BREXIT TALKS
May fights to save deal after DUP backlash
BBC
Brussels: Theresa May is under pressure to get an agreement from the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) on the status of the Irish border when the UK leaves the EU, reports BBC.
The prime minister pulled out of a deal with Brussels that would have kick-started trade talks after meeting fierce resistance from the DUP.
The party said it would not accept a deal which saw Northern Ireland treated differently from the rest of the UK.
Mrs May is due to update ministers at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday morning.
Former Brexit minister David Jones described Monday as a very difficult day and said the prime minister now had a lot of talking to do with DUP leader Arlene Foster.
He believed the DUP had been spoken to beforehand about what was being proposed, but that the precise wording had not been explained and the Northern Ireland party clearly thought twice.
Ministers say no part of the UK will be treated differently in the Brexit talks as Labour branded their approach an embarrassment.
No agreement has been reached with the EU after a DUP backlash against proposals for the Irish border.
Brexit Secretary David Davis told MPs the government was close to concluding the first phase of talks.
Negotiations will continue for the rest of the week with the UK hoping for the green light to begin trade talks.
Responding to Labours urgent question, Mr Davis defended the controversial proposal for regulatory alignment between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland - intended to avoid the need for border checks after Brexit - saying this would apply to the whole of the UK.
