High risk of UK crashing out says EU negotiator

The EU's deputy chief negotiator Sabine Weyand has said on Monday that there was "full ownership of what was agreed" in the EU, but "no ownership" of it in the UK Parliament - she warned that there was high risk of the UK crashing out of the EU without a deal by accident.

She said it was a challenge to see how a majority for any deal could be built among MPs. "The EU side is in agreement that a time-limit to the Irish backstop defeats the purpose of having one."

It comes as Theresa May addressed a meeting of Tory MPs, the day before all MPs vote on a series of amendments to the PM's plans that could shape the future direction of Brexit.

The Irish backstop, the "insurance policy" in the withdrawal deal, has been the controversial sticking point. It is intended to ensure that whatever else happens, there will be no return to a visible border between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic after the UK leaves the EU.

Both the UK and the EU believe that bringing back border checks could put the peace process at risk.

But the current wording of the backstop plan has proved unpopular with many Brexit-supporting Conservative MPs who are concerned that it could tie the UK to many EU rules indefinitely.

Speaking at an event in Brussels, deputy to the EU's chief negotiator Michel Barnier, said other options for the Irish border had been extensively discussed and referred to the months-long negotiations with her UK counterparts.

She said that a lot of the discussion of the withdrawal agreement in the UK was "uninhibited by any knowledge" of what it contained.

EU leaders were concerned about extending the two-year Article 50 process; she said because Brexit was "eating up the political energy" for solving other issues.

She added that May's secrecy and reliance on a small group of people had been a "handicap" in getting support for the deal.

She added, "There is a very high risk of a crash-out, not by design, but by accident... the crash-out is the only scenario that does not require anyone to take any action or take any decisions."

Meanwhile, May is being urged to secure changes from the EU to the Northern Irish backstop as part of her Brexit deal to get it past Parliament.

Ex-foreign secretary Boris Johnson says winning a "freedom clause" would be "unadulterated good Brexit news".

But the Irish deputy PM Simon Coveney says changes to the backstop, aimed at preventing a hard border, would not be acceptable.

The DUP's Brexit spokesman Sammy Wilson called on the government to "be tough" and "face down the stubbornness of Dublin and Brussels".

"It's time for the Irish to work constructively and advocate for a sensible trading arrangement with their biggest market in Great Britain," he said.

Since May's deal was rejected in the Commons on 15 January by 432 votes to 202, opposition and backbench MPs have been tabling amendments to the plans.

While MPs will not deliver their final verdict on the deal on Tuesday, they will vote on the amendments and, if one is passed, show the PM what changes to the deal might be enough to get a modified version of the deal through Parliament.

The prime minister's official spokesman said it would be followed "as soon as possible" by a second meaningful vote on whatever deal has been secured with Brussels.

"The prime minister is committed to leaving the EU with a deal, but clearly if we are to obtain parliamentary support for that deal some changes are going to have to be made," the spokesman said.

One amendment that has the backing of senior Tory Graham Brady, the chairman of the backbench 1922 Committee, calls for the backstop to be replaced by "alternative arrangements".

Speaking on BBC Graham said, "I'm hoping that the way in which the amendment is crafted, it can attract that very broad support. And if we can win the vote on my amendment, I think it gives the prime minister enormous firepower."

He said the looming exit date is helping to "focus minds", adding, "I think we've already seen across the European Union a little bit more flexibility and a little creativity creeping in."