May urges EU for Irish border backstop not to derail Brexit

May urges EU for Irish border backstop not to derail Brexit

Prime Minister Theresa May urged the EU not to allow a stand-off over a 'backstop' for Ireland to derail Brexit talks.

She believed a deal was still achievable as a top EU official said chances of a no-deal divorce had increased.

Addressing a rowdy session of parliament before she headed to Brussels for a summit on Wednesday, May remained upbeat but repeated she would not agree to anything that could split the United Kingdom.

With less than six months before Britain leaves the bloc, talks stalled at the weekend over how to ensure there is no return of a hard border between the British province of Northern Ireland and EU-member Ireland.

The stalemate has increased the possibility of Britain leaving the bloc without an agreement, a "no deal" Brexit that could potentially disrupt trade, delay movement of goods, and starve the world's fifth largest economy of investment.

European Council President Donald Tusk said that scenario was "more likely than ever before" and one that the EU should be ready for, though all parties must do their best to reach a deal.

He said he had invited May to address her 27 EU peers on Brexit on Wednesday evening.

May said it was frustrating that "almost all the remaining points of disagreement are focused on how we manage a scenario which both sides hope should never come to pass and which, if it does, would only be temporary.

"We cannot let this disagreement derail the prospects of a good deal and leave us with a 'no-deal' outcome that no-one wants," she told parliament.

Underlining the economic importance of Brexit, the head of British-headquartered pharmaceutical maker AstraZeneca said it would keep its freeze on manufacturing investments in the country unless a deal provides clarity about future ties.

Published: by Radio NewsHub
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