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| Brexit: UK and EU 'agree text' of draft withdrawal agreement | Brexit: UK and EU 'agree text' of draft withdrawal agreement |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| UK and EU officials have agreed the draft text of a Brexit agreement after months of negotiations. | UK and EU officials have agreed the draft text of a Brexit agreement after months of negotiations. |
| A cabinet source told the BBC that the document has been agreed at a technical level by officials from both sides after intensive discussions this week. | A cabinet source told the BBC that the document has been agreed at a technical level by officials from both sides after intensive discussions this week. |
| A special cabinet meeting will be held at 14:00 GMT on Wednesday as Theresa May seeks ministers' backing. | A special cabinet meeting will be held at 14:00 GMT on Wednesday as Theresa May seeks ministers' backing. |
| The PM has been meeting ministers in Downing Street for one-to-one talks on the draft agreement. | The PM has been meeting ministers in Downing Street for one-to-one talks on the draft agreement. |
| BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg said the agreement contained a UK-wide customs "backstop" aimed at preventing new border checks in Northern Ireland. | BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg said the agreement contained a UK-wide customs "backstop" aimed at preventing new border checks in Northern Ireland. |
| There is no additional Northern Ireland-only backstop - but sources wouldn't be drawn on any specific arrangements for Northern Ireland on rules and regulation within the UK-wide one, she added. | There is no additional Northern Ireland-only backstop - but sources wouldn't be drawn on any specific arrangements for Northern Ireland on rules and regulation within the UK-wide one, she added. |
| This "backstop" has proved to the most contentious part of the withdrawal negotiations, with concerns raised by Brexiteer Tories and the DUP over how it will work. | This "backstop" has proved to the most contentious part of the withdrawal negotiations, with concerns raised by Brexiteer Tories and the DUP over how it will work. |
| The pound surged against the dollar and the euro following the negotiations breakthrough - but analysts warned it could be short-lived, with the cabinet and Parliament yet to agree to the plans. | The pound surged against the dollar and the euro following the negotiations breakthrough - but analysts warned it could be short-lived, with the cabinet and Parliament yet to agree to the plans. |
| The EU said it would "take stock" on Wednesday, while the Irish government said negotiations were "ongoing and have not concluded". | The EU said it would "take stock" on Wednesday, while the Irish government said negotiations were "ongoing and have not concluded". |
| Leading Brexiteers, such as Boris Johnson and Jacob Rees-Mogg, immediately criticised what has been reported to be in the draft agreement, saying it would keep the UK under EU control. | Leading Brexiteers, such as Boris Johnson and Jacob Rees-Mogg, immediately criticised what has been reported to be in the draft agreement, saying it would keep the UK under EU control. |
| Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party, which gives Theresa May vital support in key votes, said it would be a "very, very hard sell". | Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party, which gives Theresa May vital support in key votes, said it would be a "very, very hard sell". |
| But Conservative Chief Whip Julian Smith said he was "confident" it would pass when put to a crucial Commons vote, and Transport Secretary Chris Grayling called for "a little bit of calm" before the cabinet gives its verdict on Wednesday. | But Conservative Chief Whip Julian Smith said he was "confident" it would pass when put to a crucial Commons vote, and Transport Secretary Chris Grayling called for "a little bit of calm" before the cabinet gives its verdict on Wednesday. |
| Both the UK and EU hope to be able to schedule a special summit of European leaders at the end of November to sign off the deal. | Both the UK and EU hope to be able to schedule a special summit of European leaders at the end of November to sign off the deal. |
| What's been agreed? | What's been agreed? |
| The details of the draft agreement have not been published, so we don't know the small print yet. | The details of the draft agreement have not been published, so we don't know the small print yet. |
| But it is made up of a withdrawal agreement - said to run to 500 pages - alongside a statement about what the UK and EU's future relationship will look like. | But it is made up of a withdrawal agreement - said to run to 500 pages - alongside a statement about what the UK and EU's future relationship will look like. |
| The withdrawal agreement includes how to guarantee there will not be physical border checks reintroduced in Northern Ireland - the major sticking point in recent weeks. | The withdrawal agreement includes how to guarantee there will not be physical border checks reintroduced in Northern Ireland - the major sticking point in recent weeks. |
| Some Brexiteers fear the likely arrangement will keep the UK locked into EU trade rules for years to come in order to maintain a frictionless border. | Some Brexiteers fear the likely arrangement will keep the UK locked into EU trade rules for years to come in order to maintain a frictionless border. |
| The agreement also includes commitments over citizens' rights after Brexit, a proposed 21-month transition period after the UK's departure on 29 March 2019 and details of the so-called £39bn "divorce bill". | The agreement also includes commitments over citizens' rights after Brexit, a proposed 21-month transition period after the UK's departure on 29 March 2019 and details of the so-called £39bn "divorce bill". |
| The future relationship statement is expected to be far shorter, with the UK and the EU's long-term trade arrangements yet to be settled. | The future relationship statement is expected to be far shorter, with the UK and the EU's long-term trade arrangements yet to be settled. |
| No 10 said ministers were now being called to a special meeting to "consider the draft agreement the negotiating teams have reached in Brussels, and to decide on next steps". | No 10 said ministers were now being called to a special meeting to "consider the draft agreement the negotiating teams have reached in Brussels, and to decide on next steps". |
| Before they do so, they will be able to read relevant "documentation". | Before they do so, they will be able to read relevant "documentation". |
| What does the cabinet do now? | |
| By BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg | By BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg |
| It doesn't seem to me that many of the cabinet are likely to walk on Wednesday over what's in the document. | |
| It's suggested that those with bigger doubts are more likely to cause problems for the prime minister because it won't get through Parliament. | |
| One source told me senior ministers are thinking not just about the wisdom of backing a deal they don't like because it's a sour compromise, but whether it is folly to back a deal they believe can't get through Parliament. | |
| Slamming on the brakes now would force a crisis, but it could be less serious than the political disaster of pursuing this plan to an eventual calamitous defeat that could take them all down. | |
| Who doesn't like it? | Who doesn't like it? |
| Former foreign secretary Mr Johnson said the plan would see the UK remain in the customs union and "large parts" of the single market. | Former foreign secretary Mr Johnson said the plan would see the UK remain in the customs union and "large parts" of the single market. |
| He told the BBC it was "utterly unacceptable to anyone who believes in democracy" and he would vote against it. | He told the BBC it was "utterly unacceptable to anyone who believes in democracy" and he would vote against it. |
| Mr Rees-Mogg warned of the UK becoming a "vassal state" with Northern Ireland "being ruled from Dublin". | Mr Rees-Mogg warned of the UK becoming a "vassal state" with Northern Ireland "being ruled from Dublin". |
| Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said "given the shambolic nature of the negotiations, this is unlikely to be the good deal for the country." | Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said "given the shambolic nature of the negotiations, this is unlikely to be the good deal for the country." |
| Pro-EU Conservative MP Justine Greening said the agreement would leave the UK with less influence and undermine its credibility. | Pro-EU Conservative MP Justine Greening said the agreement would leave the UK with less influence and undermine its credibility. |
| Speaking at a rally calling for another EU referendum to be held, she said: "Even if some people in my party can't see this is a bad deal, everyone else around this entire planet can." | Speaking at a rally calling for another EU referendum to be held, she said: "Even if some people in my party can't see this is a bad deal, everyone else around this entire planet can." |
| Former Transport Minister Jo Johnson told the audience at a packed Westminster Hall that cabinet ministers were "looking deep into their consciences" about whether to support the deal. | |
| Mr Johnson, who quit his ministerial role last week over Brexit policy, added: "The whips are going to tighten the thumbscrews on all our colleagues across Parliament in all parties probably, so it is very hard to predict." | |
| The view from the EU | The view from the EU |
| BBC Europe editor Katya Adler | BBC Europe editor Katya Adler |
| Brussels is keeping schtum this evening. This doesn't mean that nothing's going on. Those in the know simply prefer to keep quiet at this sensitive stage. | Brussels is keeping schtum this evening. This doesn't mean that nothing's going on. Those in the know simply prefer to keep quiet at this sensitive stage. |
| It seems what is being described to me as a "mutual understanding" has indeed been reached on a technical level between EU and UK Brexit negotiators. | It seems what is being described to me as a "mutual understanding" has indeed been reached on a technical level between EU and UK Brexit negotiators. |
| This is not yet a deal. All eyes are now on the UK cabinet. If ministers reject the draft, then it's back to the drawing board. | This is not yet a deal. All eyes are now on the UK cabinet. If ministers reject the draft, then it's back to the drawing board. |
| If they approve it, then the 27 EU ambassadors scheduled to meet tomorrow may be told by the European Commission that decisive progress has been made in negotiations, meaning a Brexit summit could be convened with Theresa May, possibly in less than two weeks' time. | If they approve it, then the 27 EU ambassadors scheduled to meet tomorrow may be told by the European Commission that decisive progress has been made in negotiations, meaning a Brexit summit could be convened with Theresa May, possibly in less than two weeks' time. |
| First though, all 27 EU countries and the European Parliament will want to pore over the text. And that won't be with an uncritical eye. | First though, all 27 EU countries and the European Parliament will want to pore over the text. And that won't be with an uncritical eye. |
| Meanwhile, following pressure from all sides of the Commons, ministers have agreed to provide MPs with a legal assessment of the implications for the UK of the Irish backstop and other controversial aspects of any deal. | Meanwhile, following pressure from all sides of the Commons, ministers have agreed to provide MPs with a legal assessment of the implications for the UK of the Irish backstop and other controversial aspects of any deal. |
| Cabinet Office minister David Lidington said Attorney General Geoffrey Cox would make a statement to MPs and take questions ahead of the final vote on any Brexit deal. | Cabinet Office minister David Lidington said Attorney General Geoffrey Cox would make a statement to MPs and take questions ahead of the final vote on any Brexit deal. |
| MPs, he said, would get to see "a full reasoned position statement laying out the government's both political and also legal position on the proposed withdrawal agreement". | MPs, he said, would get to see "a full reasoned position statement laying out the government's both political and also legal position on the proposed withdrawal agreement". |