PM In Brussels To Secure Brexit Deal

Prime Minister Theresa May is in Brussels to meet with EU leaders in the hope of securing a Brexit deal, amid growing concerns that the UK will leave the EU without an agreed plan.

The Brexit summit in Brussels on Wednesday has been determined "the moment of truth" for negotiations, as both sides have so far been unable to bridge the gap over the key sticking point - the Irish border.

It comes after arranged talks between the EU's chief negotiator Michel Barnier and UK Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab on Sunday, which broke up without agreement and left the process once again deadlocked.

European Council President Donald Tusk has warned that the UK must approach the summit with fresh "concrete proposals" to deal with the border issue, otherwise further progress will be impossible.

In a meeting on Tuesday, Mrs May insisted she will not accept an agreement on the backstop and said she intends to maintain an open border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

Ahead of the summit, her official spokesperson said: "We want to secure a deal as quickly as possible. We think it is in the best interests of the UK and European Union to forge that deep future partnership."

SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood has said that if Theresa May made the sensible decision to keep the UK in the Customs Union and Single Market, increased checks in the Irish Sea could be avoided.

"In her dogmatic approach through these Brexit negotiations, Mrs May has backed herself into a corner.

"If the Prime Minister continues to insist on a worst of all worlds Brexit for Britain, we will have to be protected. The EU has offered Northern Ireland a deal that will give us access to both the EU and British markets. The backstop is not ideal but it is our ultimate protection.

"It's time for the British government to stop pretending that they can do a deal that doesn't protect Northern Ireland."

(JG)