Theresa May is being urged to secure\n changes from the EU to the Northern Irish backstop as part of her \nBrexit deal to get it past parliament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ex-foreign secretary Boris Johnson says winning a \u201cfreedom clause\u201d would be \u201cunadulterated good Brexit news\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
MPs on Tuesday will vote on a series of amendments to the PM\u2019s plans that could shape the future direction of Brexit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But the Irish deputy PM says changes to the backstop \u2013 aimed at preventing a hard border \u2013 would not be acceptable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The backstop plan \u2013 a fallback position to avoid the return of \ncustoms checks at the Irish border if the UK fails to agree a deal with \nthe EU \u2013 is a major sticking point for opponents of Mrs May\u2019s withdrawal\n agreement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It has proved unpopular with many Brexit-supporting Conservative MPs who are concerned that it could tie the UK to many EU rules indefinitely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After Mrs May\u2019s deal was rejected in the Commons on 15 January by 432\n votes to 202, opposition and backbench MPs have been tabling \namendments to the plans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While MPs will not deliver their final verdict on the deal on Tuesday, they will vote on the amendments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One that has the backing of senior Tory Sir Graham Brady, the \nchairman of the backbench 1922 Committee, calls for the backstop to be \nreplaced by \u201calternative arrangements\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Speaking on BBC Radio 4\u2019s Westminster Hour, Sir Graham said it was \nthe \u201ckind of compromise [way] forward that can actually attract the \nsupport of a majority in the House of Commons. I hope it will and \ndemonstrate in terms to the EU there is a way forward for the withdrawal\n agreement.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Brexiteers say if the non-binding amendment is passed it will give the PM more leeway to win concessions from the EU.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Writing in the Daily Telegraph, Mr Johnson suggested\u00a0Mrs May could get the EU to change the text of her agreement to include an expiry date for the backstop, or include a mechanism allowing the UK to unilaterally withdraw from it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mr Johnson said: \u201cIf the PM secures that change \u2013 a proper UK-sized \nperforation in the fabric of the backstop itself \u2013 I have no doubt that \nshe will have the whole country full-throatedly behind her.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the architects of the Good Friday Agreement, Lord Bew, told \nBBC Radio 4\u2019s Today programme that the backstop must be made \u201cexplicitly\n temporary and in legally binding terms\u201d in order to avoid undermining \nthe Agreement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said: \u201cThere is a conflict, the backstop advertises itself as defending the Good Friday Agreement in all its aspects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut you only have to look at what it says about agriculture\u2026 and you\n will see that you have a totally different top-down approach to dealing\n with matters of agriculture concern north and south to that in the Good\n Friday Agreement, where incidentally it\u2019s the very top item for \nco-operation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reiterating earlier comments that the EU would not ratify a deal \nwithout the backstop being included, the Irish Republic\u2019s deputy prime \nminister and foreign minister Simon Coveney said: \u201cEven in a no-deal \nBrexit situation every party and every MP in the UK will have a \nresponsibility to ensure there is no return to a hard border and \nNorthern Ireland is protected.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He added: \u201cThe EU has been clear that the backstop is an integral part of the withdrawal agreement.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n