i'm annita mcveigh in westminster — where theresa may will today try and secure cabinet backing for a brexit withdrawal agreement. the prime minister will try to head off any threat of resignations — telling ministers the deal she's secured from brussels is the best the uk can get. a deal is going to look pretty much like this one seems to look like. it isn't going to be dramatically different from that. therefore, they've got to keep that big picture in mind and they have to stick together, above all. this morning, ministers are still going into number 10 for one—to—one briefings on the details — but on the backbenches there's opposition on all sides. it is clear with this withdrawal agreement she's certainly dancing to mr barnier and the eu's tune so i will not be supporting it. i'm live in brussels where ambassadors from the other member states will receive a briefing this afternoon. they want to know precisely what is being offered to the uk. hello, good morning from westminster

and welcome to bbc news at 9am. what and welcome to bbc news at 9am. what a dramatic evening yesterday evening and we face another dramatic day at westminster here today with that crucial cabinet meeting for theresa may coming a little later on. lots of questions certainly to be asked to day. whether we will get answers we will have to see. theresa may faces a crunch cabinet meeting later as she tries to win colleagues‘ support for the draft brexit agreement she has brokered between the uk and eu. she faces opposition from all sides. senior ministers are being briefed individually — and will gather in downing street at 2pm this afternoon — amid calls to reject the draft from both senior brexiteers and some remain supporters.

the dup says it won't vote for what it says is a humiliating deal. we will be talking to the dup's brexit spokesman sammy wilson in just a few minutes. the actual document has not yet been released — but let's have a look at the main points we believe are in it, although they have not been confirmed. the plan involves keeping the uk as a whole aligned with the eu customs union for a limited time. this would avoid a hard border between northern ireland and the republic of ireland, which has been one of the most contentious issues in the negotiations and is known as the backstop plan. but, it's believed that northern ireland would remain in a deeper relationship with the eu and abide by some additional rules and regulations. under the plan, an independent committee of uk, eu and external members would be set up to review ending this arrangement, this backstop, but the uk would have no unilateral right to leave it. let's look at the story so far.

our political correspondent alex forsyth has more. a warning, this report contains flash photography. one by one, ministers went to downing street last night, a chance to see the detail of this draft agreement in private before deciding whether to back it later today. reporter: have you been twisting some arms, mrsmith? no, not twisting any arms... while some might seem confident, others are said to have reservations about the terms of departure that officials have drawn up. even before the details were announced, brexiteer tories were briefing against it. one even warned he could withdraw his support from theresa may. i haven't written to sir graham brady, but there comes a point at which the policy and the individual become so intimately interconnected that it will be very hard to carry on supporting the person promoting this policy. and many who backed remain have concerns too. this was a rally last night for those who want another public vote.

i am not going to accept a deal that will totally undermine our credibility in the whole of the rest of the world, because even if some people in my party cannot see this is a bad deal, everyone else around this entire planet can. cheering and applause the prime minister must win the cabinet's backing here later today if there is going to be a meeting of eu leaders later this month to finalise the deal. some are calling for calm. a lot of progress has been made. the united kingdom has worked extremely hard and the negotiating team has worked extremely hard to take this agreement forward. it's now for the cabinet to discuss if what we've got is, as the prime minister said, a good dealfor the united kingdom. if the cabinet and the eu agrees, then it is up to parliament. labour and the dup, on whose support theresa may relies, have said they're likely to vote this agreement down. this whole process is still uncertain. alex forsyth, bbc news, westminster. let's speak to our assistant political editor norman smith. good morning, norman. so, first of

all, amongst the heat of the discussion let's stick to the facts about what we know about the shape of delay and what will happen. this morning ministers can go in and take a look at the 500 page document, a secure reading room has been set aside, some of them have already been going in, penny mordaunt has gonein been going in, penny mordaunt has gone in and interestingly duncan smith, not a gone in and interestingly duncan smith, nota member of gone in and interestingly duncan smith, not a member of the cabinet but a pivotalfigure, has smith, not a member of the cabinet but a pivotal figure, has also gone in. they get a chance to look at the 500 pages and mrs may will talk to some of them one—on—one and then prime minister's questions, the first time we will publicly hear from the pm, interesting to see the reaction amongst some of the backbenchers, lots of anger and fury last night. then we moved to the critical cabinet meeting at 2pm. that is expected to go on for about three hours following the example of chequers, every single member of the cabinet will be given the chance to airtheir cabinet will be given the chance to air their views. after that, cabinet will be given the chance to airtheirviews. afterthat, if cabinet will be given the chance to air their views. after that, if all goes according to plan from downing

street's perspective and there is agreement and they back the document, it will be published around 6pm along with a shorter 20 page document setting out the future possible trade agreement and then looking ahead from that, tomorrow mrs may will make a statement to the commons, to mp5, who will then have the crucial eu summit on november 25 and then the meaningful vote, the decisive meaningful vote in the commons in december. it is worth pointing out you are talking about the cabinet members reading this document in a secure reading room. a lot of the commentary we have had so far is from people who haven't seen the detailed first—hand. far is from people who haven't seen the detailed first-hand. well, that's true. i think we know the rough parameters of the document because, let's be honest, this negotiation has been going on for months so bits and bobs have dribbled out. we know basically it all comes down to, i guess, three key issues. one, is there any

separate customs backstop for northern ireland 7 separate customs backstop for northern ireland? no, says no 10. is there an exit mechanism to enable there an exit mechanism to enable the uk to get out of this customs arrangement? yes, say no 10, there is an arbitration mechanism. how far it gives the british government the ability to independently get out is much less clear. and crucially, are their distinct and separate regulatory requirements going to be imposed on northern ireland? a so—called regulatory border in the irish sea. that is an absolute pivotal issue obviously for the dup. we have not seen the documents but i think we know where the real flash points are. one of the big questions about today is the big cabinet meeting later. will there be any resignations, because that could be really, really difficult for theresa may at this point obviously? really, really difficult for theresa may at this point obviously7m really, really difficult for theresa may at this point obviously? it is absolutely key. i think we are unlikely to see mass resignations. i think we are unlikely to seek major

figures resigning. i think it is possible figures, names mentioned gun penny mordaunt, esther mcvey, could walk —— names mentioned, penny mordaunt. the response of downing street has been to say to ministers, look, this is as good as it gets, just go with it. ok, norman, for the moment, thank you. let's talk to our business editor dominic o'connell. what reaction has there been from the business world so far?|j what reaction has there been from the business world so far? i talk to business leaders in northern ireland and they say the big fear was a no—deal brexit that would cost a lot of money, there is lots of trade across the border between the republic and northern ireland so there was a big fear of no—deal brexit so this was a step in the right direction. they went further, though, and they said the customs union and a further regulatory alignment between the eu and northern ireland which is envisaged we think in the proposed deal, was very welcome. it goes without saying

that the things they like, the dup and other brexiteers do not like. while they may like it it is not the end of the story. dominic, for the moment, thank you very much. at westminster we are joined by the dup's brexit spokesman sammy wilson. thank you forjoining us. your party leader arlene foster said in some reaction last night, an agreement which places new trade barriers between northern ireland and gb will fundamentally undermine the constitutional and economic integrity of the uk. is that your understanding of what this draft deal is, of the proposals contained in this draft deal? i suppose, like yourself, we are still feeling a little bit in the dark on this because we don't have the text in front of us. we have not been briefed on the text so we are working on what the headlines that have been leaked are indicating, and if it is the case, then i think there is serious trouble with this deal. first of all, it ties the uk

asa deal. first of all, it ties the uk as a whole to the customs union, something the prime minister promised would not happen, and secondly it treats northern ireland differently than the rest of the uk by having us tired now and forever to the eu rule book, in other words, rules about the production of goods, agriculture etc, in northern ireland would be determined in brussels without any safe from the uk or from northern ireland. you tweeted this morning, we are clear we will not vote for this humiliation. on reflection, are you saying you need to see some more detail before you absolutely stick to that position? no, because i think if you look at what the headlines say, the headlines set the overall picture for what's in the detail. i suspect that once we get into the detail we will find that the headlines are only half the story and the detail makes this picture even worse because we know what the eu wanted

in march of last year and it seems the prime minister, even though she said no prime minister could sign up to it, has acceded to march of this yea r‘s to it, has acceded to march of this year's deal, just packaged in a different way. if this deal gets through cabinet but doesn't get through cabinet but doesn't get through parliament, aren't you going to end up with a hard border between northern ireland and the republic of ireland ina northern ireland and the republic of ireland in a no—deal scenario? northern ireland and the republic of ireland in a no-deal scenario? no, you are not, because the eu have already promised the irish government, this is the irony about the argument of a high border, the eu already promised the irish government that they will not require a hard border in the case of ano require a hard border in the case of a no deal. we are bewildered by this. if you don't have a hard border in the case of no deal why would there be a hard border in the case of a deal? i'm sure you understand the concerns of people in northern ireland listening to the chief executive of manufacturing ni in interview he gave this morning, talking about business in northern ireland potentially facing the double whammy of no assembly and in no—deal scenario, and he was saying,

of course we are interested in the politics but we are interested in the practicalities as well. what reassu ra nces the practicalities as well. what reassurances can you the practicalities as well. what reassurances can you give the practicalities as well. what reassurances can you give to business people and ordinary people in northern ireland about this? the reassurance i would give people to northern ireland when they hear people like stephen kelly speak like thatis people like stephen kelly speak like that is listen to what those same people said during the referendum campaign. they predicted exactly the same kind of things if the united kingdom voted to leave the eu and they predicted it would happen immediately. it didn't happen and i think we are going to get the same crowd rolled out again to spread the same scare stories which had no foundation in 2016 and have no foundation in 2016 and have no foundation in 2016 and have no foundation in 2018. just a final question to you, how vulnerable is the confidence and supply arrangement they have with theresa may right now? we are concentrating on getting this deal set aside, not looking beyond that. we have substantial allies now in the house of commons on this, and all of the

focus of our attention is making sure this deal does not get through parliament and the commons. the issue of trust affects everything, doesn't it? it does but our deal is with the conservative party, it is not with theresa may and we have said we want to have stable government in the united kingdom for the next five years and we will continue to work at that. one of the things that needs to be done because we said we would deliver, to help the government deliver on a brexit deal, the brexit deal which reflected fairly the outcome of the referendum and that is what we will continue working towards. that's the focus of our attention and will be the focus of our attention for the next period of time when we have to consider this in house of commons and any legislation which comes from it. sammy wilson, dup's brexit spokesman, thank you very much for your time. william hague has been talking about this draft deal this morning and he says it's probably the best deal the uk can get. you have to look at the big picture,

and if what you want is to deliver on leaving the european union and have frictionless trade in goods at the border for the next few years, until a future free trade agreement comes into force, and have control over our own immigration policy, and keep the united kingdom together, all at the same time, well then a deal is going to look pretty much like this one seems to look like. it isn't going to be dramatically different from that. therefore, they've got to keep that big picture in mind and they have to stick together, above all. i'm joined now by labour's chuka umunna. good morning to you as well. what are the calculation is going on in the labour party amongst labour mps this morning? i think everybody acknowledges this is being talked about as a deal but frankly it is nothing of the sort, let's remember the prime minister said to us at her lancaster speech last year that she wa nted lancaster speech last year that she wanted to have all the details of the future trading relationship in

this agreement. it is not there, we have no guarantees as to what the future trading relationship between the eu and uk will be. that will be pa rt the eu and uk will be. that will be part of a declaration of aspiration, nothing more than that. that would a lwa ys nothing more than that. that would always be a secondary document, wouldn't it? following on from a basic deal. that's what the prime minister now says but that is not what she promised us a year ago. a year ago, more than a year ago, she said we would have the full details. and why this matters is that we are being asked at the same time as we don't really know what the future trading relationship will be, we are being asked to pay a divorce bill of over £40 billion. think about this, to put it into context for your viewers, we are going to pay this huge sum of money for no guaranteed trading relationship in return. to anybody, to my mind, that doesn't make any sense at all. and let's not forget that is before considering all the other things we were told we would get, the brexit dividend for the nhs, the same kind of market access. we know none of that is

going to happen. that is why i can't support this deal that she is putting before us. make no mistake, by the way, the idea that the only options the house of commons has opened to it is her deal or no deal isa opened to it is her deal or no deal is a life and i don't believe any minister would get about that dispatch box in the house of commons behind us and say that because they would be misleading parliament if they did. let's talk through the scenarios. if it gets through cabinet and goes to what is called a meaningful vote in parliament, do you believe it will fall at that stage? the truth is none of us know at this stage. i believe we will get the meaningful vote around mid—december. the prime minister has until then to persuade people of the merits of her deal. i'm not sure it will go through. we will have a range of options, the motion to approve the withdrawal agreement and then amendments to that motion which will be considered where parliamentarians can put forward other proposals so,

if we must almost pretty confident we will get amendment providing for there to be a people's vote on whatever deal comes forward, so it is not just 61150 whatever deal comes forward, so it is notjust 61150 mps alone but 65 million people will bring their voices to the table. that mechanism to get another vet, that is crucial. what are the chances of that happening? there are four doctors who are also meant mps, sarah woollaston, and philippa whitford, of the snp, they all believe fundamentally that what is happening now will do immense damage to the nhs. they are going to be tabling an amendment for there to be a people's vote at the earliest opportunity. other members of parliament may decide to table other amendments. but there will be a suite of options for the house of commons to choose from. the idea that we only get to choose theresa may's dealjump off a cliff is a complete lie. one other

issue for your viewers, they may be thinking, can you guys notjust get this done with, it might not be a good deal, so that we know where we are. make the mistake, this is the start of a process. it is a big if, if we leave on the 29th of march next year, there will then be 3—4 yea rs of next year, there will then be 3—4 years of negotiations of the future relationship. i am sorry to be the bearer of bad news but you're not going to get rid of this brexit issue. what is going to happen over this four months is not going to solve any of our problems. how focused is the labour party as a whole, and i include the labour leaderjeremy corbyn, on this idea of getting a new vote? is the leader com pletely of getting a new vote? is the leader completely in tune with you and your collea g u es completely in tune with you and your colleagues like you, you want this vote ? colleagues like you, you want this vote? the truth is, we don't know. i would be flabbergasted if labour mps we re would be flabbergasted if labour mps were not whipped to bid against this deal. be given every indication that is what is going to happen. that isn't the question for the labour

party. that is a question for government mps. party. that is a question for government mp5. the question for the labour party is whether we are going to go along with mrs may and say that this is an issue that should be reserved only to parliamentarians and that we should deny people their rightful voice, when they take this the biggest decision since the second world war, are going to be on the side of the people? jeremy corbyn says he doesn't think brexit can be stopped. the overwhelming majority of our members and supporters want to have a say in a people's vote and they want the current deal that we have in the eu on there. and jeremy corbyn is persuaded by that? he said he was to do things differently and abide by bob —— party democracy. so don't reserve this to an elite, let's make this a people's vote. chuka umunna,

thank you for your time. let's speak to our brussels reporter adam fleming. in the eu 27 z will be looking closely at the outcome of the cabinet meeting here this afternoon. this is seen as a big hurdle for this process to make progress. whilst the cabinet is having their meeting at 2pm in london which may last up to three hours, the ambassadors to the other 27 eu countries here in brussels will be having their own briefing from the european commission, brexit negotiating team when they will be given the latest. speaking to the 27 member states, they are really keen to see this 500 page withdrawal agreement that has been negotiated in their name. although they have been kept up—to—date with the broad outlines of what's happening and they've had regular briefings, they haven't seen the document itself. all they've got to go on is this d raft all they've got to go on is this draft published earlier this year in march, which is at quarter of the

size of the finished product. speaking to some member states, they really wa nt speaking to some member states, they really want to see the details of this uk wide customs arrangement that has been offered to britain as an alternative to the northern ireland backstop for avoiding a hard border. they feel that that is an offer of really good access to the eu single market for the uk and really good access to the single market in their eyes should come with lots of strings attached, so they want to see the offer and they wa nt to they want to see the offer and they want to see the guarantees. and then this will kick—start another bureaucratic process in brussels that could culminate, could culminate in a special brexit summit on the 25th of november. thank you for that, adam fleming in brussels. let's speak to our northern ireland economics and business editor john campbell. good morning to you, john. i don't know if you could hear my interview with sammy wilson, the dup brexit spokesman. he admitted they haven't seen the fine detail of this draft

deal. he was sticking by what he said on twitter this morning, we are clear we will not be voting for this humiliation. what has been the reaction in northern ireland? the dup is the big story, they prop up theresa may's government, they need dup theresa may's government, they need d u p votes theresa may's government, they need dup votes to get this through parliament and it was like what is on offer is not going to be a cce pta ble on offer is not going to be acceptable to the dup. that is because there will be a uk wide customs backstop and northern ireland would still have to follow some single market rules which the rest of the uk wouldn't have to follow, so for the dup, that amounts toa follow, so for the dup, that amounts to a boarder at the irish sea, that sta rts to a boarder at the irish sea, that starts to break up the united kingdom of great britain and northern ireland. we would have to see the detail, but the dup suspect that what is going to be in there is good —— is not gone to be acceptable to them but the dup is not nearly party in ireland, they don't represent the majority of people in northern ireland, most people support parties that back remain. many of the parties here are saying

that it looks like it could be reasonable enough, but they want to see the detail, they want to see what the guarantees are on avoiding a hard border on this island. we've heard from northern ireland business leaders this morning saying that they are interested in the politics, of course, but more interested in the practicalities, they are concerned about the potential costs to business and to other sectors in northern ireland or they know deal scenario. sammy wilson was saying this morning —— of a no—del scenario. sammy wilson was saying that there will not be a hard border between northern ireland and the republic of ireland. interestingly enough i managed to get my hands on a piece of work done by whitehall department which looked at two scenarios, one with the backstop kicking in, some goods and checks on goods coming in from northern ireland, and a second, no—del, with northern ireland products kissing parrots trying to get into eu markets. there would be costs of the

backstop came in, but the cost of the no—del would be much, much greater. it would be ten times the magnitude, it could wipe 1.5 greater. it would be ten times the magnitude, it could wipe1.5 billion a year of the value of northern ireland exports, particularly in agrifood. business in northern ireland is clear that backstop even if was implemented would be a much better deal than having no—del at all. thank you very much for that, john campbell in belfast. sammy wilson from the dup said this morning, just to remind you, wouldn't be drawn on my question of how this might impact on the dup's confidence and supply agreement with the government. i'm joined by professor anand menon from the think tank uk in a changing europe, which does not take a position on brexit. thank you for coming along to talk to us today. what do you think the

strategy will be for theresa may as she goes into this meeting? there will be some people clearly that she has to do more work with in terms of persuading them to accept this deal. there are two lines are vibrant, the main one will be this is not a perfect deal but it is a decent compromise. the alternative is no—del which will be really bad for the economy. the more brexit minded mems of the cabinet the argument will be the opposite, i know this deal isn't perfect, it is the best we can get, and be very careful because of this gets defeated there isa because of this gets defeated there is a real possibility of a second referendum and then you might end up with no brexit. different arguments for different parts of the debate, if you like. do you think her position as prime minister is relatively secure for the moment, because this is such a fluid situation, with so many unknowns, that her party members might be thinking, let's stick with what we know, the prime minister that we have got. theresa may is remarkable

in the sense that all of the commentary was that she was in a u nsta ble commentary was that she was in a unstable position but she still, and the problem for her opponents is that although might have the signatures to challenge there is not enough backing to defeat her, so she is relatively stable where she is now. i think the thinking in the party is to get brexit out of the way then reconsider the leadership issue so she will be set here through this process this is not so much about her, but about the options which are either accept this deal or no, no one knows what happens if parliament votes this down. viewers might be thinking, if theresa may gets this through the cabinet, we have listened to express —— concerns expressed by brexiteers and remain as, but she's never going to get it through parliament in a meaningful vote, and i just to get it through parliament in a meaningful vote, and ijust wonder what european leaders might be making of this at the moment in

terms of the future negotiations on the future relationship, when they don't even know whether the reddish by minister can get this through her own parliament. european leaders are focused on this, they want this out of the way, they want the loose ends of the way, they want the loose ends of our membership tied up. they are aware of the problem prime minister bases but their attitude would be, we have to negotiate a deal in good faith, we cannot second—guess the british parliament. a trade deal could take up to six years to negotiate, and then the leaders will not be in that room so they are not thinking that far ahead. thank you very much, anand menon. let's see what boris johnson very much, anand menon. let's see what borisjohnson has been saying in the last few moments. looking at twitter. he's talking about an article in the times, saying that if agreed, the customs union backstop would not be temporary, but the minimum basis for our future trading relationship with high alignment and

eu control. this means super canada impossible. he is quoting sabine weya nd impossible. he is quoting sabine weyand in the times, and it says in his tweet that the cabinet must live up his tweet that the cabinet must live up to its responsibilities and stop this deal. so, borisjohnson, the former foreign secretary, adamant as other that this deal should not go through cabinet, let alone through parliament in a meaningful vote. joining me now at westminster is the conservative mp mark faswell from the erg. i've not been privy to the 500 pages of text on this. i did the lisbon treaty which was 300 but i have not seen the final. we have a

goodidea have not seen the final. we have a good idea from all of the leaks and hence what is in it. and if it is giving away £39 billion of british taxpayers money for nothing guaranteed a return that is unacceptable. if it means as you are just saying, we would potentially be locked in a customs union for ever and could only leave with the approval of the eu, that is unacceptable, that is not brexit, thatis unacceptable, that is not brexit, that is not leaving the eu, that is not what 17.4 million people in the uk voted for. if you are a member of the cabinet, today will be the most important thing you ever decide upon in your whole life. and if, deep down, you feel, know and believe that it down, you feel, know and believe thatitis down, you feel, know and believe that it is wrong, today is the day to stand up and be counted. there is no point in saying years from now, i would have resigned on principle but i never quite got round to it. today is the day, today isjudgment day. we will have to wait and see what happens in cabinet and whether anyone has the moral courage to oppose this and if the primers

bludgeons it through, to resign. oppose this and if the primers bludgeons it through, to resignm there was a significant blow to theresa may as a result of that cabinet meeting today, and you know, different people will have different notions of what a significant blow might be, doesn't that lead to political chaos, and isn't that bad, not only for the conservative party but for the country? no, it does not lead to political chaos if politicians who were elected to defend this country and its interests do just that. i elected to defend this country and its interests dojust that. i never came into politics to vote for my country to be a vassal state. neither, i believe, did most of my colleagues. now, the cabinet is at the apex of the conservative party. they are the officers, if you like, we are the backbenchers, the bloody infantry, if the officers duck this it will be up to the backbenchers to fight it and if we have two we will. would the uk be a vassal state, to

use that phrase as has been used quite often, if there is a temporary customs arrangement, and if there is some sort of regulatory mechanism involving the uk and others to negotiate an end to that temporary customs union? well, if you enter into a customs union, which remember, is completely against our pa rty‘s manifesto for every tory remember, is completely against our party's manifesto for every tory mp, whether leave or remain, was elected, which says we will leave the customs union, you cannot then really turn around and support going toa really turn around and support going to a customs union which means that you can't do free deals around the world, yeah? and knowing that that customs union could last for ever and you could only leave if the eu allow you to. that is not being in control of your own destiny. do you need clarification on that point, though? you said you have only since headlines and have not seen the details. is it your belief at the moment that the eu would be the body

with the block of power in this arrangement? the eu would decide if the uk could leave rather than it being joint decision process. my understanding is that the eu could stop us leaving the customs union, evenif stop us leaving the customs union, even if we wanted to, and that means we haven't left the eu that means we have betrayed the referendum, that we have gone against 17.4 million people and what they voted for and i can't look into my conscience and vote for that. do you think those 17.4 million people want no deal? in your conscience do you really think they want no deal? i think they want to be free. mark francois from the conservative party, thank you very much. it's time to look at the weather forecast. carroll has the details. i'm very grateful on a date standing outside that the weather is nice, at least in westminster.

you are very welcome, anita we have a north—south divide with the weather because in the north of the country we have a fair bit of rain, in the south where anita is in london it is dry and brighter. this rain shower has been poring over northern ireland, northern england, scotla nd northern ireland, northern england, scotland and wales but it will move north eastwards through the day and fragmenting as it does so. for scotland, northern england and northern ireland you will hang on to afair bit northern ireland you will hang on to a fair bit of cloud but it will brighten for the rest of us where we have seen the rain this morning. and hang on to the sunshine across the south—east albeit hazy. temperatures up south—east albeit hazy. temperatures up to 15 today but in any sunshine around the moray firth we could hit 17. this evening and overnight, lots of clear skies, still lots of cloud across scotland and also northern ireland, and later we will see more low cloud developing with patchy mist and fog across england and wales. slowly it will brighten

tomorrow and highs of 17 with some sunshine. you're watching bbc news with me ben brown, latest headlines. theresa may will today try and secure cabinet backing for a brexit withdrawal agreement — telling ministers the deal she's secured from brussels is the best the uk can get. a deal is going to look pretty much like this one seems to look like. it isn't going to be dramatically different from that. therefore, they've got to keep that big picture in mind and they have to stick together, above all. this morning ministers are still going into no 10 for one to one briefings on the details — but on the backbenches there's opposition on all sides. it is clear with this withdrawal agreement she's certainly dancing to mr barnier and the eu's tune so i will not be supporting it. 50 people are confirmed dead and rescuers in california are searching for hundreds of people

reported missing, amid the worst wildfires in the history of the state. prince charles is celebrating his 70th birthday today. the heir to the throne will mark the occasion by attending a private party hosted by the queen, at buckingham palace. sport now, and for a full round—up, from the bbc sport centre, here's sally nugent. hi, sally. hi, ben. we'll start with some breaking football news, and fulham have sacked manager slavisa jokanovic. fulham have had an awful start to the premier league season — this news has just this news hasjust come this news has just come to us this news hasjust come to us in this news has just come to us in the last 20 minutes or so. they rock bottom after spending £100 million in the summer. he's going to be replaced with claudio ranieri, who of course won the league with leicester a couple of years ago. that news has just come in to the

bbc sports centre in the last few moments. let's talk about the cricket — england playing sri lanka in the second test in kandy and they've done all right on what is a difficult wicket to bat on. they're currently 212—7. the former england bowler ryan sidebottom is here. we'll see the wickets as we're talking to you ryan, on the face of it not a great score — but you think they've done all right? i think england have done really well, it is a big turning pitch, first day of test cricket, it is spinning a long way and jos buttler‘s innings could be a very telling innings coming to the of the test match he put in some brilliant shots, sweeps and reverse sweeps and england have a good score. if they could get 30—40 more they are in a telling position because spinning a long way. it's the conditions, isn't it? we were watching these pictures thinking this looks great whether to play cricket in but it is boiling

hot. yes. how does that affect the pitch? it is going to drive the pitch? it is going to drive the pitch quicker, you have seen the ball turning and bouncing, three or four deliveries to sam curran just before tea that turned and bounced a long way. it is just going to get worse and worse and worse. england have got runs on the board and they stuff wickets in hand. this could be a telling partnership. another 30—40 from sam curran and adil rashid could put england in a commanding position. i've got bad news. adil rashid hasjust gone. no! great timing! really sorry. you've got to admit they must be some concern about the top order? yes, there is but looking at modern—day cricket around the world, notjust england's top order, during the early innings 10-15 top order, during the early innings 10—15 overs, the ball swings and seams around so it's a difficult position to play in. all you want from england's top order is a bit

more consistency, shot selection could be better, but i think, look, england bat all the way down, they have a strong batting order and that could be telling in this test match. you are confident they might win this? really confident, looking at the first test, arguably they win the first test, arguably they win the same position and some really not great shots put them in a precarious position and they came back from that. they have runs on the board so i think england are in a good position even though the commentator‘s curse and adil rashid has just got out. commentator‘s curse and adil rashid hasjust got out. i will hold onto your positivity for the rest of my day. thank you. thanks, ryan. let's look through the rest of the headlines this morning. and there's a new boss at the premier league. susanna dinnage is going to be the new chief executive — taking overfrom richard scudamore who stands down next month. dinnage is currently a senior executive at the discovery media group. wayne rooney says it's been strange rejoining the england squad this week. he retired from international football last year but is been back in training with england for a one off appearance in the friendly match against the united states

at wembley tomorrow. a referee in the women's super league has got himself into bother over a game of rock, paper, scissors. david mcnamara made the captains of manchester city and reading play rock, paper, scissors to decide who kicked off because he left his coin for the toss in the dressing room. he's been suspended for three weeks. for not having his coin with him. and roger federer‘s up and running at the atp world finals in london. he was pretty miffed when he lost his first match at the 02 on sunday. but he was much happier against dominic thiem, winning in straight sets to keep him in contention for the semi—finals. if he wins the whole thing, it'll be federer‘s 100th career title. let's have a look at some of this morning's back pages. susanna dinnage the face on many of them — but that is wayne rooney. another

story they have forced a premier league teams have been asked to give £250,000 towards a £5 million leaving present for richard scudamore, the man susanna dinnage is replacing at the premier league. lovely picture of jadon sancho and gareth southgate on the back of the guardian, the 18—year—old expected to start for england tomorrow after impressing at borussia dortmund. and another picture of rooney. but eddie jones is furious with referees according to the express. he says he won't go to another referees' summit after england had a try disallowed late on against the all blacks. we've got some pretty epic snowboarding for you now — it's the most watched video on the bbc sport website this morning. this is austrian anna gasser landing what's known as a cab triple 1260 — which is three and a half full rotations. she's the first women to ever land the trick.

that's impressive! coming up today, the atp world tour finals continue at the o2 in london. world number one novak djokovic on court later. coverage on bbc two from 2pm — it's on the bbc sport webiste and app too. and sportsday‘s on the bbc news channel at 6:30pm tonight. and there'll be a special feature with a couple of young english stars who are lighting up the bundesliga — jadon sancho and reiss nelson. we saw a little clip of jadon sancho a moment ago. that is well worth watching. they are both doing brilliantly. that's all the sport for now. more from the bbc sport centre at 11:15am. thank you, sally. sally nugent at the bbc sports centre. let's return to westminster, where annita mcveigh can tell us what's happening on this crucial day in the brexit negotiations. maybe not exactly but the broad

jest, anyway! yes, i was going to say, not the exact details but the gist, certainly. —— the broad gist. let's take another look at the main points we believe are in the draft brexit agreement, although they have not been confirmed. the plan involves keeping the uk as a whole aligned with the eu customs union for a limited time. this would avoid a hard border between northern ireland and the republic of ireland, which has been one of the most contentious issues in the negotiations and is known as the backstop plan. but, it's believed that northern ireland would remain in a deeper relationship with the eu and abide by some additional rules and regulations. under the plan, an independent committee of uk, eu and external members would be set up to review ending this arrangement, this backstop, but the uk would have no unilateral right to leave it. we have heard from the conservative

party so far today and also labour and dup. i'm joined by the snp's leader in westminster ian blackford. thank you forjoining us. a pleasure. a very significant day. yes. i want to speak to you first of all about u have written to theresa may, you and other opposition parties. what is in that letter and who has joined with you in sending it? -- who has joined with you in sending it? —— about a letter. who has joined with you in sending it? -- about a letter. it is an important letter because we know what the prime minister was seeking to do, to take a vote on the proposition that the government is bringing forward. that is wholly unusual. opposition parties normally have the opportunity to amend any legislation the government wants to bring forward. she was seeking to have any discussion on amendments after the meaningful vote. that is not acceptable, that is anti—democratic. this is perhaps the most significant vote in parliament in the post—war period. one of the

things i have always argued is that i believe there is a majority in the house of commons to stay in the single market and customs union. i wa nt single market and customs union. i want parliament to have the opportunity to have that vote. we have to have that say. all of us as parliamentarians have got to reflect on where we are, the phoney war has ended, this is now about the future of all the nations of the united kingdom. is about the government's desire to take as fundamentally out of the single market and customs union. we know that that's going to cost jobs. union. we know that that's going to costjobs. i'd say to every mp, think about what you're doing and think about what you're doing and think about what you're doing and think about your constituents, think aboutjobs think about your constituents, think about jobs and think think about your constituents, think aboutjobs and think about prosperity and being out with the single market and customs union and not having the certainty of what the long—term relationship will be with the united kingdom and european union is said you not acceptable. just to clarify for our viewers, you're saying you have concerns that if this government plan went through, it would prevent opposition amendments being heard in the meaningful vote on the withdrawal bill? yes, we have to have that ability to amend what the government

brings forward. that is the normal practice, the procedure committee is meeting today and i hope the procedure committee will reflect on the fact that a united opposition, the fact that a united opposition, the scottish national party, labour party and liberal democrats and plaid cymru are saying that the normal practice should take place, the opposition parties must have the ability to bring amendments that we can ability to bring amendments that we ca n vote ability to bring amendments that we can vote on prior to the meaningful vote the prime minister wants to bring. your party leader, i think we can show a tweet from nicola sturgeon right now, saying a little while ago if the pm's deal satisfies no one and can command a majority, we must not fall for her spin that the uk crashing out of the eu is then inevitable, instead we should ta ke then inevitable, instead we should take the opportunity to get better options back on the table. talking to chuka umunna from labour a little while ago, very much singing from the same song sheet on this. the opposition have to come together and i extend the hand of friendship towards conservative mps as well.

this is about our constituents and their future. nobody voted this is about our constituents and theirfuture. nobody voted in this is about our constituents and their future. nobody voted in 2016 to become per. unless we can protect our economic interest then people will pay a price and that is not the price that we should be playing. we need to stop and reflect, parliament, to use a phrase, has got to ta ke parliament, to use a phrase, has got to take back control. i hope that parliament. seize the initiative and that we will stay in the single market and customs union. the people have got to be able to stop and reflect on where we are, and to make sure that we can determine our own future. ian blackford, snp leader at westminster, thank you very much. the conservative mp, andrew bridgen, who supported the leave campaign, says he was not in favour of the draft agreement. we have seen the draft chequers agreement and it is rather worse than that. we know the prime minister likes to have a little dance, but it's clear with this withdrawal agreement, she is dancing to mr barnier and the eu's tune. so i will not be supporting it.

if i did, i wouldn't be able to look my constituents in the eye, who overwhelmingly voted to leave the european union. i couldn't look myself in the mirror, either. the work and pensions secretary esther mcvey was keeping things close to her chest when she spoke to reporters this morning. good morning, secretary, can you back this deal? i'm just going to read all the papers about it now. is it what you were hoping for? will you be voting for it? goodbye now, see you later. let's get some reaction from the spectator‘s katy balls and sebastian payne from the ft. good morning to both of you. it has been a dramatic evening yesterday, potentially a very dramatic day or maybe not, how do you think the cabinet will go? at the moment the ministers are still reading the deal

on track to digests it and figure out whether they can accept it. the ra four perusal ministers, all brexiteers, kenny more., esther mcvey, andrea leadsom, leader of the house and dominic raab. those are the ones that number ten will be watching to see if they can support this deal, and political reality some of those good go, but the one that matters is dominic raab, if he was to say that he cannot handle this deal they would be in a lot of trouble but any resignations are going to be bad for the government. the optics of dominic raab or andrea leadsom going would be terrible for theresa may, but what is your gut feeling, will theresa may get through this and fight another day? she cannot afford to lose another brexit secretary, it is safe to say. looking at who might quit, she could survive resignations of people like kenny more dog, who are seen a bit

lately, this committed to what theresa may is proposing, there was a high chance that she can get it through cabinet, but getting it through cabinet, but getting it through parliament is not guaranteed. even though number ten was cautiously confident last night, this leak today from brussels about actually how this temporary stop that we are hearing from number ten is the default option backstop is the basis for a long—term relationship, that will make some brexiteers very nervous. the nuances of the language in this deal absolutely crucial. in terms of the wider strategy after today, because everybody is looking notjust at this cabinet meeting but towards a vote in parliament, it is interesting, isn't it, because you have various actions or brexiteers and remainers potentially wanting this deal to failing parliament but one thing different things as a result of that. probably the majority of tory mps at the moment think this deal is dead on arrival

because of those different coalitions that are going to vote against it. what we haven't seen is the huge pr operation that will come from downing street that, once this deal is signed off by the cabinet today, it then has to go to a summit on the 26th of november and over these next couple of weeks you will get this big campaign from the prime minister saying why this deal is right and the message you will hear is not, ideal or another deal, right and the message you will hear is not, ideal oranother deal, it right and the message you will hear is not, ideal or another deal, it is going to be my deal or no brexit, and she wants to pressure those mps who are not happy about the direction of this, saying, do you wa nt to direction of this, saying, do you want to risk no brexit, second referendum, or do you want to risk a general election in whichjeremy corbyn goes in? service crews have yet to be turned, and until they are, it is hard to say how it will go but it is difficult to see how it will get through, at the moment. go but it is difficult to see how it will get through, at the momentm is for the mps to take readings in their constituencies, especially those who voted for brexit in the first place, whether they still feel

as wedded to it. that is going to be as wedded to it. that is going to be a big factor, what the voters think. numberten have to a big factor, what the voters think. number ten have to come up with the operation of how to sell this, and theresa may needs to get out there. tory constituency chair stent to be very eurosceptic and many of them don't like this deal so if they are not hearing that from their members it could be very tricky for them, but the same situation remains, what they don't like theresa may's deal, they don't like theresa may's deal, they cannot agree on what they like as an alternative, and that helps her, little. nobody is going to love this deal, remainers will not love it, eurosceptics will not love it but it is the least worst option out ofa but it is the least worst option out of a series of bad options and that is her best strategy for getting it through, it keeps things ticking over, and that is what the whole premiership of theresa may has been about and what this deal will be about. this will come to a battle between those you think this is the least worst option and those who say domino, it isjust not least worst option and those who say domino, it is just not good least worst option and those who say domino, it isjust not good enough, it does not give from the brexiteers

point of view this country that they set out to achieve in the first instance. we have heard that from william hague the former foreign secretary this morning who said that nobody said leaving the eu would not entail compromise, some people did say that, people like borisjohnson, but the key message is that there is no ultimate, pure form brexit, this isa no ultimate, pure form brexit, this is a good compromise that protects economic interests and keeps things ticking over. that is the message downing street will try to put forward , downing street will try to put forward, but all that convince people? we'll have to wait and see. thank you though —— thank you for your time today, both of you. let's hear from the leader of the commons andrea leadsom who has been speaking about whether she will back the deal or not. i had ihada i had a good conversation with the prime minister and having i had a good conversation with the prime ministerand having a i had a good conversation with the prime minister and having a look at details of the deal today and i'm optimistic that we will have a good deal but i am looking at the details today. i cannot answer that question right now, thank you very much. i

cannot answer that question, you're asking me to speculate on something i haven't seen. sorry about that, thanks. the leader of the house of commons andrea leadsom keeping her counsel when she was speaking to reporters this morning. it is time to speak now to the leader of the lib dems, so vince cable, whojoins me here on college green at westminster. thank you for your time this morning. we have heard from ian black the snp westminster leader, talking about a letter that you have jointly sign the theresa may, asking for opposition amendments to be allowed to be heard in any meaningful vote. this is really crucial, isn't it? a very clear message that we are sending, we have a different view on other issues, is that the government cannotjust railroad this through parliament. it is very clear that it doesn't command the support of a majority of mps. parliament is sovereign. and

that must be reflected in any debate. and important thing to focus on what is going to be a very busy day for the procedure committee this morning. looking ahead to this cabinet meeting this afternoon, do you think theresa may will get this d raft you think theresa may will get this draft deal that we have heard leaked details of through cabinet? she might lose one or two members of, but that is actually not the crucial stage. the crucial stage is when it comes to us. it is clear, from reactions this morning of the brexiteers, that there isn't a majority in parliament to pass this bill. this is going to be the problem. the central issue is this issue of taking back control, because she's come up with a compromise which involves actually less control than we have at the moment as members of the european union, where, following a lot of the rules of the single market, there will be a customs union regulation and britain will have no say in it, and britain will have no say in it, and they are angry that brexit voters are being sold down the

river, the lib dems and many other people feel that any deal to leave the european union is worse than the one we've got. so there are some common ground, albion coming from different directions. looking ahead to the next few weeks, what is the mechanism by which you get to the second vote that the liberal democrats want to see? not just the liberal democrats. we have been leading on this issue for a long time. the mechanism is going to emerge from the debates in parliament. there are a variety of options that will be explored. the government is going to put forward its view. at the moment there is nothing like a majority for it. they will say to their own supporters that there is no—del, i don't think any serious person believes that as any serious person believes that as a plausible or sensible thing to do. there will be the issue of possible general election which the labour party wa nt. general election which the labour party want. i don't think there's any appetite for that. we've had several elections in recent years.

having another one on a wide range of issues wouldn't solve this problem. then become to the only option that presents a sensible way out of this which is to have a vote which gives people the choice of the deal the government has got or remaining in the rather better position of being in the european union. do you think at the moment theresa may is relying on her mps being whipped into thinking that this is the best deal, that the uk can get at the minute, and if they do not go that s10 brexit is off the table, that there is possibly a no—del scenario or a general election of labour or somebody else collected into government? is that what she is relying on, the you think? they are trying to frighten those wavering into thinking there are worse options than the one they have got. i don't think it is going to work because i don't think anyone believes the no—del scenario will happen, that it makes any sense that their country, and people will come

round to the idea that we have a people's vote, we have to go back to parliament and say that this is the best the government can do, she has certainly tried hard, do you want this or do you want to stay in the european union? he had been solidly remain on the lib dem front, but you get any sense from people who voted to leave whether there has been a significant change or movement away from that position for those voters? there has been a shift, there was a lot of detail and people are having second thoughts. this is a recognition that any deal the government is likely to come up with is going to put us in a worse position than we are at the moment. and people will be worse off than they are at the moment. and i think that message is getting through. lots of people are sticking firmly to their convictions, but it is important therefore that we argue it out, ina important therefore that we argue it out, in a civilised way. i don't wa nt out, in a civilised way. i don't want this to become an acrimonious,

divisive argument that is going to go on forever. we need to resolve it and we need to resolve it in a civilised, democratic way, which is this country at its best. serve vince cable, thank you very much. the cabinet meeting the first hurdle for theresa may to face this afternoon at 2pm. she has got a lot of persuading to do, perhaps, with some of her cabinet members, more than others, and many of them keeping their council this morning, not saying too much head of that crucial meeting this afternoon, but we know that beyond cabinet, on the backbenches and in other parties particularly, as we have been hearing from the dup, there is considerable opposition to the draft deal that theresa may is asking her cabinet to approve this afternoon. you're watching bbc news. good morning. it's wednesday, it's 10am, i'm victoria derbyshire. good morning.

none of the pm's top team has resigned — so far — over the brexit withdrawal deal that mrs may has come up with. there's an emergency cabinet meeting this afternoon — what will their verdict be? norman at downing street for you this morning. it's not perfect but it's the best deal we are going to get. mrs may's message to cabinet whose backing will determine whether her deal and maybe her premiership survives. we will tell you what is actually known about this withdrawal agreement, and we want to know from you this morning, is this what you voted for? a third of people in debt wait for more than a year before seeking help — accpording to new research today.