The EU must budge on the backstop if it wants to avoid no deal

The European Union does not want ‘no-deal’. Neither do the majority of people or politicians in the UK. Most of us recognise that to leave without a deal would be potentially damaging to both the UK and the EU, a risk to be avoided. But unless Brexit is stopped altogether the only way to prevent ‘no deal’ is to agree a deal. The date of the UK’s departure may now be delayed, but even a short delay would be controversial enough. And delay will only postpone the choice which, sooner or later, must be made.

In one sense a deal is tantalisingly close to being agreed. Despite initially rejecting the Withdrawal Agreement by a substantial majority, the House of Commons has now voted to accept the deal provided that its concern about the Northern Ireland backstop is addressed.

The EU is understandably irritated that, after the deal was agreed, Theresa May now seeks to revisit the backstop issue.