Brexit deal: Theresa May prepares for Brussels trip in last ditch bid to secure changes

Theresa May is set to visit Brussels this weekend in an attempt to clinch changes to her Brexit deal ahead of a crunch Commons vote next week.

The prime minister is expected to meet senior EU figures following negotiations over the last fortnight, as she desperately seeks tweaks in a bid to win the support of backbench Tory Brexiteers.

Ms May also announced measures to shore up post-Brexit workers’ rights, designed to maximise support for her deal among Labour MPs.

Brexit secretary Stephen Barclay and attorney general Geoffrey Cox had a dinner with chief EU negotiator Michel Barnier for the first time on Tuesday evening following meetings.

Mr Cox has been heading UK efforts to secure an additional legal instrument to the existing withdrawal agreement, which would underline the temporary nature of the Irish backstop so hated by Ms May’s Eurosceptic backbenchers.

The suggestion that the prime minister is ready to visit Brussels herself on Sunday, indicates some kind of new agreement has been reached, though officials were still playing down expectations on Tuesday.

If Ms May is to secure any revisions to her Brexit deal she must lock them in this weekend, as MPs will have an opportunity to vote on whether to approve or reject them by Tuesday at latest.

The prime minister’s chances of securing a victory in that vote rest on her convincing the Tory backbench European Research Group (ERG) and her Northern Irish DUP partners in government that the UK will not be trapped in the Irish backstop.

The backstop is an arrangement to ensure no hard border is erected on the island of Ireland. It comes into force if no new trading arrangement is struck between the UK and EU by the end of 2020 and it would see Britain potentially locked against its will into a customs union with the bloc.

The ERG and the DUP have formed a group of legal experts to judge whether any alterations secured by the prime minister allow the UK a route out of the backstop.

Ms May’s new plan to give parliament a vote on adopting future EU rules on workers’ rights was also set out last night as she sought to woo Labour Brexiteers.

The prime minister said: “After Brexit it should be for parliament to decide what rules are most appropriate, rather than automatically accepting EU changes.

“When it comes to workers’ rights this parliament has set world-leading standards and will continue to do so in the future, taking its own decisions working closely with trade unions and businesses.”

The new plan would see parliament given the right through the Withdrawal Agreement Bill to consider future changes in EU law that strengthen workers’ rights or health and safety standards and vote on whether they should be adopted into UK law.

MPs, trade unions and business groups would then be given regular updates on any changes in EU legislation.

The new process would start with two EU directives coming into force after the UK leaves, including one that introduces new rights for parents, including two months of paid leave for each parent until the child is eight and also five days of leave for those caring for sick relatives.

But Ms May’s approach was criticised by several unions including the TUC, with general secretary Frances O’Grady saying: “These are flimsy procedural tweaks. They come nowhere close to ensuring existing rights are protected. And they won’t stop workers’ rights in the UK from falling behind those in the rest of Europe.

“What’s more, there’s nothing to stop a future right-wing government tearing up this legislation altogether. MPs must not be taken in by this blatant window dressing.”

Unison general secretary Dave Prentis accused Ms May of trying to hoodwink MPs, saying: “Any guarantees about protecting existing and ensuring future employment rights must be in the prime minister’s withdrawal agreement.

“Anything less, and the promises aren’t worth the paper they’re written on.”