European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker has told Theresa May during robust but constructive talks that the European Union will not renegotiate the Brexit deal.
He added that the bloc was ready to work more on the accompanying political declaration of EU-UK new ties after Brexit, which is seperate to the withdrawal agreement.
A joint statement said Mrs May raised various options to address MPs’ concerns about the Irish border backstop and that the two agreed their teams would work together on whether a way through can be found.
The statement said: The discussion was robust but constructive.
Despite the challenges, the two leaders agreed that their teams should hold talks as to whether a way through can be found that would gain the broadest possible support in the UK Parliament and respect the guidelines agreed by the European Council.
Mr Juncker and Mrs May will meet again before the end of February.
Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay and EU negotiator Michel Barnier will hold talks in Strasbourg on Monday.
During talks that lasted about 90 minutes, Mrs May set out MPs’ demands for a legally binding change to the terms of the backstop, while Mr Juncker underlined that the EU27 will not reopen the withdrawal agreement.
But he expressed his openness to add wording to the political declaration to be more ambitious in terms of content and speed when it comes to the future relationship.
Moreover, over half think that she is guided less by the national interest than party or personal interests, and half the public think she should postpone Brexit, due on March 29, if she cannot get a deal.
Mr Corbyn was hit by backlash from his own MPs for setting out five demands, including joining a customs union, that could see Labour support Mrs May’s Brexit blueprint.
The PM was accused of causing self-harm to the nation by former Tory premier Sir John Major, who echoed the EU leader Donald Tusk by saying the public would “neither forget or forgive” those responsible for a Brexit that would hit the poor hardest.
Exclusive research by Ipsos MORI for the Standard revealed that the public has lost confidence in her ability to secure a good deal with the EU.