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Brexit deal is a 'gentleman's agreement' says EU Theresa May says Brexit deal 'good news' for all voters
(35 minutes later)
The agreement to move Brexit talks on to the next phase is not strictly legally binding but the two sides have "shaken hands" on it, the EU has said. An agreement to move on to the next phase of Brexit talks is "good news" for both Leave and Remain voters, Theresa May has told MPs.
The European Commission said the UK had endorsed the "gentleman's agreement" between David Davis and Michel Barnier. She told Parliament it should reassure those who feared the UK would get "bogged down" in endless negotiations or "crash out" without a deal.
On Sunday the Brexit Secretary said guarantees on the Northern Ireland border were not legally binding unless the two sides reached a final deal. She said the UK did not want a trade arrangement based on any other country but "a deal that is right for the UK".
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said Mrs May had only just "scraped through".
The negotiations so far had been "punctuated by posturing and delays", he said.
Updating Parliament on the terms of Friday's phase one agreement - which is expected to be approved by the other 27 EU leaders later this week - the PM said it would see the UK pay a "fair" divorce bill, avoid a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland and protect the rights of UK and EU expat citizens.
But she said that if the UK was not able to agree a withdrawal deal with the EU prior to its scheduled exit in March 2019, "this deal is off the table".
Earlier, the EU said that although the agreement was not strictly legally binding, the two sides had "shaken hands" on it with a "gentleman's agreement" between David Davis and Michel Barnier.
On Sunday the Brexit Secretary David Davis said guarantees on the Northern Ireland border were not legally binding unless the two sides reached a final deal.
But he told LBC Radio on Monday they would be honoured whatever happened.But he told LBC Radio on Monday they would be honoured whatever happened.
The BBC's assistant political editor Norman Smith said the Brexit Secretary's clarification - in which he insisted one of the government's key aims was to ensure that the Northern Ireland peace process was not harmed - came among concerns in Dublin about the enforceability of Friday's phase one agreement. The BBC's assistant political editor Norman Smith said the Brexit Secretary's clarification - in which he insisted one of the government's key aims was to ensure that the Northern Ireland peace process was not harmed - came after concerns in Dublin about the enforceability of Friday's phase one agreement.
Mr Davis said he had been taken out of context when he appeared to tell the BBC's Andrew Marr that guarantees designed to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland were a "statement of intent".Mr Davis said he had been taken out of context when he appeared to tell the BBC's Andrew Marr that guarantees designed to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland were a "statement of intent".
"What I actually said yesterday in terms was, we want to protect the peace process, want to protect Ireland from the impact of Brexit for them," he said."What I actually said yesterday in terms was, we want to protect the peace process, want to protect Ireland from the impact of Brexit for them," he said.
"I said this was a statement of intent which was much more than just legally enforceable. Of course it's legally enforceable under the withdrawal agreement but even if that didn't happen for some reason, if something went wrong, we would still be seeking to provide a frictionless invisible border with Ireland.""I said this was a statement of intent which was much more than just legally enforceable. Of course it's legally enforceable under the withdrawal agreement but even if that didn't happen for some reason, if something went wrong, we would still be seeking to provide a frictionless invisible border with Ireland."
A European Commission spokesman said the first-phase deal on the Northern Ireland border, the divorce bill and citizens' rights did not strictly have the force of law.A European Commission spokesman said the first-phase deal on the Northern Ireland border, the divorce bill and citizens' rights did not strictly have the force of law.
"But we see the joint report of Michel Barnier and David Davis as a deal between gentlemen and it is the clear understanding that it is fully backed and endorsed by the UK government.""But we see the joint report of Michel Barnier and David Davis as a deal between gentlemen and it is the clear understanding that it is fully backed and endorsed by the UK government."
She added: "President Juncker had a meeting with Prime Minister May last Friday morning to ascertain that this is precisely the case. They shook hands."She added: "President Juncker had a meeting with Prime Minister May last Friday morning to ascertain that this is precisely the case. They shook hands."
A clause inserted in Friday's agreement at the insistence of the Republic of Ireland government says the UK would have full "regulatory alignment" with the EU in some areas if it leaves the EU without a deal.A clause inserted in Friday's agreement at the insistence of the Republic of Ireland government says the UK would have full "regulatory alignment" with the EU in some areas if it leaves the EU without a deal.
Theresa May will tell MPs shortly there is a new "sense of optimism" in the Brexit talks after her last-minute deal aimed at moving them to the next phase. Theresa May told MPs there was a new "sense of optimism" in the Brexit talks after her last-minute deal aimed at moving them to the next phase.
In a statement to Parliament, she will say she expects EU leaders to agree to start talks about future trade and security at a summit on Thursday and insist she did not cave in to Brussels over the so-called divorce bill and "alignment" with EU laws. In a statement to Parliament, she said she expected EU leaders to agree to start talks about a two-year transition deal immediately, with continued access to the single market for a time-limited period.
The UK is due to leave the EU in March 2019 but wants a two-year transition phase after that date, with continued access to the single market for a time-limited period to allow businesses to adjust. She said the next phase of talks on future relations would not be easy and would also require "give and take" between the two sides.
'Stay aligned''Stay aligned'
That is expected to be the focus of the next round of talks in Brussels in the new year, before discussions can start on a free trade agreement.That is expected to be the focus of the next round of talks in Brussels in the new year, before discussions can start on a free trade agreement.
Lib Dem leader Sir Vince Cable told BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Monday that the EU was unlikely to offer the UK a bespoke trade deal modelled on the one it has with Canada, but with financial services included.Lib Dem leader Sir Vince Cable told BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Monday that the EU was unlikely to offer the UK a bespoke trade deal modelled on the one it has with Canada, but with financial services included.
"The EU has effectively ruled that option out," he said. "The EU has also said if you want a Canadian-style approach you have to link it to all kind of conditions to do with state aid, environmental rules and employment rights which effectively rules out the government's philosophy of taking back control"."The EU has effectively ruled that option out," he said. "The EU has also said if you want a Canadian-style approach you have to link it to all kind of conditions to do with state aid, environmental rules and employment rights which effectively rules out the government's philosophy of taking back control".
His party has tabled an amendment to the EU Withdrawal Bill - to be considered on Tuesday - which would see "the Norway option" of remaining in the single market kept open as long as possible.His party has tabled an amendment to the EU Withdrawal Bill - to be considered on Tuesday - which would see "the Norway option" of remaining in the single market kept open as long as possible.
Urging Labour MPs and "pragmatic" Tories to support this approach, he said it would ensure the UK "stayed aligned with the EU" although it would no longer have any say over its rules.Urging Labour MPs and "pragmatic" Tories to support this approach, he said it would ensure the UK "stayed aligned with the EU" although it would no longer have any say over its rules.
"It is inferior to where we are but it is better than the alternative of not having a close relationship with the EU.""It is inferior to where we are but it is better than the alternative of not having a close relationship with the EU."