Brexit deal - as it happened: Theresa May's late-night scramble to seal a deal as EU finally gives green light for future trade talks
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After late night phone-calls and a very early morning flight to Brussels, Theresa May and the EU announced a breakthrough deal which will allow Brexit negotiations to progress to the next stage.
Here is how the day unfolded.
In dramatic early-morning scenes, the Prime Minister flew to Brussels to stage a joint press conference with Jean-Claude Juncker, EU Commission president, following lengthy negotiations with her allies in the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP).
The leaders declared that "sufficient progress" had been made on the "divorce issues" to begin the negotiations on their future trading relationship. The decision must be approved by the other 27 EU leaders at a summit on Thursday.
Key details emerged throughout the day including the detail on Britain's divorce bill - which will be between £35bn and 39bn rather than the anticipated £50bn - and the fact that people living in Northern Ireland will be able to retain their EU citizenship.
Leading Brexiteers such as Boris Johnson and David Davis gave their backing to the Prime Minister but she still faces significant a challenge to convince members of her own party over the deal, as she had to make concessions on controversial issues such as the European Court of Justice.
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Former Ukip leader Nigel Farage has appeared on Sky News to give his scathing reaction to the deal.
Asked if it was a success, he said it could only be described in such terms if you welcome giving away "a gargantuan sum of money".
"We do not need to be paying anything like this sum of money," he said.
Interesting tweet here on how long it could take to negotiate an EU-UK trade deal after Brexit.
If you are struggling to get your head around the key details of the Brexit joint report, The Independent's chief political commentator John Rentoul has found the 10 key sentences... and what they really mean.
The PM's spokesman has confirmed the divorce bill figure being reported during a regular Westminster briefing.
Former Cabinet minister Owen Paterson, an ardent Brexiteer, welcomes the deal on Twitter.
More reaction is coming in over EU citizens rights, particularly the idea that Northern Ireland is being given 'special status' for Europeans living there.
Former pensions minister Ros Altmann, a supporter of the Open Britain campaign, said:
“This is astounding. It splits the United Kingdom and I cannot see how anyone who voted to Remain in the EU, who lives in Scotland, London, Wales or anywhere else in Great Britain would feel this was fair.
“Peace on the island of Ireland is precious and must be preserved. But we must also preserve the integrity of the United Kingdom and today’s announcement does not acknowledge this split. Effectively, Northern Ireland is being given special status in the UK, a status that millions of others will want and cannot be denied.
“Will Northern Ireland’s maternity wards suddenly become overwhelmed by women wanting to give birth there and obtain an EU passport? Or will there be some second-class citizens in the UK who will be denied the rights given to those who happen to have been born in Northern Ireland?
Nicolas Hatton, co-chair of the3million, a grassroots organisation representing EU citizens in the UK, raised concerns about problems for EU citizens applying for settled status.
At first look, we are getting some legal guarantees (citizens’ rights incorporated in the withdrawal treaty and primary legislation), but we are some grave concerns:
Some of these rights are limited in time - the ECJ protection to last for eight years, a limit in time for family reunification - and more importantly, it’s a green light for the British Government to implement settled status.
This means that all 3 million EU citizens (and possibly the 1.2 million British citizens in the EU — each member state will decide) will need to apply to stay, instead of being granted residence rights at the moment.
Considering the incompetence of the Home Office and its current Hostile Environment policy, we are worried that the EU citizens most at risk such as carers, people with disability or elderlies will struggle while anybody could be at the receiving end of an erroneous deportation letter.
Pollster YouGov has released its latest voting intention figures, which show the public favour Theresa May over Jeremy Corbyn to be Prime Minister.
Interestingly, the polling was done over December 4-5, when talks collapsed in Brussels after the DUP vetoed a draft leak agreement on the Irish border.
Worth noting that 36% of respondents said they 'don't know' who would be better in Number 10 - more than either leader.
Overall, Labour clinches it at 41%, while the Tories are on 40%. A previous poll on November 22-23 put Labour at the same level but the Conservatives on 39%.
The Independent's Andrew Grice says Theresa May's relief will be short-lived after today's success - laying out the "significant obstacles" that lie ahead.
He says the DUP will be a constant thorn in the side of the Government over the Irish border and the hardline Brexiteers in her party.
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