Theresa May fails to win concessions on withdrawal agreement during meeting with Jean-Claude Juncker

Theresa May and EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker last night discussed possible "guarantees" and "legal assurances" that could be established in relation to the controversial Irish border backstop protocol that has dogged the PM's efforts to pass her Withdrawal Agreement.

However, May failed to win concessions on her bid to reopen the Withdrawal Agreement in full, meaning any changes would be in the form of a supplementary resolution.

The current plan – designed to avoid a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic – would see the UK effectively stay in the EU’s customs union if a trade deal is not ready to be implemented after the transition period.

Many Tories are against the proposal as it has no time limit and the UK would not be able to exit the arrangement unilaterally.

A joint statement issued after the meeting made no mention of changes to the Withdrawal Agreement itself – something many Conservative MPs are demanding – with a focus instead on the future relationship between the UK and EU.

The statement said May and Juncker met to “take stock” of the current situation, and their discussions covered “which guarantees could be given with regard to the backstop that underline once again its temporary nature and give the appropriate legal assurance to both sides.”

The statement confirmed the so-called Malthouse Compromise supported by many pro-Brexit Tories – which would see the backstop replaced by “alternative arrangements” based on technology to uphold customs laws – is effectively dead, saying such a plan could only have a role “ in replacing the backstop in future”.

It concluded: “The two leaders agreed that talks had been constructive, and they urged their respective teams to continue to explore the options in a positive spirit. They will review progress again in the coming days, seized of the tight timescale and the historic significance of setting the EU and the UK on a path to a deep and unique future partnership.”

May is set to hold another vote in Parliament on her Brexit policy by the end of next Wednesday, even if a new deal with the EU has not been agreed.

MPs opposed to the government's negotiating strategy could use this vote to force the PM to seek an extension of the Article 50 negotiating period beyond March 29.