Britain throws out Michel Barnier's bid to end Brexit deadlock - 'it's a non-starter'
The European Union would give Britain the unilateral right to leave the customs union, but there is a catch.
Saturday 9 March 2019 10:57, UK
The UK has thrown out the EU's latest attempt to break the Brexit deadlock over the Irish backstop and accused Brussels of trying to "rerun old arguments".
It comes after the bloc's chief Brexit negotiator revealed the reassurances he offered Britain over the controversial Northern Ireland issue.
Michel Barnier said he proposed a "legally binding interpretation" of the Brexit deal. He said it would "give legal force" to commitments made by the EU that the Irish backstop will only ever be temporary.
The backstop is an insurance policy designed to keep the Irish border open after Brexit.
Mr Barnier said that the UK would be allowed to exit one main element of the backstop - the customs union - without the EU's permission.
However, he stipulated this could only happen if other elements of the backstop designed to ensure no hard border on the island of Ireland were maintained.
This would mean Northern Ireland abiding by different rules to the rest of the UK and could potentially lead to a border in the Irish Sea - something the prime minister has already publicly rejected.
Responding to Mr Barnier's proposal, Brexit minister Stephen Barclay said: "With a very real deadline looming, now is not the time to rerun old arguments.
"The UK has put forward clear new proposals.
"We now need to agree a balanced solution that can work for both sides."
The divided parliament has yet to approve a Brexit deal and Prime Minister Theresa May has called on MPs to make "one last push" to break the deadlock.
She warned MPs earlier that Brexit may not happen at all if they reject her deal during another crunch vote on Tuesday.
The prime minister said "no one knows" what would happen in the aftermath of the Commons voting against her withdrawal agreement for a second time.
However, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) described Mr Barnier's offer as "neither realistic nor sensible".
Deputy leader Nigel Dodds said: "It disrespects the constitutional and economic integrity of the United Kingdom.
"This is an attempt to get ahead of a possible blame game and appear positive when in reality it is going backwards to something rejected a year ago.
"As the prime minister has said: no United Kingdom prime minister could sign up to an arrangement which annexes Northern Ireland from the rest of the United Kingdom.
"Whilst the European Union has spoken often about their value of the peace process in Northern Ireland, this proposal demonstrates that they have a one-sided approach and a lack of understanding about the divisions in Northern Ireland.
"Just as nationalists and republicans oppose a new north-south border, unionists oppose any new east-west border which would place a new barrier between Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom.
"We need to work for a sensible deal which can work for everyone in Northern Ireland."
The DUP's 10 MPs prop up Theresa May's Tory government, which has no overall majority.
Mr Barnier's offer comes just three weeks before Britain is due to leave the EU on 29 March.