Brexit news latest: All 27 EU leaders approve new deal... but Commons 'Super Saturday' showdown awaits

Luke O'Reilly17 October 2019
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All 27 EU leaders have approved Boris Johnson's new Brexit deal after negotiators reached a settlement earlier today.

European Council President Donald Tusk was joined by Irish premier Leo Varadkar, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, and EU Chief Negotiator Michel Barnier at a joint press conference at the end of Brexit discussions at the EU Summit.

Prime Minister Mr Johnson held a separate press conference on Thursday evening where he said he was “very confident” that when MPs study the deal they will want to vote for it at a special sitting of Parliament on Saturday.

He told reporters that his deal means the UK can come out of the European Union as “one United Kingdom – England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, together”.

Boris Johnson said he is confident his deal will be passed by MPs on 'Super Saturday' (Reuters/Toby Melville)
Reuters Toby Melville

Mr Tusk said: “We have concluded our discussion among the leaders about Brexit agreed earlier today, many thanks to Michel Barnier and his team for their outstanding work.

“The EU Council endorse this deal, and it seems we are in the final stretch.

“The new version of the deal has been positively assessed by Ireland, I said from the beginning we would stand behind Ireland.

“The deal has been positively assessed by the EU Commission, safe for the European Union, the key change in comparison with the earlier version is the Prime Minister’s concession to allow customs checks in Northern Ireland.”

He added: “On a more personal note I feel sadness, in my heart I will always be a Remainer, and for our British friends, our door will always be open.”

Mr Tusk addressed why Mr Johnson's deal had suddenly passed muster for EU member states after weeks of toing and froing.

Michel Barnier, Leo Varadkar, Donald Tusk and Jean-Claude Juncker
Getty Images

“Why has a deal that was impossible yesterday become possible today?" he asked.

"Firstly the new version of the deal has been positively assessed by Ireland.

“I’ve said from the beginning that we would always stand behind Ireland and not force a deal unfavourable to Dublin.

“Secondly the deal has been positively assessed by the European Commission. This gives us certainty that it is favourable and safe for the citizens of the European Union.”

Tusk and Juncker share a moment on stage together
Reuters/Francois Lenoir

Mr Tusk said the key change was Mr Johnson’s acceptance to have customs checks at the point of entry into Northern Ireland.

“This compromise will allow us to avoid border checks between Ireland and Northern Ireland and will ensure the integrity of the single market.

“The reality is that today we have a deal which allows us to avoid chaos and an atmosphere of conflict between the EU 27 and the United Kingdom,” he said.

Mr Varadkar ​refused to answer a question on what he would say to DUP Leader Arlene Foster.

While the deal has been passed by the EU member states, the DUP have said that they will not support the deal in a crunch vote on "Super Saturday".

Parliament will sit this Saturday for the first time since 1982 in order to vote on the deal.

DUP Deputy Leader Nigel Dodds tweeted: "We will not support a deal which is detrimental to Northern Ireland, which damages our economy in the process and which tears up the Belfast Agreement safeguards upon which the power sharing arrangements in Northern Ireland depend."

The deal has also been criticised by opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn who called it “an even worse deal than Theresa May’s" and Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage who told the BBC: “It’s just not Brexit.”

Labour MP Hilary Benn has written a letter to Stephen Barclay demanding he release a report into the impact of Mr Johnson's deal.

However, in his press conference Mr Johnson called for parliamentarians to "come together".

He said: “We’ve been at this now, as I say, for three-and-a-half years. It hasn’t always been an easy experience for the UK. It’s been long, it’s been painful, it’s been divisive.

“And now is the moment for us as a country to come together. Now is the moment for our parliamentarians to come together and get this thing done.

“And, as I say, to begin building a new and progressive partnership with our EU friends, with whom of course we share so many priorities.”

Asked about why he is confident and what he will do if the deal fails to get support on Saturday, Mr Johnson said: “I think that there is, as I say, a very good case for MPs across the House of Commons to express the democratic will of the people as we’ve pledged many times to do and to get Brexit done.

“And as I have never tired of telling you, and I repeat again, I don’t think there is any case for delay. We should get on and get it done by October 31.”

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