Theresa May went to Brussels hoping that European leaders would come to the rescue of her deal. What transpired was rather different. What she wantedOlly Robbins, Theresa May’s chief Brexit negotiator, got European Union officials to make statements around the backstop, which the prime minister hoped would show that Europe was prepared to listen to MPs’ concerns on the issue which has proved so contentious. A draft text negotiated on Wednesday noted: “The backstop does not represent a desirable outcome for the Union. If the backstop were nevertheless to be triggered, it would only be in place for a short period.”Critically for Mrs May, she had secured, before the summit, a commitment that the EU “stands ready to examine whether any further assurance can…

Source: The Times December 15, 2018 00:01 UTC