The Prime Minister received a huge boost in securing a new deal with Brussels after both Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron admitted a solution to the controversial Irish backstop could be found within the next 30 days. In Paris, the French President reiterated the commitment made by the German Chancellor in Berlin and stated an alternative to the mechanism to prevent a hard border in Ireland could be found if there was “goodwill on both sides”.
Mr Macron said: “No one will wait until October 31 to find the right solution.
“We should all together be able to find something smart within 30 days if there is goodwill on both sides.”
However the French President warned the entire withdrawal agreement could not be altered.
He added: “We will not find a new withdrawal agreement within 30 days that will be very different from the existing one.”
However the growing signs of concessions on the backstop from the bloc, has prompted hardline eurosceptics to outline more changes for the Prime Minister to seek from Brussels.
Former Brexit Secretary said he would back the agreement secured by Theresa May if the backstop was removed but insisted Mr Johnson should be asking for more changes.
Mr Davis said the Prime Minister should look for “sunset clauses” on the European Court of Justice (ECJ) and withhold part of the £39 billion withdrawal bill until the future relationship is settled with the bloc.
He told The Telegraph: “I’d argue for contingency on the money. I’d argue for tighter limits, timetable limits, sunset clauses on ECJ and things like that. I’d have a small shopping list.
“It wouldn’t be a ridiculous one, but one I think that any serious European Parliament and any European Council that wants a deal could go with.
“If I were doing this for Boris, I would be insistent on is that they make the bill – the £39 billion, the second half of it – contingent on progress on the future economic partnership.”
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The proposal for more changes has also been echoed by veteran Brexiteer Bill Cash, who stated a deal with Brussels cannot be a “cut and paste operation”.
The Tory backbencher said: “You can’t restore self-government as a cut and paste operation and I am sure they understand that – taking parts of the withdrawal agreement.
“We will be governed for a number of years by the other 27 member states under the existing draft withdrawal agreement even with the backstop removed.”
Meanwhile Tory former minister Tobias Ellwood said he feels more optimistic about getting a deal with the EU following the Prime Minister’s visit to Europe.
He added: “We have a determined Prime Minister.
“Whatever you say about the Prime Minster, there is a sense of vigour, determination, and a focus that we didn’t have under the last prime minister, and that is why I am cautiously more optimistic.”
