Theresa May says fears about Irish backstop ‘unwarranted’

The fears of some British and European Union politicians about ‘backstop’ arrangements for Northern Ireland’s border with Ireland are unwarranted, Prime Minister Theresa May said in a letter to EU leaders on Tuesday.

May said concern that a mutual desire to avoid triggering the backstop would be used as unfair leverage by the EU or by a future British government “is entirely unwarranted”.

“I strongly believe the fear about the EU’s intentions is unfounded too,” May added in her letter to Donald Tusk and Jean-Claude Juncker.