May's Brexit deal was defeated for the first time back in January but she had hoped last-ditch tweaks to the deal, specifically on the contentious Irish border issue, would help persuade Members of Parliament (MPs) to change their minds. The deal's chances were dealt a blow earlier on Tuesday when the government's chief legal advisor said that the risks to the U.K. from the "Irish backstop" remained unchanged despite recent legal assurances from Brussels — although he did say the risks had been reduced by the tweaks. The Irish backstop is a mechanism to avoid restoration of the "hard" border between the Republic ... (full story)