Britain in 'secret talks over Brexit transition period extension to appease DUP'

Pic:Theresa May ( AFP/Getty Images )
Political reporter(wp/es):

Secret plans to allow an extension of the Brexit transition period may result in Britain remaining tied to EU rules beyond 2020, according to reports.

The move is said to be designed to convince DUP leader Arlene Foster that a “backstop” plan to avoid a hard border in Ireland will not come into force.

The potential extension of the transition period, which would see the UK stay in the EU single market and customs union, is being considered ahead of a crunch summit in Brussels on Wednesday.

Under the current plans, if there is a Brexit deal the transition period will last until the end of 2020. During this time the UK will accept Brussels' rules without having a seat at the table.

But the Guardian and Daily Telegraph that the option of a potential extension was being considered to allow extra time to drawn up a deal and avoid the need to use the controversial "backstop" arrangement.

The Department for Exiting the European Union said it would not comment on speculation.

The need to resolve the backstop issue is a political headache for Theresa May, who relies on support from the DUP in key votes because she does not have a majority in the Commons.

The European Union's version, which would see just Northern Ireland remain aligned with Brussels' rules, has been called unacceptable by Mrs May and is fiercely resisted by her DUP allies.

Mrs May's counter-proposal, set out in June, was for a "temporary customs arrangement" for the whole UK.

But Tory Brexiteers are suspicious this could turn into a permanent situation - restricting the freedom to strike trade deals around the world.

Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab said that a provision on customs which was not "finite" would fail to deliver the result of the 2016 referendum.

And Downing Street insisted that Mrs May would never agree a Brexit deal with the EU which "traps" the UK permanently in a customs union.

The pledge came amid speculation over possible ministerial resignations if the Prime Minister gives too much ground ahead of the Brussels summit next week.

Mr Raab said: "What we cannot do is see the UK locked in via the back door to a customs union arrangement which would leave us in an indefinite limbo. That would not be leaving the EU."

However, the EU is mounting resistance to any specific time limit being included in the text of the UK's Withdrawal Agreement.

Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney insisted the backstop should be able to remain in place "unless and until something better comes along" and told ITV News it was a "deal breaker".