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Cameron hails deal to give UK 'special status' in EU – live | |
(35 minutes later) | |
9.46pm GMT | |
21:46 | |
Now that David Cameron has secured a deal, he begins the task of selling it to the British public | |
I have negotiated a deal to give the UK special status in the EU. I will be recommending it to Cabinet tomorrow. Press conference shortly. | |
9.43pm GMT | |
21:43 | |
Reporters at the Grassroots Out event are saying that George Galloway - recently revealed as the special guest speaker - is not getting the best of receptions: | |
And yes, that is @Tim_Aker walking out as Galloway starts ... pic.twitter.com/GYa8n8VwqY | |
Security guards told by organisers to shut the doors to stop people leaving the hall as @georgegalloway speaks | |
9.39pm GMT | |
21:39 | |
Goodnight to second referendum: special UK deal will 'cease to exist' if UK votes to leave EU | |
9.38pm GMT | |
21:38 | |
Ewen MacAskill | |
Nigel Farage told the Grassroots Out conference that a deal had been reached. In his first reaction, he said: “Dave’s deal is not worth the paper it is written on.” | |
The response to the conference to Farage’s announcement was muted, in part because there is still no detail, as Farage acknowledged, and no official British confirmation. “This deal that has been done does not address the fundamental issues that the British people care about. It does not address the issues that our parliament is not able to overrule bad EU law.” Other issues were the £55m-a-day cost of membership and the inability to control migration. | |
“And yet, after a cabinet meeting at 9 o’clock tomorrow morning, there will be a press conference and the prime minister will tell you he has won this amazing deal.” | |
The surprise guest completing the night is George Galloway. | |
9.34pm GMT | |
21:34 | |
European council president Donald Tusk says deal done | |
Well, this would seem to clear up some of the confusion, somewhat: | |
Deal. Unanimous support for new settlement for #UKinEU | |
9.29pm GMT | |
21:29 | |
Ewen MacAskill | |
The position of Jeremy Corbyn and shadow chancellor John McDonnell on the European Union has been ambiguous. But Labour MP Kate Hoey placed them firmly in the sceptical camp. | |
Speaking at the Grassroots Out conference, Hoey, a co-founder of the movement, said some of her Labour colleagues, including Corbyn and McDonnell, “believe, like me, that our membership of the EU is incompatible with Labour values.” | |
She reeled off a string of senior Labour figures in the past who opposed the European Union. “So, that is why it is so incredibly disappointing somehow, somewhere in the Labour machinery, Jeremy and John have been stifled.” She expressed hope that, in the next month or two, they will come out. | |
Conservative MP David Davis said about 700 people had been locked out of the conference because there were already too many inside; a tribute to the organisers. | |
9.27pm GMT | |
21:27 | |
So, no confirmation on a deal and little detail on what one might entail. However, Bloomberg have tweeted this: | |
EU understood to have given David Cameron a 7-year "brake" on welfare payments https://t.co/pPMAIf22Q4 #EUsummit pic.twitter.com/sepMpHaSjj | |
9.23pm GMT | |
21:23 | |
The Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka says a deal has been agreed by European Union leaders to keep Britain in the 28-nation bloc that represents a “decent compromise”. | |
However, Donald Tusk’s spokesperson has cast doubt on the claims. | |
Still no agreement on new settlement for #UKinEU at "British dinner" of #EUCO | |
Updated | |
at 9.23pm GMT | |
9.11pm GMT | 9.11pm GMT |
21:11 | 21:11 |
'Deal reached' claims | 'Deal reached' claims |
And as the delegates sit down to eat, a suggestion from the Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė that a deal has been done. | And as the delegates sit down to eat, a suggestion from the Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė that a deal has been done. |
Agreement #UKinEU done. Drama over. | Agreement #UKinEU done. Drama over. |
No details yet on the terms but we’ll bring you them as they come in. | No details yet on the terms but we’ll bring you them as they come in. |
Updated | Updated |
at 9.16pm GMT | at 9.16pm GMT |
8.58pm GMT | 8.58pm GMT |
20:58 | 20:58 |
The Maltese prime minister Joseph Muscat has posted the menu for the English dinner. “Not exactly fish and chips”, he says. | The Maltese prime minister Joseph Muscat has posted the menu for the English dinner. “Not exactly fish and chips”, he says. |
Not exactly fish and chips! #EUCO resumes. Hopefully we can iron out deal tonight -JM pic.twitter.com/IFoOECOPQo | Not exactly fish and chips! #EUCO resumes. Hopefully we can iron out deal tonight -JM pic.twitter.com/IFoOECOPQo |
Updated | Updated |
at 8.58pm GMT | at 8.58pm GMT |
8.52pm GMT | 8.52pm GMT |
20:52 | 20:52 |
Ewen MacAskill | Ewen MacAskill |
The first 90 minutes of the Grassroots Out conference has been flat so far, short of ‘big names’. | The first 90 minutes of the Grassroots Out conference has been flat so far, short of ‘big names’. |
The ‘biggest name’ has been veteran Eurosceptic MP Sir Bill Cash, who reminded the audience that he was one of the Conservative rebels who voted against the Maastricht Treaty 25 years ago. He delivered a speech that probably sounded much like the one 25 years ago: the fight was for our grandchildren but also our grandparents who had fought for British independence. “We will fight and fight again,” he vowed. | The ‘biggest name’ has been veteran Eurosceptic MP Sir Bill Cash, who reminded the audience that he was one of the Conservative rebels who voted against the Maastricht Treaty 25 years ago. He delivered a speech that probably sounded much like the one 25 years ago: the fight was for our grandchildren but also our grandparents who had fought for British independence. “We will fight and fight again,” he vowed. |
Trade unionist John Boyd predicted a major trade union will come out in favour of GO on Monday. | Trade unionist John Boyd predicted a major trade union will come out in favour of GO on Monday. |
The main interest of a largely-bored press crew inside the conference is trying to find out who designed GO’s lurid tie. One of the speakers said it was deliberate so it would provide a talking point. | The main interest of a largely-bored press crew inside the conference is trying to find out who designed GO’s lurid tie. One of the speakers said it was deliberate so it would provide a talking point. |
The other main interest is in trying to guess the ‘special guest’ who will provide the finale, following on from Kate Hoey, David Davis and Nigel Farage. | The other main interest is in trying to guess the ‘special guest’ who will provide the finale, following on from Kate Hoey, David Davis and Nigel Farage. |
8.50pm GMT | 8.50pm GMT |
20:50 | 20:50 |
The delegates have finally sat down to an English dinner, Donald Tusk’s spokesperson has said. | The delegates have finally sat down to an English dinner, Donald Tusk’s spokesperson has said. |
The "English dinner" has started. #UKinEU #EUCO pic.twitter.com/ixRE9uIVGE | The "English dinner" has started. #UKinEU #EUCO pic.twitter.com/ixRE9uIVGE |
According to Reuters, officials and diplomats have said that a draft agreement is almost ready that could be approved over a potentially brief meal. However, there remain snags that could hold up proceedings. So, plenty for them chew over. | According to Reuters, officials and diplomats have said that a draft agreement is almost ready that could be approved over a potentially brief meal. However, there remain snags that could hold up proceedings. So, plenty for them chew over. |
Negotiations were supposed to have been wrapped up by breakfast time. Here’s Kate Lyons’ guide to how an English breakfast became and English lunch and now an English dinner with no deal in place. | Negotiations were supposed to have been wrapped up by breakfast time. Here’s Kate Lyons’ guide to how an English breakfast became and English lunch and now an English dinner with no deal in place. |
8.28pm GMT | 8.28pm GMT |
20:28 | 20:28 |
Over at the Grassroots Out conference in London, it seems some would-be attendees have been shut out - including ITV’s political editor Robert Peston. | Over at the Grassroots Out conference in London, it seems some would-be attendees have been shut out - including ITV’s political editor Robert Peston. |
ITN colleague @peston locked out of Grassroots Out rally along with supporters. Room at capacity, security say. pic.twitter.com/WHWgG5iePC | ITN colleague @peston locked out of Grassroots Out rally along with supporters. Room at capacity, security say. pic.twitter.com/WHWgG5iePC |
7.56pm GMT | 7.56pm GMT |
19:56 | 19:56 |
Shakespearean quotes, gift-wrapped editions of Beatrix Potter, Belgian surrealism... plus a large helping of backstabbing and brinkmanship. | Shakespearean quotes, gift-wrapped editions of Beatrix Potter, Belgian surrealism... plus a large helping of backstabbing and brinkmanship. |
It could only be the last 48 hours in Brussels, from where the Guardian’s Ian Traynor has filed this account of events as they unfolded. A snippet: | It could only be the last 48 hours in Brussels, from where the Guardian’s Ian Traynor has filed this account of events as they unfolded. A snippet: |
The British side let it be known that Cameron sought to woo the federalist Michel by presenting him with a French edition of the works of Beatrix Potter for a new-born daughter. | The British side let it be known that Cameron sought to woo the federalist Michel by presenting him with a French edition of the works of Beatrix Potter for a new-born daughter. |
In fact, the books were gifted a fortnight ago during the international Syria conference in London. | In fact, the books were gifted a fortnight ago during the international Syria conference in London. |
Enda Kenny, the taoiseach and Cameron’s biggest champion at the summit, took to quoting Macbeth along the lines of if this had to be done, best to get it done quickly. Macbeth, of course, was talking of murder, a point perhaps lost on most of Kenny’s audience. | Enda Kenny, the taoiseach and Cameron’s biggest champion at the summit, took to quoting Macbeth along the lines of if this had to be done, best to get it done quickly. Macbeth, of course, was talking of murder, a point perhaps lost on most of Kenny’s audience. |
Read on here.. | Read on here.. |