Theresa May was dealt a crushing Brexit blow today as her DUP allies REJECTED a Brexit compromise - before she even published it.

Mrs May's deputy David Lidington said the government would unveil "specific proposals" to calm fears in Northern Ireland about her 585-page Brexit deal.

Mr Lidington claimed the Stormont assembly would have a veto on elements of the relationship in future - ensuring it's not trapped under EU rules.

But minutes later and before he even published the plan the DUP rejected those compromises in a dramatic TV interview.

It means the Prime Minister's deal looks doomed to defeat in a House of Commons vote next Tuesday - before five days of debate have even started this lunchtime.
Mrs May was set to unveil "specific proposals" to calm fears in Northern Ireland (
Image:
SplashNews.com)

Labour's Barry Gardiner said his party will spark an immediate no confidence vote in the government if that happens.

And today, Tory rebel Dominic Grieve tabled an amendment that would give MPs a greater say over what happens next if the deal is voted down.

It would require a motion to be put to the Commons by Monday 21 January, not mid-February.

The row is over a 'backstop' that could trap the UK under EU customs rules, and force checks on trade between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK, if there is no agreement to safeguard the Irish border by December 2020.
Now the Prime Minister's deal looks doomed to defeat in a House of Commons vote next Tuesday (
Image:
Getty Images)

EU chiefs have agreed to provide extra assurances but not remove the backstop.

Yet DUP Brexit spokesman Sammy Wilson told Sky News: "The only deal that could swing the DUP round is if the backstop as it applies to the UK as a whole or to Northern Ireland specifically were removed from this agreement."

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Key points from UK's 611-page Brexit deal with EU

The Brexit deal agreed by Theresa May and the EU covers two areas: the Withdrawal Agreement, covering the UK's exit from the EU, and the Political Declaration on a Future Framework, which sets out the relationship with the EU after Britain leaves.

Key details on the Brexit deal include:

1. The Withdrawal Agreement

  • The transition period can be extended until 2022 - after the next election
  • Goods face being checked between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK
  • A 'backstop' could extend EU customs rules UK-wide - and we'd need Brussels' permission to quit
  • European courts will still have a big hold on the UK

2. The Future Framework

  • "Comprehensive arrangements that will create a free trade area" - not exactly the "frictionless trade" hoped for
  • Possible EU access to British fishing waters
  • We would remain tied to European courts
  • We'd respect human rights laws
  • Visas needed for long term trips to the EU
  • It has built in vagueness - kicking the can down the road for further negotiations

Read about the deal in more depth here.

He added: "Constitutionally and economically if this deal went through it would be ruinous and indeed would do what th IRA failed to do over 40 years of a terrorist campaign."

He said the new assurances would by no means cover all EU laws applying to Northern Ireland - only new ones.

He said getting new guarantees was a waste of the Prime Minister's time and she had "nothing at all" to fear from a no deal Brexit.
DUP Brexit spokesman Sammy Wilson said: "If this deal went through it would be ruinous and indeed would do what th IRA failed to do" (
Image:
Getty Images)

And he warned the deal was not taking back control, describing the PM's offer as "window dressing".

Warning his nine fellow DUP MPs would follow suit he said: "I can assure you there is not a cigarette paper of difference between my views and the rest of my party's views."

The DUP's lack of support is significant because many Tory Brexiteers are using their objections as a reason to oppose Theresa May's deal too.

Downing Street had hoped the unionist party would be the key to unlock Tory support and start a "domino effect" of opposition fading away.

What is the compromise?

The Government has pledged to give the currently defunct Northern Ireland Assembly a "strong role" if the contentious border backstop proposal is ever triggered.

In a paper published on Wednesday outlining a series of commitments specific to the region, the Government said if a wider EU/UK trade deal fails to materialise by the end of the Implementation Period in 2020, there would be a legally-binding commitment to "consult" with Stormont before deciding to either enter the backstop or ask for an extension of the Implementation Period.

The view of the Assembly, said the Government, would then be presented to Parliament before MPs took a final decision on the issue.

If the backstop does come into effect, the Government said the Stormont Assembly and Executive would then be given a strong oversight role in its operation.

If the EU proposed changing any laws that impacted the operating of the backstop, the UK would have to consent to such a measure applying to Northern Ireland and the Government has now committed to seek the agreement of the Assembly before signing off on any such change.