UK MPs decide on Brexit today

LONDON, Jan 14 (BBC): Theresa May has urged MPs to back her Brexit deal "for the country's sake" as Tuesday's Commons vote looms closer.

She warned of "paralysis in Parliament" if the deal is rejected and said trust in politics would suffer "catastrophic harm" if the UK did not leave the EU.

The PM welcomed new EU assurances over the impact of the deal on Northern Ireland, saying they had "legal force".

The EU said it didn't want to use the "backstop" but, if it did, it would be for "the shortest possible period".

The "backstop" is the fallback plan to avoid any return to physical Northern Ireland border checks.

In a letter to Mrs May, the EU said commitments to look at alternatives to the customs arrangement and to fast-track talks on future relations had "legal value" and would be treated "in the most solemn manner".

Speaking in Stoke, Mrs May said "they make absolutely clear that the backstop is not a threat nor a trap".

Attorney General Geoffrey Cox said the assurances offered "legal force" to the UK, but admitted they did not alter the "fundamental meanings" in the Withdrawal Agreement - namely that the UK is indefinitely committed to the backstop if it comes into force, as neither side can unilaterally withdraw from it.