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LONDON, Dec. 3-- Nine days that could determine the future of Britain's relationship with the European Union (EU) kicked off Monday with angry exchanges in the House of Commons. Members of Parliament (MPs) grilled the government's top legal officer, Attorney General Geoffrey Cox, over legal advice he has given to ministers on the Brexit agreement Prime Minister Theresa May has agreed with the EU. At the heart of the wrangle is the refusal of the government to publish the full legal advice which details the risk that the border issue between Northern Ireland and Ireland could permanently tie Britain to an arrangement with Brussels. In a dramatic speech Cox confirmed that Britain will not be able to cancel a so-called backstop clause on the Irish border question without approval from Brussels. Cox told MPs, "There is no unilateral right to terminate this arrangement," with the Daily Telegraph reporting that one MP listening to the debate shouted out: "It's a trap." It emerged last night that opposition party politicians have called on Parliament to consider contempt proceedings against May's government over its refusal to publish all of the advice given by Cox. Under the deal backed by the European Council, Britain will leave the bloc next March, with an implementation period starting the next day and continuing until the end of December 2020. During that period nothing will change and the aim is to agree on a new permanent trade deal with Britain as a non-member of the EU. | 
