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
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.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.
May's spokesperson says that she expects to speak to Arlene Foster and to Sinn Fein's Michelle O'Neill later today
Brexit Secretary David Davis is now speaking in the Commons - after he was summoned to the House by Labour.
Davis says negotiations are ongoing as we speak... progress has been made but we've not yet met the final conclusion. He says he believes they are close to moving onto phase two in the negotiations.
Keir Starmer: "The last 24 hours have given a new meaning to the coalition of chaos. If ever there was a day for the Prime Minister to come to the House," he says, it would be today.
"Yesterday fantasy met brutal reality."
"We have a PM that is so weak the DUP have a veto over negotiations... the DUP tail is wagging the Tory dog," he adds.
In House of Commons, Starmer calls for May to put single market and customs union option back on the table
Anna Soubry: "The British people are fed up to the back teeth with this - they want a solution.
"We are a union and we will not allow one deal for part of our union, and one for the rest of the UK."
Davis says she has his guarantee that we will not be treating any areas of the UK differently in the negotiations.
Nigel Dodds, the DUP leader in Westminster, says the UK now stands together and nothing will cause the break-up of this United Kingdom. Davis agrees.
David Davis has vowed the Government will not “leave one part of the United Kingdom behind”, by allowing Northern Ireland to have a softer Brexit deal.
Answering an emergency question, the Brexit Secretary insisted efforts to avoid a hard border would not see Northern Ireland remain in the EU single market or customs union.
“That is emphatically not something the United Kingdom government is considering,” Mr Davis told MPs.
“We will not be treating one part of the United Kingdom differently from any other part,” he added.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments