Sir Keir Starmer's hopes of securing a migrant returns deal with France could be in peril after the EU backed five countries which registered "serious concerns" over the plan.
Italy, Spain, Greece, Malta and Cyprus all lined up to voice their fury at the scheme and its implications for the Mediterranean last month.
Under the "one-in, one-out" proposals, the five fear they would be forced to take in an influx of deported migrants.
Under the EU's Dublin agreement, migrants can be sent back to the EU country where they first landed.
"We believe it is essential to clarify whether the agreement may produce any direct or indirect consequences for other member states," the quintet of countries fumed in a letter to the European Commission.
And now, the EC has asked Britain and France for urgent clarification on the agreement - which due to be announced as a centrepiece of Emmanuel Macron's state visit this week.
France had been hoping to publicly voice its support for the deal last week - but delayed the briefing after the European Commission's intervention.
Sources said the talks on the deal were still a "work in progress", according to The Telegraph, while it remains unclear if they will be finished in time for an announcement at the end of the summit on Thursday.
FOLLOW BELOW FOR LIVE UPDATES THROUGHOUT THE DAY…
New-intake Labour MP tried to charge taxpayers for £200 of luxury M&S bedding - 'I was mistakenly advised!'
A freshly-elected Labour MP tried to charge the taxpayer more than £200 for a set of luxury M&S bedding.
Sean Woodcock bought two duvets, a pair of pillows and a set of brushed cotton bed sheets from the upmarket retailer - which he then claimed on his parliamentary expenses.
Woodcock, the Banbury MP, also bought four "luxury Egyptian cotton" towels and a bottle of magnolia shower cream, a Freedom of Information probe by the Mail revealed.
But his attempts to expense his items were rejected by the Commons pay watchdog as "not claimable" under rules introduced in the wake of the MPs' expenses scandal.
Woodcock said: "As a newly-elected MP I was mistakenly advised by a colleague about what type of accommodation costs could be claimed for.
"I accepted IPSA's decision immediately and paid for these items myself in full."
Chris Philp rages at 'international humiliation' for Britain after EU imperils migrant returns deal
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: "Yet again, it looks like we are gearing up for another international humiliation for the PM.
"If he can't even get a scheme where we pay the French half a billion pounds to wave the boats off from Calais for a migrant merry-go-round where the same number still come here, what hope do we have.
"He needs to get a grip. Unless all those arriving by small boat are sent back to France, we won't stop the crossings."
WATCH IN FULL: Early Years Minister Stephen Morgan speaks to GB News Breakfast
Rachel Reeves's former top adviser tells her to RAISE taxes as she faces '£5bn black hole'
One of Rachel Reeves's former top advisers has told her to U-turn on her manifesto pledge not to raise taxes for working people.
Jim O'Neill, a former Treasury minister who quit the Tories to later personally advise the Chancellor, has warned that Labour "can't commit" to its other priorities without hiking taxes after Reeves earlier pledged not to touch income tax, National Insurance, VAT and corportation tax.
Now-crossbench peer O'Neill said: "Without changing some of the big taxes, welfare and pensions, they [Labour] can’t commit to things like Northern Powerhouse Rail, small modular nuclear reactors, and various other things that will make an investment and growth difference."
READ THE FULL STORY ON RACHEL REEVES'S TAX HIKE DEMANDS HERE
MAPPED: All 223 Labour seats that could be directly stolen by Reform as Nigel Farage handed new polling victory
Reform UK has been handed another polling win as new data has tipped Nigel Farage's party to steal 223 seats from Labour at the next General Election.
According to new polling by More in Common, the party is projected to win 290 seats, more than twice as many as any other party.
Labour would fall to second on 126 seats, losing 285 seats it won at the last election, while the Tories would slump to third, holding only eight seats more than the Liberal Democrats.
Reform would hold 28 per cent of the vote, with most of the parties' gains coming from Labour seats.
But where would Farage's surging party return MPs?
Kemi Badenoch joins PM in issuing 7/7 tribute on 20th anniversary
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has joined Sir Keir Starmer in issuing a message commemorating the victims of 2005's 7/7 attacks 20 years on.
She said: "I remember 7/7 so vividly. I was working in Trafalgar Square on July 6, watching the celebration of London's Olympic bid win. The whole city was full of pride, full of joy.
"And then a day later, everything changed. Our capital was attacked. Innocent lives, men and women from all walks of life were taken. What should have been a day of hope became one of heartbreak as we united in loss.
"Today, we stand with those who carry the pain of that day - the families, friends and colleagues of those who never came home. We will remember them always."
Angela Rayner blasts free speech fears over Labour's 'banter ban' as 'MADE-UP NONSENSE' with chilling bill edging closer to law
Top Tories have 'resorted to spreading made-up nonsense', Angela Rayner spat
HOUSE OF COMMONS
Angela Rayner has labelled free speech warnings over Labour's "banter ban" Employment Rights Bill "made-up nonsense" in a furious rebuke to Tory critics.
Shadow Business Secretary Andrew Griffith and Free Speech Union founder peer Lord Young have consistently warned that the Bill - on its third reading in the Lords - could wreak havoc on freedom of expression in Britain.
Writing for GB News, Young warned it would "ban banter in pubs, restaurants, bars, entertainment venues and football stadiums".
Griffith, meanwhile, has called it the "unemployment rights bill".
But now, the Deputy PM has hit back, telling the Mirror: "Nobody should be abused while doing their job, but we've seen a horrific rise in violent abuse and harassment of shop workers and other public facing staff.
"The Tories can't defend their opposition to the action this Labour Government is taking to protect workers, so they've resorted to spreading made-up nonsense.
"It's the same old Tories - they're on the side of bad bosses, zero-hours contracts and fire-and-rehire."
‘The good, the bad and the ugly!’ Nigel Farage’s three big tests REVEALED as Reform allies vow to confront roadblocks to No10
Nigel Farage is preparing to confront a number of key challenges ahead of the General Election to prepare for power, Reform UK insiders have told GB News.
Reform is hoping to continue building on its momentum since the 2024 General Election, claiming victory in the Runcorn & Helsby by-election and snatching 677 council seats in May’s Local Elections.
More in Common’s latest MRP poll suggests that Reform would win the most seats if a national election was held today, winning 290 seats to put Farage just 36 seats short of an overall majority.
But insiders have been candid about the challenges facing Farage over the next four years...
GBN MEMBERS CAN READ THE FULL STORY ON FARAGE'S THREE BIG TESTS HERE
Keir Starmer speaks out on 7/7 bombings, 20 years on
Sir Keir Starmer has issued a statement on the 20th anniversary of the 7/7 bombings, which saw Islamic extremists kill 52 Londoners and injure hundreds more.
The Prime Minister said: "Today the whole country will unite to remember the lives lost in the 7/7 attacks, and all those whose lives were changed forever.
"We honour the courage shown that day - the bravery of the emergency services, the strength of survivors, and the unity of Londoners in the face of terror.
"Those who tried to divide us failed. We stood together then, and we stand together now - against hate and for the values that define us of freedom, democracy and the rule of law."
As PM faces down backbenchers... Zarah Sultana hails surging Corbynista party support and Green firebrand calls to unite the hard-left
As the Prime Minister faces down the prospect of another backbench rebellion, Labour is also grappling with the prospect of a breakaway hard-left party which pollsters say could eat into its vote share.
Last week, ex-Labour firebrands Zarah Sultana and Jeremy Corbyn announced plans to form a left-wing bloc - but Starmer's party has vowed that "only Labour can deliver the change needed to renew Britain".
Since then, Sultana has said that "72,000 people have signed up to get involved".
And now, hardliner Green leadership contender Zack Polanski has said the eco-party should join forces with the pro-Gaza grouping in a bid to emulate Reform UK's success on the right.
Polanski, a London Assembly member and former hypnotherapist, has said he is open to a pact with anyone who can stave off Nigel Farage's surging party.
"We have an increasingly unpopular Labour government that not only doesn't know how to handle it, but is actively making the conditions that are spurring on Nigel Farage even worse," he blasted.
"I will ally myself with anyone who shares my and the Green Party's values," he said.
IN DEPTH: Bridget Phillipson's looming special needs reforms which have sparked 'welfare mark two' fury
Bridget Phillipson's proposals would shift resources towards 'early intervention' and enhanced support within mainstream schools
GETTY
The Government is preparing a major overhaul of England's Special Educational Needs and Disabilities system, with reforms set to be unveiled this autumn.
Bridget Phillipson's proposals would shift resources towards "early intervention" and enhanced support within mainstream schools, moving away from reliance on more costly specialist school placements.
Ministers insist the changes aim to fix what they describe as a "failed" system and improve outcomes for all children with special needs, rather than cutting costs.
The Government has allocated £750million for specialist facilities in mainstream schools and over £1billion for high-needs pupils.
But now, Labour is contemplating scaling back education health and care plans (EHCPs), which legally oblige councils to provide special support.
Government data reveals that 639,000 children in England held EHCPs by January, marking an 11 per cent rise from the previous year.
The high special needs budget will reach £12billion in 2025-26, up from £8billion in 2021-22.
What happened the last time Keir Starmer went head-to-head with the Labour backbenches?
Just one week ago, Sir Keir Starmer was forced into a climbdown over his efforts to pare back Britain's ballooning benefits bill by just a small fraction of its over £300billion annual cost.
With the prospect of a 150-strong backbench rebellion looming, Starmer confirmed he would water down his proposed benefits cuts.
The Prime Minister, who was pushing for a £5billion cut to welfare spending by slashing Personal Independence Payments and Universal Credit, completed an enormous climbdown just days after dismissing 120 Labour rebels as being "noises off".
MPs went on to pass the second reading of Labour's Bill by 335 to 260 - a majority of 75, just over a third of the majority awarded to Starmer's party following the General Election.
READ THE FULL STORY AS IT HAPPENED - LABOUR'S BENEFITS CLIMBDOWN
You may like
Most Read
