Brexit news latest – Theresa May on collision course for Brussels 'firefight' as EU rubbishes PM's bid to kill backstop

The PM has vowed to fix the Irish backstop after uniting her party in last night's crunch Commons vote.

But Eurocrats have insisted the existing deal can't be rewritten – setting up a huge bust-up between Britain and the EU.

No10 is braced for a "firefight" as they scramble to convince Brussels to give ground with just two months left before Brexit.

And Brexiteers warned the EU that it risks causing a No Deal outcome by refusing to compromise.

After winning support for a plan to ditch the backstop proposal – designed to keep the Irish border open – the PM promised MPs she'd play hardball with Brussels.

Mrs May told the Commons: "We will now take this mandate forward and seek to obtain legally binding changes to the withdrawal agreement that deal with concerns on the backstop while guaranteeing no return to a hard border between Northern Ireland and Ireland.

"My colleagues and I will talk to the EU about how we address the house’s views.

"There is limited appetite for such a change in the EU and negotiating it will not be easy. But in contrast to a fortnight ago, this House has made it clear what it needs to approve a withdrawal agreement."

But the EU hit back immediately and denied that legally binding changes were possible.

Today senior MEP Philippe Lamberts blasted: "The hard Brexiteers still live in fantasy land."

He insisted the backstop is an inevitable result of the Good Friday Agreement.

The EU's Brexit envoy Michel Barnier added: "The position of the European Union is very clear."

A Downing Street source admitted there would be a clash with the EU but insisted there would be space for compromise later this week.

The source said: "We always knew the next 24 hours would be a firefight and they’ll say ‘no, no no’.

"We’ll see what happens after that. It’s a positive day but only the start of what will be an incredibly challenging process.”

If they think that the withdrawal agreement is not negotiable, then we must leave without an agreement

Brexiteers warned Brussels that if they don't agree to fresh talks on the deal, they risk Britain crashing out of the EU without a deal on March 29.

Jacob Rees-Mogg told talkRADIO: "If they think that the withdrawal agreement is not negotiable, then we must leave without an agreement."

Ex-minister Greg Hands added: "Brussels is risking a hard Brexit."

The backstop is hated by Brexiteers because they fear it will leave Britain trapped in the customs union permanently.

They want to see it replaced by technical measures which can carry out automatic checks on goods travelling between Northern Ireland and Republic.

What happens next after Brady amendment passes?

THE Prime Minister now has a mandate to go back to Brussels and ask for more – arguing that her MPs have shown they are behind her.

Now MPs have signalled they want “alternative arrangements” to the hated Northern Ireland backstop, then she can tell the EU that if they make the change, Parliament is almost certain to sign it off in the coming weeks.

Mrs May will speak to EU leaders today and the rest of the week – and could dash to Brussels for emergency talks too to thrash out a compromise.

If they manage to get a change, she will then give MPs another vote on her deal within weeks.

If not, the PM will probably tell her MPs it’s her deal or nothing, having fought with the EU as much as possible but to no avail.

MPs who fear crashing out could then turn around at the last minute and back the deal.

Last night the anti-backstop amendment tabled by senior Tory Sir Graham Brady passed through the Commons by 16 votes.

At the same time MPs voted against a motion from Yvette Cooper which would have taken No Deal off the table.

But the PM has promised them another vote on the way forward on Valentine's Day where Remainers could restart their anti-Brexit campaign.

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