EU expected to rule out Brexit renegotiation

The EU is preparing to issue an immediate rebuff to Theresa May by publishing a statement rejecting any renegotiation of the withdrawal agreement in the event of the so-called Brady amendment being passed by parliament.

MPs were corralled by the prime minister on Tuesday to back a proposal under which the Commons would commit to supporting the withdrawal agreement should the Irish backstop contained within it be “replaced”.

But as the prime minister called on MPs to send a message to Brussels, EU officials disclosed that a statement was being prepared that would immediately close off the possibility of opening up an agreement that had already been negotiated and agreed over the last 20 months.

“The EU27 and the commission have already prepared a reaction in case the Brady amendment passes this evening saying they will not renegotiate the withdrawal agreement,” an official told Bloomberg.

An EU official also confirmed to the Guardian that such a response could be expected.

It is understood that during a phone call with the prime minister on Tuesday afternoon, the European commission president, Jean-Claude Juncker, said the EU would not budge on its refusal to renegotiate.

via The Guardian