Don’t expect changes to deal – Juncker, Barnier

Brussels chiefs have warned that a House of Commons vote calling for the Brexit deal to be renegotiated will “not change” the EU’s position on the matter.

European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker said the bloc had repeatedly told the UK there could be no change to the agreement’s controversial ‘backstop’ policy, while chief negotiator Michel Barnier lambasted Theresa May for turning against a deal she herself had negotiated.

“The withdrawal agreement is the best and only deal possible. The European Union said so in November, we said so in December, we said so after the first meaningful vote in the Commons in January. The debate and vote in the House of Commons do not change that,” said Jean-Claude Juncker said.

Speaking at the same debate in the European Parliament in Brussels Mr Barnier said: “For the first time yesterday … Theresa May openly called to re-open the withdrawal agreement, even before the vote late in the evening.

“She took distance from the agreement she herself had negotiated and on which we have achieved an agreement.”