The prime minister will meet Jean-Claude Juncker, the European commission president on Thursday morning, and Donald Tusk, the president of the European council in the early afternoon. May is expected to formally seek the reopening of the withdrawal agreement on the back of the passing of the so-called Brady amendment last week calling for “alternative arrangements” to replace the contentious Irish backstop. May will then return on the UK but not in time for prime minister’s questions, which will instead be taken by her de facto deputy, David Lidington. Selmayr, the European commission’s secretary-general, ruled out reopening the withdrawal agreement. Selmayr also denied MPs’ claims that his comments amounted to an offer of a legal adjunct to the withdrawal agreement.

Source: The Guardian February 05, 2019 12:31 UTC