Theresa May could hold a new 'meaningful vote' on her Brexit deal as soon as next week if she can seal an agreement on the backstop, it was claimed today.
The Prime Minister - who lost the first vote by a humiliating 230 votes last month - will fly to Brussels later for a new round of talks on changing the deal.
Ahead of the talks, EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has warned there is still not enough movement to secure a deal.
But hopes are rising of some kind of agreement. Attorney General Geoffrey Cox is working on a legal 'codicil' to the deal setting out the current backstop will not last forever - something critics fear.
Mrs May is battling to keep her Brexiteer rebels on board and met senior MPs last night to sooth anger over claims the so-called 'Malthouse Compromise' was being dropped.
The PM told them the plan - to replace the current border backstop with a technology-based solution - is still under development despite ministers accepting it will not be ready in time to approve the deal before exit day.
Theresa May (pictured with Jean Claude Juncker two weeks ago) could hold a new 'meaningful vote' on her Brexit deal as soon as next week if she can seal an agreement on the backstop, it was claimed today
Mrs May is battling to keep her Brexiteer rebels (including Steve Baker, pictured) on board and met senior MPs last night to sooth anger over claims the so-called 'Malthouse Compromise' was being dropped
Once it is published, Mrs May could call the new vote next week, the Telegraph said.
The so-called Irish border backstop is one of the most controversial parts of the PM's Brexit deal. This is what it means:
What is the backstop?
The backstop was invented to meet promises to keep open the border between Ireland and Northern Ireland even if there is no comprehensive UK-EU trade deal.
The divorce deal says it will kick in automatically at the end of the Brexit transition if that deal is not in place.
If effectively keeps the UK in a customs union with the EU and Northern Ireland in both the customs union and single market.
This means many EU laws will keep being imposed on the UK and there can be no new trade deals. It also means regulatory checks on some goods crossing the Irish Sea.
Why have Ireland and the EU demanded it?
Because Britain demanded to leave the EU customs union and single market, the EU said it needed guarantees people and goods circulating inside met EU rules.
This is covered by the Brexit transition, which effectively maintains current rules, and can in theory be done in the comprehensive EU-UK trade deal.
But the EU said there had to be a backstop to cover what happens in any gap between transition and final deal.
Why do critics hate it?
Because Britain cannot decide when to leave the backstop.
Getting out - even if there is a trade deal - can only happen if both sides agree people and goods can freely cross the border.
Brexiteers fear the EU will unreasonably demand the backstop continues so EU law continues to apply in Northern Ireland.
Northern Ireland MPs also hate the regulatory border in the Irish Sea, insisting it unreasonably carves up the United Kingdom.
What concessions did Britain get in negotiating it?
During the negotiations, Britain persuaded Brussels the backstop should apply to the whole UK and not just Northern Ireland. Importantly, this prevents a customs border down the Irish Sea - even if some goods still need to be checked.
