs May's withdrawal agreement to break the impasse in Parliament.Mr Johnson, writing in his weekly Daily Telegraph column, said that further changes were needed to the Irish backstop in Mrs May's withdrawal agreement to break the impasse in Parliament.
He said the backstop arrangement left the UK vulnerable to "an indefinite means of blackmail" by the EU.
"If we agree this deal - and unless we have a radical change in our approach to the negotiations - we face an even greater humiliation in the second phase," he said."If we agree this deal - and unless we have a radical change in our approach to the negotiations - we face an even greater humiliation in the second phase," he said.
EU leaders have said they will not renegotiate the withdrawal agreement.EU leaders have said they will not renegotiate the withdrawal agreement.
Former cabinet minister John Redwood said he was also not shifting position, pointing out that legally the UK was still due to leave the EU on 29 March.Former cabinet minister John Redwood said he was also not shifting position, pointing out that legally the UK was still due to leave the EU on 29 March.
"If Parliament wants us not to leave on 29 March, it has to change the law," he told Radio 4's Today programme. Mr Wallace, who backed Boris Johnson for the leadership in 2016, said he "strongly urged" him to support the deal and "not to ignore the facts placed before him".
But Mr Wallace, who backed Boris Johnson for the leadership in 2016, said he "strongly urged" him to back the deal and "not to ignore the facts placed before him".
"I know Boris is passionate about leaving the EU and if he is passionate, he will recognise that voting for this deal is the way to deliver Brexit," he said."I know Boris is passionate about leaving the EU and if he is passionate, he will recognise that voting for this deal is the way to deliver Brexit," he said.
Jacob Rees-Mogg, chair of the European Research Group of Tory Brexiteers, said he was "waiting to see" whether the Democratic Unionists would swing round behind the deal before deciding which way to vote.
But he said he still believed leaving without any agreement was the "best option", telling LBC "it means... we will have restored our nation's independence".
What about the DUP and Labour?What about the DUP and Labour?
Speaking on Sunday, Chancellor Philip Hammond said the deal would only return to the Commons if it had support from the 10 MPs from the Democratic Unionist Party. Senior ministers have indicated the deal will only return to the Commons if it has the support of the DUP's 10 MPs, whose prop up the Conservative government.
Negotiations with the DUP, whose MPs prop up the Tory government, are expected to continue on Monday, although Downing Street said a formal meeting to try and get them on board was not scheduled. Negotiations with the Northern Irish party are expected to continue on Monday, although Downing Street said a formal meeting to try and get them on board was not scheduled.
DUP MLA Jim Wells told Today the party still had a "huge difficulty" with the existing backstop arrangements - designed to prevent a hard border on the island of Ireland but which opponents say will separate Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK.DUP MLA Jim Wells told Today the party still had a "huge difficulty" with the existing backstop arrangements - designed to prevent a hard border on the island of Ireland but which opponents say will separate Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK.
He said: "We could find ourselves locked in there forever in effect - and once you get in, you can never get out."He said: "We could find ourselves locked in there forever in effect - and once you get in, you can never get out."
Meanwhile, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn will have a series of meetings with other Westminster leaders and some influential backbenchers in an effort to find a cross-party compromise.Meanwhile, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn will have a series of meetings with other Westminster leaders and some influential backbenchers in an effort to find a cross-party compromise.