EU Parl’t Refuses to Back Brexit Deal Without Irish 'Backstop'

Sky News previously reported, citing unnamed Cabinet sources, that British PM Theresa May could ditch the Irish backstop in her new Brexit plan.

According to the European Parliament's Brexit Steering Group (BSG) the withdrawal agreement "is fair and cannot be renegotiated", stressing that Brussels won't approve a deal with London that does not contain a "backstop" provision to avoid a hard Irish border.

"The Withdrawal Agreement is fair and cannot be re-negotiated. This applies especially to the backstop, since it is the guarantee that under no circumstances will there be a hardening of the border on the island of Ireland while at the same time safeguarding the integrity of the Single Market. The EU remains clear, firm and united on this even if the negotiated backstop is not meant to be used. Therefore, the BSG insists that, without such an 'all-weather' backstop-insurance, the European Parliament will not give its consent to the Withdrawal Agreement", the group said in a statement.

READ MORE: May's 'Plan B' on Brexit Deal May Include Ditching Irish Backstop — Reports

Earlier this month, the UK Parliament rejected Theresa May's Brexit agreement by a vote of 432 to 202. The prime minister promised to negotiate a different deal and present it to the MP's before the 29th of March when the UK is set to leave the bloc.

The Irish border issue, however, remains one of the main stumbling blocks in the way of the divorce deal between London and Brussels.