Brexit breakthrough? Lidington tries to woo MPs with ‘legally binding changes’

There’s long been a view among senior Brexiteers that the way the EU and UK would agree a deal would be by running the negotiations down to the wire and Brussels offering a last minute concession. This appeared to be the strategy in play on Monday night as Theresa May found herself locked in talks on changes to the backstop in Strasbourg with less than 24 hours to go until her deal is due to be voted on in the Commons.

In turn, David Lidington was given the undesirable task of addressing frustrated MP in the Chamber. Theresa May’s de facto deputy adopted an apologetic tone at the despatch box – apologising first for the lack of prior notice to his statement and then saying sorry for not being able to offer MPs a complete update on the negotiations which are ongoing. Lidington said he did have some updates for the House – announcing that the government has ‘secured legally binding changes that strengthen and improve the withdrawal agreement and the political declaration’.