Both sides claim victory as No 10 makes backstop 'concession'

Both sides of the latest bitter Brexit battle in Theresa May’s cabinet declared victory on Thursday, as the government published a formal proposal for the Northern Ireland backstop, which it “expects” to cease to apply by December 2021.The Brexit secretary, David Davis, had fought hard for an end-date to be included in the plan, which is aimed at convincing Brussels that the UK can avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland – and refused to deny on Wednesday that he cou