The European Union’s chief Brexit negotiator insisted Britain’s next leader would not be able to reopen Mrs May’s divorce deal, adding the backstop is only there as an “insurance” policy. Speaking at a security conference in Slovakia, Mr Barnier declined to comment on Mrs May’s potential successor but offered them the opportunity to reopen talks with him in Brussels. But the 585-page draft EU withdrawal deal will be out of reach, leaving just the unbinding political declaration on the future relationship the only mechanism to securing a change to the overall Brexit package.

Mr Barnier said: “The problem is there with the Irish border, created by Brexit. We have to protect peace. Stability is not a question of goods or customs. It’s a question about people in Ireland, on both sides.

“In any case, a new prime minister will not change the problem. The problem is there and the new prime minister will have the responsibility with us to solve this problem.”

But with an olive-branch peace offering to a potential no-deal supporter, Mr Barnier said he is willing, and wants, to find an alternative to the backstop.

He said: “Tell me what is your solution or rational solution to protect the peace in Ireland, and at the same time to protect your internal market from EU export and for us to protect our single market from the goods and animals coming from the UK.”

He added: “The backstop is not there to be used. It is just there as an insurance, until and unless, we find another solution.

“It’s possible, and I’m ready to work immediately after the signature or ratification of the treaty on what we called, with the ERG and some others, the alternative arrangements.

“It could be part of the solutions, but nobody has given me proof that these alternative arrangements can work today or tomorrow. That’s why we need this backstop. I don’t want to use the backstop in any case, it’s an insurance.”

However, he did warn: “We are not sure to succeed on alternative arrangements.”

Mr Barnier’s comments on find a differnet option to the backstop come as part of a continued push to offer a potential timetable to finding a technological fix to the Irish border.

He has previously hinted at using aerial surveillance drones and other technologies to create an “invisible” border, all while checks are maintained on the movements of livestock or lorries carrying farm products.

But the EU negotiator wants the next prime minister to agree to Mrs May’s deal and allow the transition period, during which the UK is inside the EU’s single market and customs union, to develop the so-called alternative arrangements favoured by Brexiteers.

EU officials hope the next Conservative leader will be able to sell a beefed-up Brexit package, by partially breaking down the backstop until the protocol is eventually eradicated.

But concerns have arisen that EU capitals will block any attempts by the new prime minister to ask for another extension to renegotiate the overall Brexit package.

Appearing alongside Mr Barnier, Slovakia’s foreign minister vowed not to grant another extension to a British prime minister trying to reopen the withdrawal agreement.

Miroslav Lajčák insisted a general election or a second referendum were the only reasons that would justify a further delay.

He said: “If there’s a request for another extension just for the sake of repetition of the same this might spoil the mood in some countries.

“If there has to be another extension it has to be with a very good reason like elections, the second referendum.

“Definitely not because someone has given a promise to reopen the Withdrawal Agreement.

“We’ve said many times and we will say many times that this is closed, it’s not going to be reopened.”

He also vented frustration at Tory leadership hopefuls promising to renegotiate Mrs May’s deal, saying attempts will be stonewalled by EU leaders..

He added: “Some of them are already promising that they will force the EU to reopen the Withdrawal Agreement it will not happen.

“The new leader will inherit the same divided country, the same parliament which has rejected all the possible deals so far and will inherit the same arrangement.”

“Don’t expect that there will be a miraculous solution out of the blue.”

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