U.K. leader may let Parliament decide on Brexit backstop

Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May, centre, gives a reply to lawmakers during the scheduled Prime Minister's Questions time, in the House of Commons, London, Wednesday Dec. 5, 2018. (UK Parliament, Mark Duffy via AP)

LONDON -- British Prime Minister Theresa May says she may let Parliament decide whether to trigger the contentious Northern Ireland "backstop" as she struggles to overcome opposition to her Brexit deal.

May says her agreement on leaving the European Union would allow the U.K. to decide whether to invoke the backstop, designed to ensure there is no hard border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

May told BBC radio in a live interview that "people are concerned about the role of the U.K. in making these decisions, and the obvious (thing to do) in terms of the role of the U.K. is for it to be Parliament that make these decisions."

The comments come as opponents say the backstop could tie Britain to the EU for years to come.