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Courtesy of the Telegraph
Jean-Claude Juncker fears Theresa May’s Government could collapse next week if Brexit talks remain deadlocked, The Telegraph has learnt. The European Commission president will extend the deadline for Mrs May to settle a dispute over the Irish border to the eve of an EU leaders’ summit next Thursday to maximise her chances of success. It comes as Mrs May’s own MPs warned her she could be toppled “within weeks” if she comes back from Brussels next week without an agreement that trade talks can begin.
Meanwhile, Leo Varadkar, the Irish prime minister, revealed on Wednesday night that Mrs May hoped to offer a new version of the Irish border agreement either later that night or on Thursday. The Irish border agreement - which would have meant the UK agreeing to "regulatory alignment" between Northern Ireland and the Republic to avoid a hard border - fell apart on Monday after the proposals were rejected by the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP.) However, Mr Varadkar revealed during a joint press conference in Dublin with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte on Wednesday night that talks were now back on track following a phone call with the prime minister.
Irish leader Leo Varadkar says there is much less room to manoeuvre now in Brexit talks "Having consulted with people in London, she wants to come back to us with some text tonight or tomorrow," he continued. "I expressed my willingness to move forward as well... because I want us to move on to phase two [trade talks] if that is possible next week."Mr Varadkar and Mr Rutte made clear the EU would not compromise and allow the Irish border to be kicked down the road to phase two of the talks, even under threat of Britain crashing out with no deal or divorce negotiations dragging on to 2018.
Mr Rutte said they "will not loosen" their position on the "fundamental" points of citizens' rights, the exit bill and the border, adding that a hard Brexit would have an "infinitely" bigger impact on the UK than the EU. Downing Street said Mrs May, who also spoke with DUP leader Arlene Foster, told Mr Varadkar she was "working hard to find a specific solution to the unique circumstances in Northern Ireland" and was committed to "moving together to achieve a positive result on this".
