«Breaking News» Dominic Raab tells EU ditch Northern Ireland backstop demands or forget Brexit transition period

Dominic Raab said a time limit is not the only way Britain would accept an end to the Irish backstop today in a new hint at concessions to Brussels.

The Brexit Secretary appeared to concede to EU demands that the backstop - the arrangement that will apply to Northern Ireland if there is no full trade deal after the Brexit transition - must not automatically expire.

He told the BBC's Andrew Marr Britain would still not accept any backstop that last indefinitely. 

Dominic Raab (pictured on the Marr show today) said a time limit is not the only way Britain would accept an end to the Irish backstop today in a new hint at concessions to Brussels

The remarks suggests the backstop could now include language suggesting it would automatically stop once a comprehensive EU-UK trade deal was in place.

But dropping a time limit will anger Brexiteers already furious at new concessions, including the suggestion the Brexit transition could last beyond December 2020. 

Mr Raab attempted to calm nerves today by suggesting an extension could be as short as three months and only to ensure businesses only need to adjust to one set of rule changes at the end of transition and the start of a trade deal. 

Mr Raab told Marr: 'It could be time limited, there could be another mechanism. There needs to be something that allows us to control how long we are there for.

'We are open to ideas. Various ideas have floated around.

'What we can't do is allow ourselves to indefinitely stay in that limbo.'  

His Marr interview came after he suggested to the Daily Telegraph any extension would only be acceptable if the EU abandoned its backstop plans.  

Mr Raab's threat could wipe out any progress made in the Brexit talks at this week's tense EU summit.

The extension to Brexit transition is intended by the EU to make it easier for Mrs May to accept its version of the backstop by making it less likely it will ever be used - not to replace it. 

But writing in the Sunday Telegraph, Mr Raab said: 'The Prime Minister has rightly refused to rule out considering different approaches, including extending the implementation period for a limited period of a few months, as an alternative to the backstop.

'But we won't sacrifice Northern Ireland, and we must have finality to any backstop - whether through a time limit or a mechanism that enables the UK to leave, in case the EU doesn't live up to its promise to get the future relationship in place swiftly.' 

In his Marr interview (pictured), the Brexit Secretary appeared to concede to EU demands that the backstop - the arrangement that will apply to Northern Ireland if there is no full trade deal after the Brexit transition - must not automatically expire

France's Europe minister Nathalie Loiseau said what was needed was 'definitive answers or at least no temporary measures which disappear and we don't know what to do after' over the Irish border.

Pressed about whether a proposed backstop cannot be temporary, she told Marr: 'We need to have a British answer to what we have proposed - the ball is in London's court and we are waiting. It's about a question of weeks now until we are sure that we can have a good agreement.

'But on the Irish border issue, we agreed together - London and the 27 - that the situation has to be as similar as possible to the current one, meaning no hard border, no controls between Northern and southern Ireland, so there has to be a solution, but you cannot only rely on negotiation about the future relationship.'

Ms Loiseau said it is something which needs to be 'fixed by London' as the UK took the decision to leave the EU.

Talks have stalled over a disagreement over the backstop - an insurance policy to ensure there will be no return to a hard border in Ireland, a former focal point for sectarian tensions - if a future trading relationship is not in place in time.  

But so far the European Union has said the backstop of Ireland must remain in place to proceed with the divorce negotiations.

Mr Raab's threats come after Theresa May faced a fierce backlash across the Tory party for floating the idea of extending the transition period.

Mr Raab's deputy Suella Braverman told Sky News today Britain would accept an extended transition as the price for ending the Northern Ireland backstop impasse.

And Mr Raab said a time limit was not the only way for Britain to escape the backstop - conceding Britain would now accept a mechanism for ensuring it would not last forever instead. 

Mrs May (pictured today in Maidenhead) has suggested delaying the UK's final departure from the EU's until 2021 in a last ditch bid to end the deadlock over the border issue

Mr Raab's deputy Suella Braverman told Sky News today (pictured) Britain would accept an extended transition as the price for ending the Northern Ireland backstop impasse

Former party leader Iain Duncan Smith said such a move would see the UK paying 'tens of billions of pounds' extra to the EU.

Mrs May has suggested delaying the UK's final departure from the EU's until 2021 in a last ditch bid to end the deadlock over the border issue.

Following a tense summit in Brussels, Mrs May said Britain was not asking to extend the time it spends in the exit room - but that there could be a mechanism to prolong it once the detail of a trade deal was clear. 

The EU Commission President said the longer transition period was on offer to Britain to help deliver a free trade deal.

Mr Juncker said it was 'a good idea' and added 'this prolongation of the transition period probably will happen.' 

Theresa May insisted at the end of the latest summit failure Britain was not asking for a longer transition after Brexit day in March but admitted there could be a mechanism to extend it for a few months.

Endorsing the plan saw new calls for Mrs May to quit, with critics branding the idea 'mad' amid claims it could cost Britain an extra £15billion in EU subscription fees.  

EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said it was 'a good idea' and added 'this prolongation of the transition period probably will happen.'

What is the Brexit transition and how could it be extended?

What is the Brexit transition period?

The EU and UK agreed in March that there would be a 21-month transition after Brexit day on March 29, 2019. It is due to expire on December 31, 2020.

In the period Britain will still obey all EU rules without having any say in setting them, pay membership fees, and have the same trade terms.

The current plan has not yet been voted on in Parliament.

How long could it be extended?

There is a new proposal to extend transition for another few months, possibly to the end of 2021.

Why is there talk of extending it?

March's agreement also included a commitment to create a 'backstop' on the Irish border - a back up plan to ensure the border stays open in the absence of a long term trade deal.

There is a deep dispute over how this should work so the new suggestion is a longer transition could allow a full trade deal to be completed in time for the backstop never to be used.

The theory is this takes pressure off the exact form of the backstop, making it easier to agree and solving the last issue in the divorce deal.

Does anyone support extending it?

The EU says it is willing to adopt a longer transition if Britain asks for it.

Theresa May says Britain is not asking for a longer transition - but might accept a mechanism for extending the current transition.

Tory Brexiteers hate the idea, fearing it will just be extended again and again and leave Britain facing billions in extra charges.

Government sources tried to calm the row today by insisting an extension would only be acceptable if the EU accepted the UK's version of the backstop.

Would it solve the Irish problem?

Nobody knows. Both sides are still far apart on how the backstop will work and there is doubt a full trade deal can be finished even by the end of 2021.

What happens if transition is extended?

Britain would continue to follow all EU rules without having a say on how new ones are made - meaning continued free movement, European Court judgements and bills to Brussels.

Trade across the Channel would also continue under today's rules.

To be continued

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Main photo article Dominic Raab said a time limit is not the only way Britain would accept an end to the Irish backstop today in a new hint at concessions to Brussels.
The Brexit Secretary appeared to concede to EU demands that the backstop – the arrangement that will apply to Northern Ireland if there is no...

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