EU to Step Up Plans for No-Deal Brexit as Bloc Plays Hardball With May

Leaders toughen stance, offering limited reassurance
Bloc steps up no-deal planning with new documents due Dec. 19

Theresa May returns from Brussels empty-handed. Bloomberg’s Maria Tadeo reports.(Source: Bloomberg)

Provide news feedback or report an error

Confidential tip?

Send a tip to our reporters

Site feedback:

Take our Survey

By Ian Wishart, Nikos Chrysoloras, and Tim Ross

December 13, 2018 at 11:23 PM UTC

Updated on

December 14, 2018 at 12:22 AM UTC

This article is for subscribers only.

European leaders rebuffed Theresa May’s pleas to help her sell the Brexit agreement to a skeptical U.K. Parliament, toughening their stance as they stepped up planning for a chaotic no-deal divorce.

May had come to Brussels hoping to secure some additional "assurances" on the most controversial part of her Brexit deal -- the so-called Irish border backstop. While she made clear she wasn’t expecting a breakthrough straight away, she urged leaders to do everything they could to make the accord more acceptable at home.