How Geoffrey Cox's backstop showdown could shape Brexit talks

Britain’s booming-voiced Attorney General returns to Brussels this week, as he launches a renewed campaign to secure concessions on the Irish backstop. Geoffrey Cox will meet with Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, on Tuesday to hold further talks on how the backstop can be tweaked, adjusted or clarified to suit the demands of Eurosceptic MPs. Mr Cox’s negotiations could hold the key to securing a Brexit deal by the end of the month, but only if he manages to extract some major concessions from EU officials - which continues to look highly unlikely.