British PM secures "legally binding" changes to Brexit deal ahead of key vote

LONDON, March 11 (Xinhua) -- British Prime Minister Theresa May on Monday secured "legally binding" changes to her Brexit deal just less than 24 hours before a meaningful vote in the parliament on the deal, according to senior British official here.

David Lidington, the British Cabinet Office minister, told the House of Commons that the parliament will vote on this "improved" deal on Tuesday.

The changes "strengthen and improve" the withdrawal agreement that will see the UK leave the EU, as well as its future relationship with the bloc, said Lidington, who is the prime minister's de facto deputy.

May, who is fighting to save her Brexit deal with the European Union (EU), arrived in Strasbourg late Monday for last-ditch talks with senior EU officials in order to have the withdrawal agreement passed in the parliament.

"The EU cannot try to trap the UK in the backstop indefinitely, and that doing so would be explicit breach of the legally binding commitments that both sides agreed," Lidington said.