Theresa May tells UK Parliament the EU has 'responded positively by agreeing to explore a UK-wide customs solution' but that it says there isn't time to negotiate it before March. So it still wants its NI-specific backstop to act as an 'insurance policy to the insurance policy'.
To loud cheers she adds: 'We’ve been clear we cannot agree to anything that threatens the integrity of our United Kingdom.'
May: I need to be able to look the British people in the eye and say this backstop is temporary. People are rightly concerned that what is only meant to be temporary could become a permanent limbo with no new relationship between the UK and EU ever agreed.'
Now PM reaches crux of issue - time-limiting backstop: 'If EU were not to cooperate on our future relationship we must be able to ensure we can't be kept in this backstop indefinitely. I wouldn't expect this House to agree to a deal unless UK has this say.' Not acceptable to EU.
