Brexit - live updates: Theresa May's EU deal under threat from DUP over Northern Ireland border dispute

Theresa May leaves Brussels without securing an agreement on terms of Britain's withdrawal from the EU

Theresa May's EU deal under threat from DUP over Northern Ireland border dispute

Theresa May is trying to keep her Brexit plans afloat today after her Northern Irish political partners blocked her attempts to secure a withdrawal agreement with the EU.

The Prime Minister was set to call the leader of the Democratic Unionist Party to convince her to back her proposals for what should happen with Northern Ireland’s land border after Brexit.

Downing Street has indicated Ms May hoped to be back in Brussels before the end of the week to secure the agreement, after the DUP refused to accept plans that could have seen Belfast following a different regulatory regime than London.

But the fallout has highlighted Ms May's dependence on the DUP, and given her opponents the chance to pressure her over her failure to secure the deal so far.

Labour has called an urgent question in the House of Commons today, giving Sir Keir Starmer another chance to shout about the major problems the Government finds itself in.

Ms May is planning to return to Brussels before the end of the week, as time runs out to persuade leaders of the remaining 27 EU nations "sufficient progress" has been made to move Brexit negotiations on to their second phase.

The next phase would deal with trade and the transition to a new relationship, but if Ms May fails to move forward new questions will be raised in Tory ranks about her own ability to see through Brexit.

Key Points

• David Davis vows Northern Ireland will not be ‘left behind’ in EU single market or customs union with softer Brexit deal
• The Brext show is now in London,' EU says, after DUP collapses talks
• Ruth Davidson says entire UK must remain 'aligned' with EU customs union
• No deal in Brussels after DUP torpedoes Northern Ireland agreement
• Sturgeon says Scotland should be allowed to 'stay in EU single market' if Northern Ireland can
• All you need to know about the day that could bring down Theresa May

[5 December 2017 13:21 · Kristin Hugo]

Sir Keir, who asked an urgent question in the Commons on the negotiations, said: "Labour is clear that there needs to be a UK-wide response to Brexit.

"So the question for the Government today is this: will the Prime Minister now rethink her reckless red lines and put options such as a customs union and single market back on the table for negotiation?

"Because if the price of the Prime Minister's approach is the break-up of the union and reopening of bitter divides in Northern Ireland then the price is too high."

Mr Davis pointed to comments made by members of the shadow cabinet on remaining in the single market and customs union, and said: "So much for Labour policy on this matter, we can see why it's changed 10 times in the course of the last year."

He continued: "The suggestion that we might depart the European Union but leave one part of the United Kingdom behind still inside the single market and customs union - that is emphatically not something that the UK Government is considering."

[5 December 2017 13:32 · Kristin Hugo]

This is from the Press Association:

Anglo-Irish relations have been set back by the Irish government's "aggressive and anti-unionist" approach in Brexit talks, the DUP has claimed.

Nigel Dodds, the DUP's Westminster leader, warned relationships in Northern Ireland linked to devolution have also been damaged and said they will "take a long time to repair".

Mr Dodds added his party's approach of seeking to "stand strong for the Union" and Northern Ireland's place within it should come as no surprise.

His remarks came in the Commons after the DUP refused to accept proposals which would have shifted Northern Ireland's customs border to the Irish Sea.

[5 December 2017 13:42 · Kristin Hugo]

[5 December 2017 14:17 · Jon Stone]

[5 December 2017 14:18 · Jon Stone]

Nigel Dodds, DUP Westminster leader, says in a statement outside Westminster that the DUP only got the text of the motion "late" in the morning.

Despite several briefings over the last few weeks we only received written text late yesterday morning. We understand that this was due in part to delays cause by the Irish government and the EU negotiating team. Upon receipt of that text we indicated to senior government representatives that it was clearly unacceptable in that form. 

[5 December 2017 14:22 · Kristin Hugo]

[5 December 2017 14:25 · Kristin Hugo]

[5 December 2017 14:27 · Kristin Hugo]

[5 December 2017 14:31 · Kristin Hugo]

On a different subject, Bob Quick, who made allegations about the First Secretary of State last month, regarding pornography on his work computer, has said he is considering legal action.

This is from the Press Association:

Former Metropolitan Police assistant commissioner Bob Quick has said he is considering legal action against First Secretary of State Damian Green over "deeply hurtful" attempts to discredit him.

Mr Quick called on Mr Green publicly to retract allegations that he had lied about the "vast amount" of pornography discovered on the MP's personal computer. He insisted that "everything I have said is accurate, in good faith and in the firm belief that I have acted in the public interest".

[5 December 2017 14:32 · Kristin Hugo]

More on Bob Quick/Damian Green here from the Sun's Westminster correspondent Harry Cole