Those discussions about the backstop probably won’t last long.
With Theresa May set to address the widely circulated reports that she’s set to cancel Tuesday’s scheduled vote on her Brexit deal, Leo Varadkar has definitively stated that it’s not possible to renegotiate the Irish backstop proposal without “opening up all aspects” of the Brexit withdrawal agreement.
News of the cancellation of the vote was reported by Bloomberg shortly before noon on Monday.
Regarding these reports, the Taoiseach said: “It is not possible to reopen any aspect of that agreement without reopening all aspects of it” and that the Irish government had “already offered a lot of concessions along the way” which had the support and backing of the other 26 EU member states.
Elsewhere, Guy Verhofstadt, the European Parliament’s representative in the Brexit negotiations, has stressed that the EU ‘will never let the Irish down’ when it comes to any negotiations regarding the backstop.
“I can’t follow anymore. After two years of negotiations, the Tory government wants to delay the vote. Just keep in mind that we will never let the Irish down. This delay will further aggravate the uncertainty for people & businesses. It’s time they make up their mind!,” said Verhofstadt.
I can’t follow anymore. After two years of negotiations, the Tory government wants to delay the vote. Just keep in mind that we will never let the Irish down. This delay will further aggravate the uncertainty for people & businesses. It’s time they make up their mind! #brexit
— Guy Verhofstadt (@guyverhofstadt) December 10, 2018
The DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds also said this reported delay was a “humiliation” that Theresa May has brought onto herself.
Earlier on Monday morning, the European Court of Justice ruled that the UK can unilaterally revoke Article 50, which triggers the Brexit withdrawal process.
With Britain’s exit from the EU scheduled to go ahead in a little over three months’ time, there is speculation that a defeat for May’s withdrawal proposal in the House of Commons could result in anything from renegotiation with the EU to a possible second Brexit referendum.
The British prime minister is set to address MPs at the House of Commons on Monday afternoon.
Here’s what Varadkar and Dodds had to say on the issue.
Taoiseach: "The Withdrawal Agreement, including the Irish backstop, is the only agreement on the table." | https://t.co/nwpBAGYgWV pic.twitter.com/d7NVfjhFnM
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) December 10, 2018
“Nothing surprises me any more in this place… It’s a bit of a humiliation for her, and one she has brought upon herself” DUP Westminster leader Nigel Dodds on PM and #Brexit vote #politicslive https://t.co/p1LcJ3nNoE pic.twitter.com/kECN65GOu6
— BBC Politics (@BBCPolitics) December 10, 2018
I can’t follow anymore. After two years of negotiations, the Tory government wants to delay the vote. Just keep in mind that we will never let the Irish down. This delay will further aggravate the uncertainty for people & businesses. It’s time they make up their mind! #brexit
— Guy Verhofstadt (@guyverhofstadt) December 10, 2018
“Nothing surprises me any more in this place… It’s a bit of a humiliation for her, and one she has brought upon herself” DUP Westminster leader Nigel Dodds on PM and #Brexit vote #politicslive https://t.co/p1LcJ3nNoE pic.twitter.com/kECN65GOu6
— BBC Politics (@BBCPolitics) December 10, 2018
MPs had been due to discuss how the deal affects the union later on Monday.
I can’t follow anymore. After two years of negotiations, the Tory government wants to delay the vote. Just keep in mind that we will never let the Irish down. This delay will further aggravate the uncertainty for people & businesses. It’s time they make up their mind! #brexit
— Guy Verhofstadt (@guyverhofstadt) December 10, 2018
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