Theresa May to reopen Brexit negotiations amid backstop row

Theresa May’s authority has suffered yet another blow as the government scrapped the planned vote on her controversial Brexit deal.

In a chaotic day in Westminster, the Prime Minister pulled the vote planned for Tuesday evening after realising she was in line for a huge defeat at the hands of her own party.

May is set to embark on a tour of European capitals and hold meetings with EU leaders later this week in a bid to get more assurances over the controversial backstop agreement.

Many MPs are opposed to the backstop as it would see the UK unable to leave the EU’s customs union without agreement from Brussels.

Sterling sank to its lowest level against the dollar since April 2017 as May announced the delay, falling by almost two cents to $1.2608.

Speaking in the Commons, May was clear that despite the opposition to the backstop, such a mechanism would have to be part of any deal with the EU.

She instead hoped MPs could be given a greater role in when the backstop is triggered.

May said: “I spoke to a number of EU leaders over the weekend, and in advance of the European council I will go to see my counterparts in other member states and the leadership of the council and the commission.

“I will discuss with them the clear concerns that this House has expressed.

“We are also looking closely at new ways of empowering the House of Commons to ensure that any provision for a backstop has democratic legitimacy and to enable the House to place its own obligations on the government to ensure that the backstop cannot be in place indefinitely.”

In a move likely to pile even more pressure on May, European Commission president Donald Tusk tweeted while the Prime Minister was still speaking in the Commons: "We will not renegotiate the deal, including the backstop, but we are ready to discuss how to facilitate UK ratification. As time is running out, we will also discuss our preparedness for a no-deal scenario."

Despite Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn accusing the government of being in “complete disarray”, the opposition is not tabling a vote of no confidence in the government.

A Labour spokesperson said: “We will put down a motion of no confidence when we judge it most likely to be successful.”

The day of drama began with environment secretary Michael Gove insisting the vote was still due to be held, despite more than 100 Tories vowing to block the deal.

At just after 11am, the PM’s official spokeswomen said the PM was confident she would be able to win the vote.

But at 11.30am, as May held a conference call with her Cabinet, it was reported the vote was going to be pulled in the face of a large-scale rebellion.

Business leaders reacted with frustration to the delay, with Stephen Martin, director general of the Institute of Directors, saying it added to the “uncertainty” around Brexit.

He added: “While we wish the Government well in their attempts to seek further assurances about the backstop, the clock is ticking and one of the only things we know for certain is that our exit date has been written into UK law for next March.

“The concern among businesses is clear, with two-thirds of our members saying a no-deal Brexit would be negative for their organisation.”

In a packed-out Commons, May repeatedly refused to answer when the vote on the withdrawal agreement would take place, with Downing Street later confirming no date had been earmarked.