Reuters Insider - Theresa May wins Brexit assurances from EU on eve of crucial vote
12/03/2019 11:36
Click the following link to watch video: https://share.insider.thomsonreuters.com/link?entryId=1_5c70be3q&referenceId=tag:reuters.com,2019:newsml_OVA5Q1BVV_930&pageId=ReutersNews Source: Reuters Insider Description: British Prime Minister Theresa May clinched legally binding Brexit assurances with the European Union on Monday (March 11) in a last ditch attempt to win over rebellious British lawmakers who have threatened to vote down her divorce deal again. Rough Cut (no reporter narration). Short Link: https://reut.rs/2VVViot Video Transcript: Having an insurance policy to guarantee that there will never be a hard border in Northern Ireland is absolutely right. It honors the UK's solemn commitments in the Belfast with Friday agreement. But if we ever have to use that insurance policy, it cannot become a permanent arrangement. And it is not the template for our future relationship. The deal that MPs voted on in January was not strong enough in making that clear and legally binding changes were needed to set that right. Today, we have agreed them. First, the joint instrument with comparable legal weight to the withdrawal agreement will guarantee that the EU cannot act with the intent of applying the backstop indefinitely. If they do, it can be challenged through arbitration and if they are found to be in breach, the UK can suspend the backstop. The United Kingdom government will make a unilateral declaration that if the backstop comes into use and discussions on our future relationship break down so that there is no prospect of subsequent agreement, it is the position of the United Kingdom that there would be nothing to prevent the UK instigating measures that would ultimately disapply the backstop