UK PM May Urges Lawmakers to Convey Message to Brussels on Brexit Deal – Reuters

By Kylie MacLellan, William James, and Elizabeth Piper

LONDON – British Prime Minister Theresa May is set to urge Conservative Party lawmakers to signal their willingness to support her Brexit deal, provided an alternative to the current plan to avoid a hard border in Ireland is proposed.

The Parliament is gearing up to influence the trajectory of the UK’s departure from the European Union by debating and voting on potential changes to May’s deal. With just two months remaining until the scheduled exit date of March 29, uncertainty persists in London regarding the terms of departure, especially following an overwhelming parliamentary rejection of May’s initial plan.

On Tuesday, May will address lawmakers before an extensive debate tailored to outline her future strategies and advocate for reforms to the agreement with the EU, particularly concerning the controversial backstop aimed at preventing a hard border on the island of Ireland.

Despite May’s determination, EU officials have consistently maintained that they are unwilling to revisit the Withdrawal Agreement, which has already received approval from the other 27 member nations. They insist on robust guarantees to prevent the re-establishment of a hard border between Ireland and Northern Ireland.

According to May’s spokesperson, her cabinet has supported her approach. The spokesperson mentioned that addressing the House of Commons legally necessitates changes to the backstop, which would entail reopening the Withdrawal Agreement.

However, it remains uncertain whether lawmakers will endorse the amendment proposed by senior Conservative Graham Brady, which seeks to remove the backstop and replace it with “alternative arrangements.” Voting is scheduled to commence in the evening.

These votes do not replicate the earlier January approval vote for May’s Brexit deal but serve as a means to assess the necessary adjustments that could garner parliamentary support, enabling the Prime Minister to renegotiate with the EU.

In addition, other lawmakers are considering ways to take control of the Brexit process from the government, with the Labour Party supporting efforts by Labour member Yvette Cooper, boosting its chances for success.

Moreover, a coalition of pro-EU and pro-Brexit Conservative lawmakers is working on a new strategy that would present two options to the EU: renegotiating the backstop or, if that fails, departing under World Trade Organization regulations by the end of 2021.

If significant backing for the Brady amendment materializes, it would empower May to convey to the EU that adjustments to the backstop could secure parliamentary approval for her deal. Former Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson expressed on Twitter that he would back the Brady amendment if the Prime Minister indicated a commitment to pressing the EU for changes.

EU Deputy Chief Negotiator Sabine Weyand remarked that the bloc is open to discussing alternative arrangements concerning the Irish border, but noted that Brady’s proposal does not clarify what these alternatives might be.

While support for Brady’s amendment is uncertain, key pro-Brexit Conservative figures are still deliberating their stance. The small Northern Irish party supporting May’s government but opposing her deal indicated that the Prime Minister’s address to Parliament would influence its decision regarding the amendment.

Lawmakers are set to debate over 10 distinct amendments, but only a select few are anticipated to be brought to a vote. In addition to Brady’s proposition, a competing amendment from Cooper is expected to gain considerable support. Cooper’s proposal aims to shift Brexit control from May’s government to Parliament, potentially offering lawmakers a means to block, delay, or renegotiate Brexit.

If any subsequent legislation passes, it would grant May until February 26 to secure parliamentary approval for a deal or face a vote concerning whether to request an extension from the EU to prevent a no-deal exit on March 29.