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As it happenedended

Theresa May rules out replacing Irish backstop in EU deal after Brussels trip revealed

Follow live updates from Westminster

Benjamin Kentish
Political Correspondent
Tuesday 05 February 2019 11:30 EST
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Jeremy Hunt admits the government may need 'extra time' if a Brexit deal is agreed

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Theresa May has risked a fresh clash with Tory MPs after saying she is not planning to replace the controversial Northern Ireland backstop.

The prime minister had agreed to consider "alternative arrangements" in a bid to win over Eurosceptic rebels but, speaking in Belfast, suggested she was focused on trying to change the backstop rather than replace it.

It comes after Downing Street confirmed Ms May will travel to Brussels on Thursday to meet European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker in a bid to secure fresh compromises on the backstop, desipte the EU having insisted that it will not reopen negotiations.

As it happened...

May says she knows it is a "concerning time" for people in Northern Ireland but promises:

"We will find a way to deliver Brexit that honours our commitments to Northern Ireland."

She also re-iterates her desire to restore devolution to the Stormont assembly.

Benjamin Kentish5 February 2019 15:23

Theresa May has finished her speech.

Answering questions from the media, she says she is not asking people to support a deal that does not include a backstop or a similar insurance policy, but says there needs to be changes to the current proposal.

It is the potentially indefinite nature of the backstop that MPs are most opposed to, she says, adding that this could be solved through "alternative arrangements" for maintaining an open border or through legally binding guarantees from the EU.

Benjamin Kentish5 February 2019 15:26

Benjamin Kentish5 February 2019 15:32
Benjamin Kentish5 February 2019 15:48

Downing Street has just announced that Theresa May will meet Donald Tusk, president of the European Council, in Brussels on Thursday, as well as holding talks with European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker. 

Benjamin Kentish5 February 2019 16:12

NEW: The Charity Commission has issued an official warning to the Institute for Economic Affairs after accusing the right-wing think tank of breaking rules on political campaigning.

It says a recent report on the UK after Brexit should be considered as "campaigning and political activity that contravenes legal and regulatory requirements".

Benjamin Kentish5 February 2019 16:49

That's all for today's live coverage - thanks for following.

Benjamin Kentish5 February 2019 17:12

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