Theresa May is being urged to secure changes from the EU to the Northern Irish backstop element of her Brexit deal to get it past parliament. Ex-foreign secretary Boris Johnson says winning a "freedom clause" would be "unadulterated good Brexit news". MPs on Tuesday will vote on a series of amendments to the PM's plans that could shape the future direction of Brexit. But Ireland's deputy PM says changes to the backstop - aimed at preventing a hard border - would not be acceptable. The backstop plan - a fallback position to avoid the return of customs checks at the Irish border if the UK fails to agree a deal with ... (full story)