Brexiteers’ opposition to May’s deal seems to be softening, so will she win parliament round?

Analysis: Some Brexiteers – fearing a lengthy delay to the exit process – may decide to climb down over the Irish backstop, says Ashley Cowburn

Will the PM pull a Brexit rabbit out of the hat? (EPA)

After Theresa May’s Brexit deal was resoundingly defeated in the Commons in January, the chairman of the Brexiteer group of Conservative MPs, Jacob Rees-Mogg, and his allies demanded the prime minister reopen the agreement with Brussels she had spent nearly two years negotiating.

Dutifully, Ms May agreed to the rebels’ demands, while admitting that reopening the withdrawal agreement was “a move for which I know there is limited appetite among our European partners”.

The prime minister was not wrong: nearly two months later and the withdrawal agreement remains unaltered, and the EU 27 has been resolute in rejecting calls to reconsider its terms.