Not a prayer: British Prime Minister Theresa May, here leaving a church service in her Maidenhead constituency yesterday, is expected to fall well short in the crucial vote on her Brexit deal. Photo: REUTERS/Peter Nicholls

British Prime Minister Theresa May urged lawmakers on Monday to take "a second look" at her deal to leave the European Union, warning them that voting it down could open the way for the break up of the United Kingdom.

"I say to members on all sides of this house, whatever you may have previously concluded, over these next 24 hours, give this deal a second look," May told parliament.

Mrs May will rely on the latest pledge from the EU on the Irish backstop, as she scrambles to save her Brexit deal.

She is now partly relying on assurances from the EU on the backstop to persuade more MPs to support her plan.

European leaders Jean-Claude Juncker and Donald Tusk have issued a letter to the British Government, which was made public this morning.

The letter;

Expand Close Jeremy Corbyn: Labour leader plans motion of no confidence. Photo: REUTERS REUTERS / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Jeremy Corbyn: Labour leader plans motion of no confidence. Photo: REUTERS

Says EU is committed to speedy work on trade deal by December 2020 to avoid triggering Irish backstop

Says, even if triggered, backstop would only be temporary, until better agreement found

Says EU council decisions have legal value

EU letter to May says withdrawal agreement and political declaration on future are linked under Treaty Article 50

Says the letter does not change anything in the Withdrawal Agreement

Also says EU 'does not wish to see the backstop enter into force' (Read the full text of the letter below)

Mrs May is expected to set out details of the reassurances from the EU in a statement to the House of Commons this afternoon.

She will reiterate that the mechanism is not designed to separate Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK – something that is vital in order to appease the DUP who are propping up the Conservatives in Government.

MPs are to vote on Mrs May's deal tomorrow night, with No 10 braced for a defeat by an unprecedented majority of more than 200.

Separately, Pro-EU MPs will today raise the stakes in the battle over Brexit by publishing draft legislation to force a second referendum that could reverse the result of the 2016 vote.

A cross-party group of MPs, including Dominic Grieve, the former Conservative attorney general, wants Theresa May to give Parliament a greater say in deciding how Britain leaves the European Union.

It comes after reports emerged at the weekend of a planned "coup" by unnamed senior MPs to grab control of the parliamentary timetable by allowing backbenchers' legislation to take precedence over the government's.

The cross-party draft legislation published today by Mr Grieve, the Liberal Democrat leader Vince Cable and Lord Lisvane, the former clerk of the House of Commons, proposes another referendum in which voters would be given a choice between Mrs May's deal or staying in the EU.

The draft law could in theory be tabled as early as Monday next week, if Mrs May loses tomorrow and she has to come back to the Commons with a new plan for delivering Brexit. It will require the Speaker, John Bercow, to suspend centuries-old rules and make it easier for MPs to table laws that can be passed.

Mrs May has warned MPs they risk "undermining the public's faith in democracy" if they reject her Brexit deal in the looming vote.

She accused some MPs of "playing political games" in the marathon Brexit debate. She said MPs should respect the results of the 2016 referendum in which 52pc of voters backed leaving the EU.

The prime minister said parliament failing to give her deal the necessary backing "would be a catastrophic and unforgivable breach of trust in our democracy".

She used a newspaper article to issue a last-ditch plea to members of her own Conservative Party, the 10 DUP MPs propping up her minority government, and some pro-EU people on the Labour benches.

"So my message to Parliament this weekend is simple: it is time to forget the games and do what is right for our country," she wrote.

Observers say Mrs May has very little chance of succeeding in tomorrow's vote. Two procedural vote losses last week have also limited her room for manoeuvre, including a demand that she produce alternative plans within three sitting days of any vote loss.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn's priority is to force a general election. He said he will propose a motion of no confidence in the government if it loses tomorrow's vote.

Speaking on the BBC's 'Andrew Marr Show' yesterday, he said: "We will table a motion of no confidence in the government at a time of our choosing, but it's going to be soon, don't worry about it."

Brexit Minister Steve Barclay has warned of the growing risk that the UK parliament could block Brexit altogether.

Mrs May's office said it was "extremely concerned" about reports in one Sunday newspaper that some MPs would try to seize control of Brexit negotiations if tomorrow's vote is lost. The 'Sunday Times' reported that senior MPs intend to try to change the rules of the House of Commons so they can wrest control of the law-making agenda from the government.

Mrs May faces widespread opposition to the deal, primarily on the issue of the backstop to avoid a hard Border between Northern Ireland and the Republic. Many MPs fear it could leave Britain tied to the EU indefinitely.

Reports from Westminster suggest more than 200 of the 650 MPs back the deal, far short of the number needed for it to pass. About 100 MPs support a no-deal Brexit, while other groups favour either a "soft Brexit" keeping the UK close to the EU, or a second referendum.

Here is the text of a letter sent to Theresa May by European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker and European Council president Donald Tusk:

Thank you for your letter of 14 January 2019.

As you are well aware, we regret but respect the decision of the United Kingdom to leave the European Union. We also consider that Brexit is a source of uncertainty and disruption. In these challenging times, we therefore share with you the determination to create as much certainty and clarity as possible for citizens and companies in a situation where a Member State leaves the European Union after more than four decades of closest economic and political integration.

That is why the Withdrawal Agreement that you and the Leaders of the 27 EU Member States agreed after long negotiations is so important. It represents a fair compromise and aims to ensure an orderly withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union, thereby limiting the negative consequences of Brexit.

That is also why we wish to establish as close as possible a relationship with the United Kingdom in the future, building on the Political Declaration, which the Leaders of the 27 EU Member States agreed with you. It is also why we want negotiations to this effect to start as soon as possible after the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union.

As you know, we are not in a position to agree to anything that changes or is inconsistent with the Withdrawal Agreement, but against this background, and in order to facilitate the next steps of the process, we are happy to confirm, on behalf of the two EU Institutions we represent, our understanding of the following points within our respective fields of responsibility.

A. As regards the President of the European Council:

On the 13 December, the European Council (Article 50) decided on a number of additional assurances, in particular as regards its firm commitment to work speedily on a subsequent agreement that establishes by 31 December 2020 alternative arrangements, so that the backstop will not need to be triggered.

The European Council also said that, if the backstop were nevertheless to be triggered, it would only apply temporarily, unless and until it is superseded by a subsequent agreement that ensures that a hard border is avoided, and that the European Union, in such a case, would use its best endeavours to negotiate and conclude expeditiously a subsequent agreement that would replace the backstop, and would expect the same of the United Kingdom, so that the backstop would only be in place for as long as strictly necessary.

In this context, it can be stated that European Council conclusions have a legal value in the Union commensurate to the authority of the European Council under the Treaties to define directions and priorities for the European Union at the highest level and, in the specific context of withdrawal, to establish, in the form of guidelines, its framework. They may commit the European Union in the most solemn manner. European Council conclusions therefore constitute part of the context in which an international agreement, such as the Withdrawal Agreement, will be interpreted.

As for the link between the Withdrawal Agreement and the Political Declaration, to which you make reference in your letter, it can be made clear that these two documents, while being of a different nature, are part of the same negotiated package. In order to underline the close relationship between the two texts, they can be published side by side in the Official Journal in a manner reflecting the link between the two as provided for in Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU).

B. As regards the President of the European Commission:

The Political Declaration agreed at the November Special European Council (Article 50) describes a future relationship of unprecedented depth and breadth, reflecting the continuing strength of our shared values and interests. The Withdrawal Agreement and the Political Declaration represent a fair balance of European Union and United Kingdom interests. They will ensure a smooth withdrawal and a strong future relationship in the interests of all our citizens.

As the European Council has already stated, it will embark on preparations for a future partnership with the United Kingdom immediately after signature of the Withdrawal Agreement.

As regards the European Commission, we will set up the negotiating structure for these negotiations directly after signature to ensure that formal negotiations can start as soon as possible after the withdrawal of the United Kingdom, having in mind the shared ambition of the European Union and the United Kingdom to have the future relationship in place by the end of the transition. Should national ratifications be pending at that moment, the Commission is ready to propose provisional application of relevant parts of the future relationship, in line with the legal frameworks that apply and existing practice.

The Commission is also ready to engage with you on a work programme as soon as the United Kingdom Parliament has signalled its agreement in principle to the Withdrawal Agreement and the European Parliament has approved it.

There is an important link between the Withdrawal Agreement and the Political Declaration, reflecting Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union. As stated in Article 184 of the Withdrawal Agreement and reflected also in Paragraph 138 of the Political Declaration, the European Union and the United Kingdom have committed to use best endeavours, in good faith and in full respect of their respective legal orders, to take necessary steps to negotiate expeditiously the agreements governing their future relationship referred to in the Political Declaration.

In light of your letter, the European Commission would like to make the following clarifications with regard to the backstop:

The Withdrawal Agreement including the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland embodies the shared commitment by the European Union and the United Kingdom to address the unique circumstances on the island of Ireland as part of ensuring the orderly withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union.

The Commission can confirm that, just like the United Kingdom, the European Union does not wish to see the backstop enter into force. Were it to do so, it would represent a suboptimal trading arrangement for both sides. The Commission can also confirm the European Union's determination to replace the backstop solution on Northern Ireland by a subsequent agreement that would ensure the absence of a hard border on the island of Ireland on a permanent footing.

The European Commission can also confirm our shared understanding that the Withdrawal Agreement and the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland:

Do not affect or supersede the provisions of the Good Friday or Belfast Agreement of 10 April 1998 in any way whatsoever; they do not alter in any way the arrangements under Strand II of the 1998 Agreement in particular, whereby areas of North-South cooperation in areas within their respective competences are matters for the Northern Ireland Executive and Government of Ireland to determine; Do not extend regulatory alignment with European Union law in Northern Ireland beyond what is strictly necessary to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland and protect the 1998 Agreement; the Withdrawal Agreement is also clear that any new act that the European Union proposes should be added to the Protocol will require the agreement of the United Kingdom in the Joint Committee; Do not prevent the United Kingdom from facilitating, as part of its delegation, the participation of Northern Ireland Executive representatives in the Joint Committee, the Committee on issues related to the implementation of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland, or the joint consultative working group, in matters pertaining directly to Northern Ireland.

The European Commission also shares your intentions for the future relationship to be in place as quickly as possible. Given our joint commitment to using best endeavours to conclude before the end of 2020 a subsequent agreement, which supersedes the Protocol in whole or in part, the Commission is determined to give priority in our work programme to the discussion of proposals that might replace the backstop with alternative arrangements. In this context, facilitative arrangements and technologies will be considered.

Any arrangements which supersede the Protocol are not required to replicate its provisions in any respect, provided that the underlying objectives continue to be met.

Should the parties need more time to negotiate the subsequent agreement, they could decide to extend the transition period, as foreseen in the Withdrawal Agreement.

In that case, the Commission is committed to redouble its efforts and expects the same redoubled efforts from your negotiators, with the aim of concluding a subsequent agreement very rapidly. Were the backstop to enter into force in whole or in part, it is intended to apply only temporarily, unless and until it is superseded by a subsequent agreement.

The Commission is committed to providing the necessary political impetus and resources to help achieving the objective of making this period as short as possible. To this end, following the withdrawal of the United Kingdom, and until a subsequent agreement is concluded, the Commission will support making best use of the high level conference foreseen in the Political Declaration to meet at least every six months to take stock of progress and agree the appropriate actions to move forward.

Finally, in response to your concern about the timetable, we would like to make it clear that both of us will be prepared to sign the Withdrawal Agreement as soon as the meaningful vote has passed in the United Kingdom Parliament.

This will allow preparations for the future partnership with the United Kingdom immediately thereafter to ensure that negotiations can start as soon as possible after the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union.

Additional reporting by Reuters and Press Association

Irish Independent