Downing Street is bracing for another week of Brexit battles as it faces flashpoints with both Brussels and hardline Tory MPs. Despite key EU leaders sounding more upbeat at the prospects of a deal in recent days, Brussels appears set to reject key aspects of Mrs May's Chequers proposals on Wednesday. However, it was reported that Mrs May hopes to break the deadlock over the Irish border issue by keeping the EU's present customs arrangements beyond when the transition period is due to end in December 2020. Anti-EU Tory MPs have made it clear to the PM that this option could last no longer than the slated general election in 2022, according to The Times. That came as Shinzo Abe, the Japanese prime minister, said on Sunday that Japan would welcome Britain to the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal “with open arms”, as he urged compromise to avoid a no-deal Brexit. Mr Abe told the Financial Times the UK would lose its role as a gateway to Europe after Brexit, but would still be a country “equipped with global strength”. The TPP is a wide-ranging trade agreement between 11 Pacific countries, including Japan, Vietnam, Malaysia, Canada, Mexico and Australia. Britain can only join if it were to leave the EU’s customs union, and gains the power to set its own tariffs. “I hope that both sides can contribute their wisdom and at least avoid a so-called disorderly Brexit,” said Mr Abe.
The UK government's whips' office has reportedly been in talks with 25 Labour MPs to persuade them to support the prime minister's Chequers deal for Brexit at the parliamentary vote in December. The rumoured "back-up option" is aimed at outmanoeuvring the European Research Group (ERG), which plans to vote against Chequers. The ERG has said up to 80 members could vote against the government's Canada+++ and other money bills to put pressure on May to change tack and adopt a "Budget" arrangement.