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The prime minister is trying to renegotiate the so-called backstop guarantee for avoiding a hard border with Ireland because euroskeptic Conservatives fear it will trap Britain inside the customs union indefinitely. Without their support, May can’t get her deal ratified in Parliament.
So far European officials have refused to countenance major changes to the backstop -- including any time limit -- and the stalemate threatens to force Britain out of the EU with no deal at the end of March.
Last month, Poland’s foreign minister suggested a five-year time limit would be a good way out of the impasse. While the idea was quickly knocked down by EU and Irish leaders, a number of senior pro-Brexit members of May’s top team privately say they would be willing to accept such a long-term commitment, according to people familiar with the situation, who asked not to be named. [...]