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Brexit: Arlene Foster says DUP 'won't be led by anyone' on key draft text Brexit: DUP MP Sammy Wilson hits out at 'poor deal'
(about 3 hours later)
The DUP will "not be led by the Irish government" about coming to a view on the UK-EU draft Brexit text, Arlene Foster has said. The DUP has described the government's Brexit text as a "poor deal" after Prime Minister Theresa May announced the cabinet had voted to support it.
She was speaking after the taoiseach (Irish prime minister) said unionists should be assured that the text would not negatively impact the integrity of the UK. East Antrim MP Sammy Wilson reacted angrily to the news saying it was "a deal she (Mrs May) said she would never accept".
The DUP leader also said she hopes to meet the prime minister later. Mr Wilson said: "I think people will be appalled at her words."
Talks have entered crunch time, with the Irish border the sticking point. It is understood the DUP leader Arlene Foster is due to meet the prime minister on Wednesday night.
Theresa May is still holding a special cabinet meeting discussing the detail of the text, and is due to make a statement outside Downing Street afterwards. The party's ten MPs prop up the Conservative government under the confidence-and-supply arrangement, signed in June 2017.
Earlier, senior DUP MP Sir Jeffrey Donaldson had said the text could precipitate the break-up of the union. Speaking outside No 10 Downing Street, the prime minister said there had been a "long, detailed and impassioned debate" during a five-hour cabinet meeting.
Mrs Foster told reporters in the Commons: "We're talking in a bit of a vacuum, we really do need to see that text." She said it was a "decisive step" in the progress of Brexit, and would allow the agreement to be finalised in the coming days.
Mrs May now faces a battle to get the completed deal through Parliament.
Earlier on Wednesday DUP leader Arlene Foster said that she will "not be led by the Irish government" when coming to a view on the UK-EU draft Brexit text.
Mrs Foster was speaking after the taoiseach (Irish prime minister) said unionists should be assured that the text would not negatively impact the integrity of the UK.
Talks have entered crunch time, with the Irish border remaining the main sticking point.
Mrs Foster had told reporters in the Commons: "We're talking in a bit of a vacuum, we really do need to see that text."
"We are concerned about the narrative that has built up around the prime minister's proposal," she added."We are concerned about the narrative that has built up around the prime minister's proposal," she added.
"We will make our own judgements, and we will certainly not be led by the Irish government who have been aggressive in all of this.""We will make our own judgements, and we will certainly not be led by the Irish government who have been aggressive in all of this."
Mrs Foster said if Theresa May reneged on commitments she had made, there would be "consequences".Mrs Foster said if Theresa May reneged on commitments she had made, there would be "consequences".
What's thought to have been agreed? What's been agreed?
The draft withdrawal agreement, which has been drawn up alongside a statement of future relations with the EU, has not been published, but is thought to run to some 500 pages. The 585-page draft withdrawal agreement has now been published, alongside a shorter statement setting out what the UK and EU's future relations will look like.
The detail relating to Northern Ireland starts on page 302.
It addresses the Northern Ireland backstop - the insurance policy arrangement that aims to guarantee that physical checks will not be reintroduced at the border with the Irish Republic, in the event of the EU and UK failing to agree a deal on future trading relations.It addresses the Northern Ireland backstop - the insurance policy arrangement that aims to guarantee that physical checks will not be reintroduced at the border with the Irish Republic, in the event of the EU and UK failing to agree a deal on future trading relations.
The backstop within the agreed draft is believed to avoid a return to a "hard border" with the Republic by keeping the UK as a whole aligned with the EU customs union for a limited time. The backstop within the agreed draft would avoid a return to a "hard border" with the Republic by keeping the UK as a whole aligned with the EU customs union for a limited time.
This has proven the most contentious part of the withdrawal negotiations, with concerns raised by Brexiteer Tories and the DUP over how it will work. This has proven to be the most contentious part of the withdrawal negotiations, with concerns raised by Brexiteer Tories and the DUP over how it will work.
But EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier said agreement on the backstop would protect the Good Friday Agreement and respect the integrity of the UK as a whole.
He said the backstop would only kick in if there was no better solution by the end of the transition period in 2020 and is "not meant to be used".
What has the Irish government said?What has the Irish government said?
On Wednesday morning, Leo Varadkar appeared in Dáil Éireann (Irish parliament) to answer questions from opposition parties.On Wednesday morning, Leo Varadkar appeared in Dáil Éireann (Irish parliament) to answer questions from opposition parties.
He said he believed what the draft text included would not "negatively impact" the integrity of the UK.He said he believed what the draft text included would not "negatively impact" the integrity of the UK.
He said he recognised that "for the unionist community this is quite a difficult time".He said he recognised that "for the unionist community this is quite a difficult time".
"I know many unionists may be feeling vulnerable, isolated and many may be quite worried about what may be agreed in the coming days," he added."I know many unionists may be feeling vulnerable, isolated and many may be quite worried about what may be agreed in the coming days," he added.
"I want to say to them - the Good Friday Agreement will be protected - it includes a recognition of the fact we respect the territorial integrity of the UK and the principle of consent, that there will be no change to the constitutional status of Northern Ireland unless a majority of people say so.""I want to say to them - the Good Friday Agreement will be protected - it includes a recognition of the fact we respect the territorial integrity of the UK and the principle of consent, that there will be no change to the constitutional status of Northern Ireland unless a majority of people say so."
He said he was happy to have that written into any agreement as a legal guarantee.He said he was happy to have that written into any agreement as a legal guarantee.
Mr Varadkar held a special meeting on Wednesday morning to discuss the text with his cabinet.Mr Varadkar held a special meeting on Wednesday morning to discuss the text with his cabinet.
He stressed that he did not want to share detail or say anything that "might make things more difficult for the prime minister" ahead of her crucial cabinet meeting at 14:00 GMT. He stressed that he did not want to share detail or say anything that "might make things more difficult for the prime minister" ahead of her crucial cabinet meeting.
But he added that if things progresses, the draft deal could provide the basis for a summit of EU leaders on 25 November.But he added that if things progresses, the draft deal could provide the basis for a summit of EU leaders on 25 November.
What has the DUP said?
The reaction from the party that the UK government relies on to win key Commons votes has been wholly critical.
Sir Jeffrey Donaldson told BBC Radio Four's Today programme that the "Northern Ireland backstop has been rolled into a UK-wide backstop", which could have consequences for the union.
"I think it has been described by one commentator as like a swimming pool, and Northern Ireland will be in at the deep end," he added.
On Wednesday morning, DUP leader Arlene Foster travelled to London, and has said she hopes to meet the prime minister on Wednesday evening and see the text.
What have other parties in Northern Ireland said about the draft text?What have other parties in Northern Ireland said about the draft text?
Sinn Féin's Stormont leader Michelle O'Neill tweeted that she would be speaking to Mrs May later on Wednesday.Sinn Féin's Stormont leader Michelle O'Neill tweeted that she would be speaking to Mrs May later on Wednesday.
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood also said "the big problem" would be getting the draft deal "through parliament".SDLP leader Colum Eastwood also said "the big problem" would be getting the draft deal "through parliament".
"The only people who are precipitating the break-up of the United Kingdom are the DUP," he added."The only people who are precipitating the break-up of the United Kingdom are the DUP," he added.
"It (the union) isn't under threat and I think talking that up has created a threat in itself," he said."It (the union) isn't under threat and I think talking that up has created a threat in itself," he said.
Alliance deputy leader, Stephen Farry, said people needed "to be incredibly responsible".Alliance deputy leader, Stephen Farry, said people needed "to be incredibly responsible".
"Dramatising this as a constitutional question is extremely worrying and dangerous and indeed irresponsible and it's not just the DUP who are doing it, you have people like Boris Johnson last night doing it, talking about Dublin control," he said."Dramatising this as a constitutional question is extremely worrying and dangerous and indeed irresponsible and it's not just the DUP who are doing it, you have people like Boris Johnson last night doing it, talking about Dublin control," he said.
Those three parties and the Greens, who all campaigned to remain in the EU, are now expected to meet the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar in Dublin on Thursday.Those three parties and the Greens, who all campaigned to remain in the EU, are now expected to meet the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar in Dublin on Thursday.
The Ulster Unionist Party, meanwhile, has said there must be a "sensible deal" that respects the result of the referendum and maintains the integrity of the UK.The Ulster Unionist Party, meanwhile, has said there must be a "sensible deal" that respects the result of the referendum and maintains the integrity of the UK.
"There must be no ambiguity, constructive or otherwise, in any deal about Northern Ireland's place within the Union in a post-Brexit UK," said party leader Robin Swann."There must be no ambiguity, constructive or otherwise, in any deal about Northern Ireland's place within the Union in a post-Brexit UK," said party leader Robin Swann.
Remind me, why is the backstop needed?Remind me, why is the backstop needed?
Both the UK and EU are committed to ensuring physical checks at the Irish border will not be reintroduced.Both the UK and EU are committed to ensuring physical checks at the Irish border will not be reintroduced.
But if a solution cannot be found as part of a wider deal, the EU insisted on a legally binding "backstop".But if a solution cannot be found as part of a wider deal, the EU insisted on a legally binding "backstop".
Until Tuesday, EU and UK negotiators had each come up with their own proposals for the Northern Ireland backstop, but had been unable to agree on a way forward.Until Tuesday, EU and UK negotiators had each come up with their own proposals for the Northern Ireland backstop, but had been unable to agree on a way forward.
Focus remains on Downing Street where Theresa May is holding a special meeting of her cabinet to set out the details of the proposed text.Focus remains on Downing Street where Theresa May is holding a special meeting of her cabinet to set out the details of the proposed text.