May reveals she WILL demand Brussels removes the backstop

Theresa May bowed to Tory rebels today by declaring she will effectively tear up her Brexit plan - and negotiate a new backstop. 

The PM told Cabinet she will demand the Withdrawal Agreement is reopened as she faces a series of knife-edge votes that could decide the country's future.

The concession came after Boris Johnson and Jacob Rees-Mogg signalled they will only support a Downing Street-backed amendment tonight if Mrs May made the pledge. 

The premier had been dodging explicitly saying the package she had thrashed out with Brussels would be fundamentally changed - instead suggesting there could be 'legally binding' add-ons.

She told ministers today that legal changes to the Irish backstop - an insurance policy designed to avoid the need for a hard border - will be required. 

'That will mean reopening the withdrawal agreement,' she told Cabinet.

She also made clear she is pinning her hopes on an amendment tabled by senior Tory MP Sir Graham Brady, which would endorse her deal as long as the backstop is replaced with 'alternative arrangements'.

There have been fears that Speaker John Bercow - who has so far been deeply unhelpful to the government - might not even select the proposal if it did not get more support. 

Conservative Eurosceptics had dismissed the change, but are now expected to get on board along with the DUP - giving it a real chance of success. 

They now see it as a path to a so-called 'Plan C' hammered out with pro-EU Tories, which would involve demanding a much looser backstop, and asking for a longer transition period if that could not be agreed.

Meanwhile, Mrs May is facing a desperate struggle to stop cross-party Remainers paving the way for a Brexit delay this evening, after Labour said it will back another amendment tabled by former minister Yvette Cooper. 





MailOnline