Britain believes there are ways to solve Brexit backstop
Britain believes there are a number of ways to achieve a so-called backstop arrangement for its only land border with the European Union and Prime Minister Theresa May is still confident of getting a Brexit deal, her spokesman said on Monday.
"There are a number of means of achieving what we want to achieve," he said, declining to give further details of the talks.
Her spokesman told reporters talks reached a stalemate at the weekend because the EU continued to insist on the backstop involving a border down the Irish Sea - something May has ruled out because she says it would break up the United Kingdom.
He also said May was planning to make a statement to parliament later on Monday on the failure of the weekend talks.
British Brexit minister Dominic Raab will hold talks with the European Union's chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, in Brussels later on Sunday, a diplomatic source said.A spokesman for Britain's Brexit ministry confirmed the meeting.Prime Minister Theresa May heads to Brussels on Wednesday for a summit when both sides want to sign off on a draft withdrawal agreement to set out the terms for Britain's divorce from the EU. DUP leader regards no-deal Brexit as 'likeliest outcome'May's team must force change in Brexit policy, says former minister
UK Brexit minister to hold talks with EU on Sunday
Prime Minister Theresa May's ministers should "exert their collective authority" to force a change in her Brexit strategy, former Brexit minister David Davis said on Sunday, stepping up pressure on Britain's leader.In an article in the Sunday Times newspaper, Davis again pressed May to abandon her proposal for leaving the European Union, saying the bloc "has rejected it. The public does not like it. Parliament will not vote for it".With less than six months before Britain leaves the EU in its biggest trade and foreign policy shift in more than 40 years, May is struggling to get backing for not only her vision for future ties with the bloc but also over a so-called backstop deal for Northern Ireland, one of the trickiest hurdles left.As Brexit talks progress, UK PM May struggles to find support at homeUnder pressure from parliamentary partner, UK's May meets ministersTalks with Brussels have been all but non-stop before a summit on Wednesday when the two sides hope to agree a draft withdrawal treaty to outline the divorce terms, including a transition agreement and a solution to Northern Ireland.Davis, who again criticised the government of which he was once part for accepting "the EU's language on dealing with the Northern Ireland border" in December, said it was now up to the so-called cabinet of top ministers to exert their influence."This is one of the most fundamental decisions that government has taken in modern times. It is time for cabinet members to exert their collective authority," Davis wrote."This week the authority of our constitution is on the line."Davis also said Britain should use the 39 billion pounds Britain has agreed in a financial settlement with the EU as the "biggest bargaining chip" to secure a beneficial future trading relationship with the bloc.DUP leader prefers no Brexit deal to EU 'annexation' of Northern IrelandBoris Johnson calls for PM May to ditch Brexit border backstop
May's team must force change in Brexit policy, says former minister
The head of the Northern Irish party that props up British Prime Minister Theresa May's Conservative government regards a no-deal Brexit as the "likeliest outcome", according to a leaked email seen by The Observer newspaper.The newspaper said Arlene Foster told Ashley Fox, leader of Conservative Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), over a dinner last week of her disappointment at a meeting with Michel Barnier, the French official leading the European Union's negotiating team."She described Barnier as being difficult and hostile in her meeting today," the leaked email cited by The Observer said. “AF said the DUP were ready for a no deal scenario, which she now believed was the likeliest one."The Observer said it was one of several emails it had seen that had been "leaked from the highest levels of government".DUP leader prefers no Brexit deal to EU 'annexation' of Northern IrelandBoris Johnson calls for PM May to ditch Brexit border backstopAs Brexit talks progress, UK PM May struggles to find support at home
DUP leader regards no-deal Brexit as 'likeliest outcome'
Brexit hardliner Boris Johnson, a former British foreign minister, called on Prime Minister Theresa May on Saturday to rebuff the European Union's demand for a special "backstop" deal to avoid a hard border in Ireland after Brexit."The only way to put things back on the right track is to ditch the backstop and then to chuck Chequers," Johnson wrote in an article for the Belfast News Letter, referring to a set of proposals formulated in July at May's Chequers country retreat.Johnson resigned over the Chequers plan, which envisages maintaining close ties with the EU on trade in goods after Brexit. As Brexit talks progress, UK PM May struggles to find support at home
Boris Johnson calls for PM May to ditch Brexit border backstop