Boris Johnson news: EU agrees Brexit deal as parliament clears way for second referendum vote
PM faces Commons battle to gain approval from MPs
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Boris Johnson has said he is “very confident” MPs will want to back his Brexit deal after UK and EU officials secured an agreement at a critical summit in Brussels.
But the prime minister’s DUP allies poured cold water on his hopes of progress by declaring they will oppose the plan – leaving Mr Johnson scrambling to find votes elsewhere.
The PM faces an uphill struggle to get his deal approved at an historic Commons sitting this Saturday.
MPs have won a key parliamentary vote paving the way for a bid to secure a second referendum on Saturday.
Senior Labour party figures, such as John McDonnell, have strongly criticised the agreement.
“The more people examine text of Johnson deal, the more you realise what a sell out deal it is,” Mr McDonnell said on Twitter.
“It’s not just the DUP, he’s sold out virtually every sector of our economy & all those who may have voted to leave believing a deal could be secured that protected their jobs.”
European leaders unanimously endorsed the proposal on Thursday and formally sent it to the British parliament.
“This is a great deal for our country. I also believe it’s a very good deal for our friends in the EU,” Mr Johnson told reporters in Brussels.
“There is a very good case for MPs across the House of Commons to express the democratic will of the people, as we have pledged many times to do and to get Brexit done.”
If you would like to see how the day’s events unfolded, please see what was our live coverage below:
Government tables motion for historic Saturday Commons sitting
Labour whips have published the government's business motion for the weekend, which reveals will be two votes.
The first on Boris Johnson's Brexit deal, then a second vote could be held on whether to have a no-deal Brexit.
But there could be other votes, depending on which amendments are tabled by rebel MPs.
Nigel Farage mocked after defending a law that would delay Brexit
The Brexit Party leader hit out at Jean-Claude Juncker, the European Commission president, after he suggested there should be no further delay to the UK's EU withdrawal.
Mr Juncker told reporters at a European Council summit in Brussels that there "will be no prolongation" after the EU and UK agreed a deal just hours before European leaders are due to meet.
"EU leaders have unanimously approved the new Brexit deal struck by Boris Johnson after discussing it at a summit in Brussels," reports Jon Stone from Brussels.
"European Commission and UK negotiators struck the accord, which replaces the EU's "backstop" with new arrangements for the Irish border, earlier in the day.
"The European Council endorses the Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community," the European Council conclusions read."
Read more here:
Eurasia Group, a consulting firm, believes Boris Johnson's Brexit deal could be narrowly defeated in a parliamentary vote on Saturday.
"Without the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), Johnson appears to be between 15 and 20 votes short of the 320 votes needed to guarantee victory; he will focus efforts between now and Saturday on wooing the European Research Group (ERG), the ex-Conservatives, and Labour," the group said.
"Exiled Tory MPs kicked out of the party by Boris Johnson are ready to deliver a fresh Brexit referendum if, as expected, his deal is defeated on Saturday, supporters of a public vote believe," reports Rob Merrick.
"Labour’s landmark decision to back a referendum on the prime minister’s agreement – combined with the determination of the Democratic Unionist Party to sink it – has been hailed as a “game changer”.
"Supporters of Final Say vote are confident they now have the numbers, believing up to 15 of the sacked Conservatives will join them – but only, crucially, after the deal has gone down."
Read more here:
Meanwhile back in Westminster, some MPs are demanding that the government release impact assessments for Boris Johnson's Brexit deal ahead of Saturday's vote.
Hilary Benn, the Labour MP, has asked for the assessments to be released in a letter to Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay.
The UK has not yet left the EU but leaders have said the door is open for Britain to return to the union.
Speaking on Thursday evening in a joint press conference at the conclusion of Brexit discussions, president of the European Council Donald Tusk, president of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker and Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar all expressed sadness that the UK was leaving the EU.
At the conclusion of his opening statement, Mr Tusk said: "On a more personal note, what I feel today, frankly speaking, is sadness, because in my heart I will always be a remainer, and I hope that our British friends decide to return one day, our door will always be open."
Mr Varadkar echoed the same sentiment, reporting "mixed feelings".
"I have mixed feelings today, I regret the UK is leaving but respect the decision to do so, like an old friend going on a journey without us, and we really hope it works out for them, but I think there will always be a place at the table for them if they ever choose to come back," he said.
Mr Tusk added that the EU was from the very beginning, flexible and open to solutions.
"Our compromise here without our goodwill and constructive approach any kind of deal would not have been possible at all," he added.
"We support a deal and this was a clear decision of 27 member states and we are prepared for ratification, now the ball is in the court of the UK.
"I have no idea what will be the result on Saturday, and it's not for me to comment, but if there is a request for an extension I will consult with other member states to see how they react."
Mr Juncker was asked what he would like to tell the 48 per cent of UK people who voted to remain in the EU that "they were right".
"Credit where it is due. He got his deal," writes columnist Sean O'Grady.
"The Shawshank Redemption-style odyssey is almost complete, or so we are led to believe. Where only a matter of a few months ago the European Commission insisted that the withdrawal agreement could not be renegotiated, it has been renegotiated.
"Where the EU stated that the Irish backstop was the only way to meet the requirements of the Good Friday Belfast Agreement and the integrity of the EU single market, now it is not the only way.
"And, on the other side, where an economic border was once regarded by Theresa May and every Tory MP, including Boris Johnson, as “something no British prime minister could ever accept”, er this prime minister has accepted precisely that."
Read more here:
Nigel Dodds, the DUP's leader, has been speaking about Boris Johnson's deal in highly critical terms.
"He has been too eager by far to get a deal at any cost, and the fact of the matter is, if he held his nerve and held out he would, of course, have got better concessions that kept the integrity, both economic and constitutionally, of the United Kingdom," Mr Dodds said on Thursday.
"Before the EU referendum Brexiteers promised to abolish the "tampon tax" - the 5% VAT that has to be charged on sanitary products under EU law," reports Brussels correspondent Jon Stone.
"With Northern Ireland due to stay in the EU's VAT regime under Boris Johnson's deal, women in Northern Ireland might have had to pay the tax.
"To prevent this from happening UK Brexit negotiators managed to secure a specific opt-out from EU VAT rules on sanitary products alone.
"We now have got derogation on the VAT so now we can set it to 0%," a senior UK government official said in the margins of the summit, adding that the change was 'only for sanitary products'."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments