Theresa May/ Jean-Claude Juncker (Image: NC)
In a BBC interview, Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright indicated that the Prime Minister was looking at adding a time limit to the so-called “backstop” border proposal by attaching a legal supplement to her EU Withdrawal Agreement. Such a move is likely to be seen as falling short of the redrafting of key passages in the 585-page document to rip out the backstop demanded by Brexiteers in his party. Supporters of leading backbench Tory Eurosceptic Jacob Rees-Mogg’s 100-strong European Research Group last night signalled that Theresa May could face another crushing Commons defeat if she did not deliver a fully revamped deal. The latest spat over the Brexit negotiations erupted despite a plea from the Prime Minister in a letter to all 317 Tory MPs appealing for party unity.
Mr Wright ignited irritation among Brexiteers by refusing to rule out the addition of a legal “codicil” to the Withdrawal Agreement during an interview on the BBC1 Andrew Marr Show yesterday
“I don’t think it’s the mechanism that matters, it’s the objective,” the Cabinet minister said.
“If you can get to a place where the potential longevity of the backstop, the potential that the backstop lasts forever can be adequately dealt with, that’s what we’re all seeking to do.
“That’s what parliament’s been very clear that it wants; it will back this deal if we can do something about the backstop.
“The mechanism is what we’re discussing at the moment, but Parliament needs to give the prime minister the space to go and have that conversation with Brussels, to see what we can achieve.
Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright (Image: Getty)
“And if we can do something about that, then I think it’s very clear that Parliament will be prepared to support this deal.”
He added: "I think what's obvious is that Parliament, and I think probably people well beyond Parliament, are concerned about the potential indefinite nature of the backstop - that's what we've got to do something about.
"If this is the only way of doing it then that's the way we will pursue. If there are other ways of doing it that are just as effective that perhaps we haven't yet explored then we will do that too."
Steve Baker, deputy chairman of the European Research
