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Brexit - live updates: EU leaders give Theresa May the go ahead to move to second phase of talks Brexit today – as it happened: EU leaders give Theresa May the go ahead to move to second phase of talks
(35 minutes later)
Welcome to The Independent's liveblog, where we will be bringing you the latest updates on Brexit from a crucial EU summit. European leaders have formally agreed to move to the next stage of the Brexit negotiations after deeming “sufficient progress” has been made on key issues. 
European leaders have formally agreed to move to the next stage of Brexit talks after deeming "sufficient progress" has been made on key issues. It now provides Theresa May with the green light to discuss “transitional arrangements” with the EU 27 and the overall framework for the future relationship.
European Commission President Donald Tusk announced the breakthrough on Twitter, posting: "EU leaders agree to move on to the second phase of #Brexit talks. Congratulations PM @theresa_may". Announcing the breakthrough at a news conference, the European Commission President Donald Tusk also said “congratulations” to the Prime Minister on the new progress. 
It means talks can now shift to the transition period and future trade relationship. After meeting with her EU counterparts on Thursday, Ms May flew back to the UK in the evening after attending the EU summit, where she spoke over dinner of her wish to move to the next stage of the talks. 
For the latest updates, see below: European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said the applause came because “some of us felt, including me, that she did make a big effort and this has to be recognised”. 
Fresh from a bruising Commons defeat on the EU (Withdrawal) Bill, the Prime Minister accepted EU plans to postpone trade talks until March when she attended a dinner with senior figures during the two-day European Council meeting. Back in her constituency on Friday, Ms May declared she is “well on the road” to delivering Brexit after the crucial agreement was formally reached.
Ms May made a pre-dawn dash to Brussels last week to sign off the draft agreement over the first phase of the Brexit talks, which centred on the issues of the Irish border, citizens' rights and the so-called divorce bill. She said Britain would be “beginning the talks about our future relationship straight away”, adding: “There is still more to do but we are well on the road to delivering a Brexit that will make Britain strong, prosperous and secure.”
However her relief was short-lived as Tory rebels banded together to inflict a humiliating defeat on the Government over its Brexit legislation, which would allow MPs to have a meaningful vote on the final Brexit deal. This liveblog is now closed but you can see Friday’s developments below.