Brexit: Michel Barnier urges MPs to take ‘responsibility’ and back deal

Agreement was signed off by UK cabinet after marathon meeting

The EU’s chief Brexit negotiator has urged MPs to take “responsibility” and back the Brexit deal struck with the UK government on Wednesday.

Michel Barnier signalled that the EU would be ready to start negotiating a trade deal with the UK the day after it left if the withdrawal agreement was supported by parliament.

Asked at a late-night press conference on Wednesday about the coming meaningful vote in the Commons, Mr Barnier replied:

“The two negotiating teams have taken their responsibility. The British government has taken today its responsibility. Now, everybody on both sides has to take their responsibility.”

Mr Barnier was speaking after the UK cabinet’s marathon meeting concluded and backed the deal. He said that the agreement, which contains 185 articles, 3 protocols, and a series of annexes was “a decisive, crucial step” in concluding these negotiations.

Guy Verhofstadt, the European parliament’s Brexit coordinator, also backed the agreement, saying that negotiators had tried to “make the best” of the bad situation.

“I hope that one day the United Kingdom will come back home, back into the European family,” he said.

“But we have tried to make the best of what was in fact a very difficult decision taken by Britain to leave the European Union. The agreement achieved will make it possible to maintain a close relationship between the EU and the UK.”

The maths in the House of Commons looks bad for Theresa May, who looks increasingly likely to face opposition from many of her own MPs, her sometime allies in the DUP, and the Labour party.

Jean-Claude Juncker, the president of the European Commission, recommended late on Wednesday night that “decisive progress” be declared and negotiations brought to a close.

In a letter to Donald Tusk sent on Wednesday night, the European Council president, Mr Juncker said that the negotiations on the withdrawal agreement could now be “concluded”.

Mr Tusk is due to address reporters on Thursday morning after meeting with Mr Barnier to discuss the agreement. A meeting of ambassadors from member states broke up this evening without conclusion because of the overrunning cabinet meeting in London, whose conclusions the diplomats needed to know before proceeding.

The next step in talks is likely to be holding a special summit of the European Council, potentially later in November.

One EU diplomat however warned that the clock was ticking to arrange the meeting and that any further delays in London could jeopardise it happening at all.

“The timescale for a potential European Council is very, very tight so we have to see what is possible,” the diplomat said.

“If the 25th of November is not possible then there won’t be an extra summit in November any more.”

The prime minister is set to address MPs on Thursday morning, amid reports that she could face a vote of no confidence or a leadership challenge by her own party.