May pleads for support, says Brexit deal is almost done

UK Prime Minister Theresa May was expected to tell parliament that Brexit negotiations are "95 percent" complete as she seeks to show anxious members of her own party that she is gaining momentum in talks.

May was set to reveal that "taking all of this together, 95% of the withdrawal agreement and its protocols are now settled" in talks that she has previously kept secret, in an address delivered around 3:30 pm on Monday local time.

She has received criticism from MPs in her own party for appearing to have made no progress in talks at last week's European summit, prompting renewed speculation about a leadership challenge.

May intends to show the progress made by highlighting all the specific areas of agreement already reached, including settling the divorce bill at 39 billion pounds ($51 billion) having an implementation period until at least the end of 2020 and recognizing the rights of EU citizens living in the UK and vice versa.

The issue of how to deal with the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland is continuing to stand in the way of a deal with the EU.

Britain is due to leave on March 29, 2019, but during the post-Brexit "transition period", set to run until Dec 31, 2020, the UK-EU relationship will stay largely the same.

If at the end of that period, a long-term "future relationship", including a trade deal, is not ready, both sides have agreed on the need for provisions to ensure there is no need for customs checks - a "hard border" - between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic, in the interim period.

This is the so called "backstop" - but the two sides have yet to agree on what form it should take and how long it could last.

Last week, May indicated that she could accept extending the transition period in which the United Kingdom would remain subject to the customs union and single market beyond December 2020 in an attempt to reach a free-trade agreement that would prevent the backstop being used.

Earlier on Sunday, the Brexit secretary, Dominic Raab, conceded that Conservative backbenchers had become jittery about the Brexit negotiations but insisted "now is the time to play for the team" as speculation about May's leadership swirled. "We need to hold our nerve; the end is in sight in terms of a good deal - the prize that we want: a good deal with the EU," Raab said.

Officials from both sides will continue talks this week in the hope of a breakthrough after last week's summit.

On Saturday, protesters took part in a huge march in London to call for another referendum - this time on any final Brexit deal that is negotiated. Organizers said it attracted 700,000 people.