hello and welcome to this bbc news special, with me, christian fraser in westminster, and ros atkins in brussels. our top story: a major milestone in britain's path out of the eu — theresa may says after a long, and impassioned debate, her ministers have agreed to back the draft brexit agreement. cabinet ministers spent five hours studying the details of the draft agreeement, with what was said to be difficult choices. the choices before us were difficult, particularly in relation to the northern ireland backstop, but the collective decision of cabinet was that the government should agree the draft withdrawal agreement and the outline political declaration. here in brussels... eu ambassadors earlier were left waiting for hours to get their first sight of the document. no news came from the uk cabinet, so they carried on waiting. but now, it has been published. here it is. in

the last hour, the new‘s chief negotiator michel barnier has spoken. today, in my responsibility as the eu negotiator, i consider that we have achieved decisive progress. they very good evening and welcome to westminster. it has been a considerable day of drama here in london. a cabinet meeting that was scheduled to last three hours when two hours over that, almost five hours in total, the cabinet was locked in discussions with the prime minister, seeing for the first time, the detail of this legal text that the prime minister has put before them. and the day of drama is not really

over. in the last few minutes, we've been learning that the deal was not unanimously backed by the cabinet. in fact, number of senior figures in the government still have reservations over this text, but it was the majority of the cabinet that backed it. by no means all of them. that raises questions about whether we are likely to see resignations in the last few days. what political trouble this may spell for theresa may once this crosses the road to the house of commons behind me. we have already had grumblings from brexiteers very displeased with the detail that is in this text, and already rumours that there may be in the coming days a vote of no—confidence. so this is a moment of maximum peril for the no—confidence. so this is a moment of maximum perilfor the prime minister, although she said just an hour ago as she came out onto the steps of downing street that this is the best deal she could get. the cabinet has just had a long, detailed and impassioned debate about the draft withdrawal agreement and the outline political

declaration on our future relationship with the european union. these documents were the result of thousands of hours of hard negotiation by uk officials and many, negotiation by uk officials and any negotiation by uk officials and many, many meetings which i and other ministers held with our eu counterparts. i firmly believe that the draft withdrawal agreement was the draft withdrawal agreement was the best that could be negotiated, and it is for the cabinet to decide whether to move on in the talks. the choices before us were difficult, particularly in relation to the northern ireland backstop, but the collective decision of cabinet was that the government should agree that the government should agree that the government should agree that the outline political agreement. this decisive decision allows us to move forward and finalise the decision in the days ahead. these decisions were not taken lightly, ahead. these decisions were not ta ken lightly, but ahead. these decisions were not taken lightly, but i believe it is a decision that his family in the national interest. when you strip away the detail, the choice before us

away the detail, the choice before us is clear. this deal, which delivers on the vote of the referendum, which brings back control of our money, laws and orders, and is free movement, protects jobs, security and orders, and is free movement, protectsjobs, security and our union, or leave with no deal, or no brexit at all. i know there will be difficult days ahead. this is a decision which will come under intense scrutiny and that is entirely as it should be and entirely understandable. but the choice was, this deal which enables us to take back control and to build a brighter future for our country or going back to square one with more division, more uncertainty and a failure to deliver on the referendum. it is myjob as prime minister to explain the decisions the government has taken and i stand ready to do that, beginning tomorrow with a statement in parliament. if i may end byjust saying this, i believe that what i owe this country is to take decisions that are in the national interest. i firmly believe with

my head and my heart, that this is a decision which is in the best interests of our entire united kingdom. theresa may speaking on the steps of downing street. she did not take any questions. not before she goes over to downing street wilshere meet the press, i don't think, because she wa nts to press, i don't think, because she wants to provide that statement to the house of commons, which is eagerly awaiting, of course. let's go straight to downing street to speak to the bbc‘s vicki young. perhaps we should caveat what we're hearing this evening from the cabinet, because ian duncan smith has put it in fairly stark terms, and only ten or ii of them were opposed to what they heard from the prime minister. what are you hearing? the bbc understands that although nine spoke up with reservations, that is not quite the same as opposing it, but i'm sure they will be seizing on any sign

that those in the cabinet are not happy. people like the international development secretary penny mordaunt a p pa re ntly development secretary penny mordaunt apparently repeated something she said before, which was that we need a free vote when this goes to the house of commons. i don't think you would say that if you are going to back the government, but if you are going to oppose it, so i don't think this is over yet. i think there are others, maybe esther mcvey, the work and pensions committee, said to be very unhappy about what is in that deal. they may not resign tonight, but if you look at what happened when theresa may last of the cabinet together to agree something, very important, at chequers, david davis, the brexit secretary, went two days later. so i don't think this is over yet, but a lot of their concern seems me about whether this can get through the commons, because they will be looking at the document knowing exactly what eurosceptics in the commons will be saying about it, about getting out of this mechanism, and it turns out the uk cannot do that unilaterally, they will be scouring the detail, now it is finally out there, that massive 550

page document. they will find things in there they do not like, so some people are saying this could be like a budget, where it all looks fine on the night, and as the days go on, it sta rts the night, and as the days go on, it starts to slightly unravel. i don't think she is out of the woods yet. said to be clear, there was no vote? we understand there was no vote. we also understand michael gove, one of the chief exponents of brexit, did back the prime minister, gave her his fulsome support, which might surprise some people? yes, i think his role in all of this has been fascinating from the beginning. he had a view that brexit is going to happen, unless something else happens, and people talking about a people's vote, trying to change it, trying to revoke article 50. i think he is one of those, along with some of the brexiteers who feel, we have got it inside. something they have campaigned for their entire political careers, and we need to get over the line, and then sort out the detail later. so his intervention, and i think the attorney generaljeffrey cox, who

also crucially backed it, i think if the person giving the legal advice to the government and cabinet ministers, they were very much looking to the attorney general to say what did this mean. if he had gone against it, i think that would have been a big problem as well. yet again, michael gove's role in this has proved crucial. if he stays onside, maybe theresa may will be 0k, onside, maybe theresa may will be ok, but that does not mean this will get through the house of commons. with saying, dup leader arlene foster has been in to see the prime minister tonight, but also sir graham brady, that man conservative mps hand letters into if they are unhappy and want to trigger a leadership contest. he has been in to see the prime minister, but we understand that at this point, there are still not the number of letters needed to trigger a contest, but clearly, there has been talk of that going on. it is very fluid, and it is fairto going on. it is very fluid, and it is fair to say there is a the brow atmosphere at the moment. thank you very much. very interesting, the michael gove situation. lots of these ministers making political decisions. does michael gove think if he stays in the cabinet, whatever happens in the next house of

commons, he will be there, perhaps to pick up the pieces or negotiate a future trade deal? maybe he feels a senior brexiteer should be in there despite all the pressure on him and others, put on by eurosceptics in the house of commons. let's remind you what has been published this evening. the european commission has published the 585—page draft withdrawal agreement. we are told there are 185 articles three protocols, on cyprus, northern ireland, also gibraltar. alongside it a shorter statement that has also been released setting out what the uk and eu's future relations will look like. the european commission president jean claudejuncker has also said that decisive progress has been made in the negotiations and called for a special summit on the deal. we expect that to be on the 25th of

november, but that still has to be confirmed by donald tusk. let's go straight to our newsroom and speak to andrew walker, who's been poring over the text for us. set out for me, andrew, what you think are some of the more interesting bits of this legal document? you will be surprised to hear me tell you that i haven't read all 585 pages of it! what i have had all 585 pages of it! what i have had a good look at is the protocol of northern ireland, which contains some really potentially quite interesting trade provisions, and i suppose, there are two different kinds of sets of fears and hopes about that provision. one hears, and thatis about that provision. one hears, and that is the hope held by the prime minister and by the eu, because it is actually spelt out there in black—and—white, at the beginning of this protocol, is that this is about the back stopped, so called. they will make their best endeavours to ensure it is superseded by any trade

agreement that can deal with the future relationship. so there will no doubt be a a lot of emphasis put on that, and trying to reassure people who don't like the backstop arrangement that actually, if we get everything right in the meantime, it will never come to pass. on the other hand, there is also the suggestion that the long—term relationship is going to build on one of the features of the backstop that i think quite a lot of brexiteers are going to particularly dislike, and that is the idea of the european union and the united kingdom as a single customs territory. that is an absolutely central feature of the proposal for the backstop arrangement. it certainly has an enormous contribution towards making that border on the island of ireland free flowing in terms of goods, but that and some of the provisions that go with it, which do, as we expected, mean that northern irelandireland

specifically would be more aligned with this in good market rules. i think that would race and fears among brexiteers. michel barnier was quite clear that this single customs union, the temporary customs arrangement, as we call it, they built on the uk proposal, what the uk wanted, and so that is seen as a win for theresa may, but it comes with demands from the european side, and that is that the two sides it first on a level playing field —— exist on a level playing field, and thatis exist on a level playing field, and that is what concerns some of the brexiteers? absolutely, and there are these provisions to try and create a level playing field in areas that include state aid, so rules about preventing governments from giving unfair subsidies to industries, rules on the environment and agriculture. those kind of provisions are undoubtedly in there. it doesn't mean the uk having to

follow a bsolutely it doesn't mean the uk having to follow absolutely everything, but i have no doubt that there is more than enough in there to get well and truly up the noses of some people who have been campaigning to take the uk out. andrew walker, thanks for those initial thoughts. we will get more, as people pore over these texts. it will take them may be days to get through 585 pages of this document. i was speaking earlier on the green to sammy green of the dup, who said, we might be within one uk single customs union, but northern ireland is a lot deeper in than the rest of great britain, and of course, that is a red line for them. there are also implications for that, if they are tied closer to the single market, for other parts of great britain, scotland, for instance, who did not want to leave the single market, who might say, hang on, we are now at a lower ab of the market in northern ireland, and of course, wales, who send a lot of their stuff over to northern

ireland. if this deal is voted down, no deal could have serious indications for them. so all sorts of strains at the moment on those various nations within the uk. and kristian, one of the many contrasts between where you are and iam is contrasts between where you are and i am is that while almost all of the brexit players in the uk are happy to talk, and you have been talking to talk, and you have been talking to lots of them, to the day here in brussels, it has been largely unrewarding experience trying to get politicians to come on the record, because the european union has been incredibly disciplined today. it has not wanted to comment at all on the situation that theresa may has found herself in. they are absolutely clear that almost any comment from big hitters within the european union can sometimes be on help or within the uk's political context, —— unhelpful, within the uk's political context, so there has been silence. but as soon as theresa may stepped out of downing street to say that i have plan was approved, we're

told within minutes, chief eu brexit negotiator michel barnier would be holding a press conference, and soon enough, he did. this chart withdrawal agreement, ladies and uncommon, includes 185 articles, three protocols, and a series of annexes. this is the draft in my hand here, the giraffe agreement between the united kingdom and the european union. european citizens who live in the united kingdom, but also citizens of the united kingdom who live in a country of the union, establish there before the end of the transition period, will be able to live their lives as before in their country of residence. they will be able to continue to live in their country of residence, to study there, to work there, to receive benefits there, or to be joined by their families there. we have a grade i transition period.

the united kingdom will leave the european union as the united kingdom wished, and leave all the institutions, on march 29th, 2019. but for a period of 21 months from the march 30th until the 30th of december, 2020, we have agreed to preserve the current situation with regard to the single market, with regards to the customs union, and with respect to the european policies and all the rights and obligations that go along with that. we have now found a solution together with the uk to avoid a hard border, on the island of ireland. first, we will use our best endeavours to solve this issue for the long term through a future agreement. if we are not ready by

july 2020, we could generally consider extending the transition to provide for more time. only at the end of the transition, extended or not, if we are not there on an agreement, with the backstop solution we have agreed today kick in. of course, as i said, it is an annotate it outline, the basis of a plan. we are going to start working with the 27 member states, and i will start tomorrow with the european parliament. today, in my responsibility as the eu negotiator, i consider that we have achieved decisive progress. what we were seeing in that press conference was the beginning of the european union coming behind this idea and behind theresa may's effo rts idea and behind theresa may's efforts to get it across the line.

that, of course, doesn't guarantee that she will, but the eu's tone as very much changed just in the last couple of hours. that speak to a couple of hours. that speak to a couple of hours. that speak to a couple of people who are watching this closely. we are all digester in what has been released. what would you pick out as the most surprising element of this deal? perhaps the fact that the european court ofjustice will have a bigger role than expected to police the arrangement that britain may likely enter if there is no fta at the end of the transition period, so then britain is likely to enter a backstop status. because damian, the european court of justice backstop status. because damian, the european court ofjustice has been a target for some of the more pro—brexit campaigners? target for some of the more pro-brexit campaigners? yes, part of the reason peter says that is, remember, theresa may said we are leaving the jurisdiction of the

european court of justice, leaving the jurisdiction of the european court ofjustice, and he is just pointing out, i think, what people are picking up seems to be that if this customs union arrangement and backstop think it m, arrangement and backstop think it in, the ecj would oversee the application of eu's customs rules in the uk. that's a big thing. it was interesting in the press conference to hear michel barnier say, on backstop, we walked away from our own proposals and at the uk's lead. do you think that was spin or has it turned out to be the case? that is true. the eu has been making a concession to the whole of the uk, and notjust concession to the whole of the uk, and not just northern concession to the whole of the uk, and notjust northern ireland, will be able to export tariff free to the eu. in the case the backstop will be activated. of course, in return, britain will have to sign up to all sorts of requirements, the so—called level playing field requirements, which asked a very unclear, and i would suspect will remain very unclear, to what extent britain will

have two follow eu regulations. you have two follow eu regulations. you have partly explained it, but on this phrase, level playing field, which even if you months ago, we did not hear that often, but we are now hearing every few minutes. explain exactly what the eu means when they keep saying this? by allowing the uk to have this customs union arrangement, it means the uk can export quota free and tariff free into the eu. eu companies are then saying, on a minute, the uk then has to follow the same rules we do, otherwise it has an unfair advantage. that means things like environmental rules, workers rules, social rights, all sorts of rules that ensure fair competition between uk and eu companies. in the uk context we have emphasised thatjust because theresa may wants this to happen does not mean it will necessarily get parliamentary support. in a european context, if jean—claude juncker says this is decisive progress, if michel barnier says this is decisive process, do you anticipate the european union

coming behind the idea? yes, i think thatis coming behind the idea? yes, i think that is virtually guaranteed, and it is also virtually guaranteed that the european parliament will agree with this. yes, i think so, and i think rugeley, they have been involved all along. we have heard today, just this evening in the last few minutes, the belgians, the dutch, the finns, all saying they wa nt dutch, the finns, all saying they want to look at some of the detail, because they have not seen this final detail and they would like to scrutinise it. but it would be very, very unlikely for them to have any serious doubts, and crucially, the irish, the irish prime minister has been out in the last few minutes saying he is happy, and the irish concerns saying he is happy, and the irish concerns have been front and centre all the way through. a quick word about the un and institution. brexit was seen as a huge blow to the eu. now we have an idea what brexit might actually look like. how do you assess the damage, if indeed there is any, to the eu? well, i think this is still a big blow. it is an economy the size of the 19th smallest economies of the eu, that

is leaving. so this is not so much a member leaving the club, this amounts to something like a split up of the club, but the use seems to have been dealing rather quite competently — — the have been dealing rather quite competently —— the eu seems to have been dealing quite competently with brexit so far, and we will see a phased exit, whereby britain will gradually gain back its sovereignty, slower than many in britain would like. thank you very much indeed. we have some answers which we did not have some answers which we did not have the beginning of the day, but they have thrown up quite a few more questions, and immediately in brussels, those are, will be brexit secretary dominic rob come to town, will there be a summit between him and michel barnier, and will there bea and michel barnier, and will there be a special summer before the end of november in which the uk and eu formally sign up for the details of what, at the moment, remains a proposal? yes, there's a fundamental question before that, i suppose, which will be whether dominic raab

will be in hisjob at the end of which will be whether dominic raab will be in his job at the end of the week, because he was certainly one of those wobbling as he went into that cabinet minister valid meeting today. no resignations yet, though. well let's speak to kenneth armstrong, who's professor of european law at the university of cambridge. we were talking to you in the last hour. when we were talking a while ago, we were saying the eu wanted settle m e nts ago, we were saying the eu wanted settlements on a few issues. let's ta ke settlements on a few issues. let's take each of them in turn. what will they be looking for in the document when it comes to the rights of citizens here in europe and brits abroad in europe? it is important to remember that while we have very much been focused on the current brexit endgame of the last few months, the negotiations, the provisions of citizens' rights have largely been in place for much of this year, designed to ensure that eu citizens in the uk and uk citizens and the rest of the eu, who have established their lives, can continue to legally reside there. so

those provisions are largely agreed and in place, and in some ways, that has been a kind of success story of the negotiations, but that was hammered down quite quickly. when it comes to the financial settlement, michel barnier did speak about that this evening. it was crucial for about that this evening. it was crucialfor him that about that this evening. it was crucial for him that all 28 nations, he said, lived up to the commitments they had already made. so that's 30 odd billion pounds we have talked about before, that will be handed over to the eu, will it? it will, and we forgot how controversial that seemed early on when we became preoccupied with other issues, though i heard jacob rees mogg earlier tonight talking about the settle m e nt earlier tonight talking about the settlement of the uk's financial liabilities. one important thing for the future, though, is the transition period and the potential extension of it, because the withdrawal agreement does then say

that for the period of any extension, the uk will have to make contributions. and very quickly, on the level playing field that ros was discussing with his guests, one thing i saw in the financial times today, and this is problematic for labour, because they were talking about the rollback of european laws and regulations that is why they might oppose it, but i read today that there would be non—regression causes, so you would not be able to go back under this level playing field idea, you would not be able to go back on issues you had already signed up to. is that a possibility? the political declaration which is a company in the draft withdrawal agreement and i'd also talks about the need to think about the future relationship with the eu, and that this level playing field will be established. kenneth armstrong, i must cut you short. thank you very much. you're watching special programme here on bbc news.

good evening. time to take a look at the weather elsewhere around the world. i have a cyclone to tell you about which will imminently make la ndfall across about which will imminently make landfall across southern india, but let's start in california, where the strong and gusty santa ana winds have been exacerbating the wildfires, and the wildfire risks remain extremely critical, but as you busy from the isobars, the winds opening out. we pick up more of a moist wind towards the end of the week of the pacific, but no sign until next week of any appreciable rain. so it stays mainly dry, and therefore the fire danger remains with us, and some brisk winds picking up potentially. for the meantime, they will start to ease. most of our rain and snow is falling further eastwards through wednesday into thursday. really cold air has died down, so only two degrees in atla nta, died down, so only two degrees in atlanta, two in new york, so it is

touch and go for snowfall. more snow around the great lakes as well. now to that cyclone which is making its way as it intensifies across the bay of ben gall towards tamil nadu, certain parts of the coastline of pradesh. there will be a system packing a punch, the winds gusting quite high, strong cyclone as i say, and potential landslides. large waves as welcoming in the low—lying coastal areas, quite likely to cause a lot of destruction. so some severe weather to come here to thursday, and then it will had its way across towards kerala as well. so some really nasty weather here. we have seen some flash flooding in various parts of the middle east in the last week, and that is likely to continue. look at thursday. we have this line of showers, snow over the mountains, strong winds close lifting just as well. so there is potential there for further flash flooding events because of a large

amount of rain falling in a short time. it continues this way around the levant as well. so we will keep a close eye on this part of the world. across europe, there are still rain across the eastern side of spain, so warnings out for this, and we have just talked about u nsettled and we have just talked about unsettled weather in the middle east, also quite unsettled across the mediterranean. it looks set to get stormy to the central mediterranean, so close to greece, the balkans and southern italy, whereas for most of europe, it is high pressure with cold air starting to pool. so where we don't get rid of the fog, temperatures will take quite a time to lift, and the sunshine to come out. that is sort of the situation here in the uk for the rest of the week. into the weekend, hopefully we'll get drier and clearer air, weekend, hopefully we'll get drier and clearerair, and weekend, hopefully we'll get drier and clearer air, and temperatures will fall away. so, high—pressure building in, as i say, for the weekend and latter part of this week. there is that potential stormy weather in the mediterranean. goodbye. hello and welcome to this bbc news special — with me christian fraser

in westminster and ros atkins in brussels. our top story: a major milestone in britains' path out of the eu — theresa may says after a long, and impassioned debate her ministers have agreed to back the draft brexit agreement. cabinet ministers spent five hours studying the details of the draft agreeement, with what was said to be difficult choices. the choices before us were difficult, particularly in relation to the northern ireland backstop but the collective decision of cabinet was the government should agree the draft withdrawal agreement and the outlying clinical declaration. here in brussels... eu ambassadors earlier were left waiting for hours to get their first sight of the document. it was published online, nearly 1600

pages of it and then michel barnier spoke. today in my responsibility as the eu negotiator i consider that we have achieved progress. welcome back. if you are just joining us we have seen in the last hour, the first pages of the brexit withdrawal agreement which we have been talking about the past 2a hours but slate no one had set eyes it, even the ambassadors who gathered in brussels who would then i'd access to it until that cabinet meeting had come to an end and theresa may had come to an end and theresa may had come onto the steps of downing

street confirmed that she had got the backing of the cabinet. at we have heard as well and the last couple of hours it was not inanimate backing, the bbc are reporting that maybe as many as nine cabinet ministers expressed their reservations throughout a five—hour meeting and all of them had a long say on this document. there was no boat but certainly they have deep reservations about it so when you listen to theresa may and what she had to sayjust an hour ago, note she does not use the word unanimous. i firmly believe that the draft withdrawal agreement was the best that could be negotiated and it was up to the cabinet to decide whether to move on in the talks. the choices before us were difficult, particularly in relation to the northern ireland backstop. but the collective decision of the cabinet was that the government should agree the draft withdrawal agreement and the outlying political declaration. this is a decisive step which enables us to move on and finalise the deal in the days ahead. these decisions were not taken lightly but i believe

it is a decision that is firmly in the national interest. when you strip away the detail, the choice before us is clear. this deal which delivers on the vote of the referendum, which brings back control of our money, laws and borders, ends free movement, protectsjobs, security and our union, or leave with no deal or no brexit at all. i know that there will be difficulties ahead. this is a decision which will come under intense scrutiny and that is entirely as it should be and entirely understandable. but the choice was this deal which enables us to take back control and to build a brighter future for our country or go back to square one with more division, more uncertainty and a failure to deliver on a referendum. those points were reiterated by

michel barnier after she had spoken. he said it was the best deal although he did not speak about what might happen ever was rejected by the house of commons so the first hurdle overcome by the prime minister, but by no means out of the woods, not yet. the member after the chequers proposal was put forward it took so 148 hours until he decided he could not go along with it. let's look at these tweets and you can see opposition on both sides. former ukip leader nigel farage says "any cabinet member who is a genuine brexiteer must now resign or never be trusted again, this is the worst deal in history. the labour mp david lammy — who's strongly against brexit — says, "on the steps of downing street, theresa mayjust made a huge concession. brexit is not inevitable. we do not have to choose between her atrocious deal and no deal at all.

we can still remain in the eu. time for a #peoplesvote." and guy verhofstadt, who's the european parliament's brexit negotiator says, "while i hope one day the uk will return, in the meantime this agreement will make a #brexit possible, while maintaining a close relationship between the eu and uk, a protection of citizens' rights and the avoidance of a hard irish border." well let's speak to the mp alistair carmichael of the liberal democrats. does it do enough, this document, to protect the good friday agreement?” think it would be overstating the case to say it does protect it although i think it is feared that it does not immediately reach it, although that will be academic if mrs makin not get this through the house of commons —— mrs may. took

five hours to get it passed a divided cabinet, the people's loyalties but she should be able to count on automatically. she does not have a snowball‘s chance in a blast furnace getting this to the house of commons. the dup will not back it, the liberal democrats will not back it, we have made it very clear that we see the only way ahead is for this deal to be put to the people in a referendum offering them the choice, this is a deal, this is what brexit actually means or do you want to remain part of the european union. sonny wilson was from plush—mac from dup was with us a couple of hours ago. it was this idea that we might be in one uk single customs union and do this agreement but they are slightly deeper in it and they are in the single market and following the rules of the single market which she

says, pulled that the phrase of the union. i think the concerns that the dup have our legitimate although i do not share the reasons for having them. i think if you really want to be true to the good friday agreement then you want to remain part of the european union because the whole construction of the agreement was based upon the united kingdom and the republic of ireland been part of the republic of ireland been part of the european union. there are plenty of straightforward ways of maintaining the constitutional integrity of the good friday agreement but none of them are to be found and the long—term in this agreement. so really, i'm afraid we may be run out of road but mrs meir still ticking the can —— mrs may. michel barnier said they would have to ta ke michel barnier said they would have to take the consequences of the vote, that is as far as he would go and theresa may has stressed this up

as it is either her deal or no deal at all. you seem to be suggesting that somehow parliament could find it third way. for theresa may to say it third way. for theresa may to say it is her deal or no deal shows the difficulty of the position she is in the cause in fact, she did conceive this on the steps of downing street tonight. there is a third way and that if we don't do this. the only people who could decide to do that by the british people themselves in a people's vote. how do you get the point? parliament will not be able to deal with this, that is clear. it is clear that parliament will not pass the steel. if the deal does not get through parliament and the only people who can really buzz of this are the people of britain at a referendum —— resolve. are the people of britain at a referendum -- resolve. thank you. michel barnier says it is a decisive

step forward and there's a lot of waiting and patient silence on the other side of the channel today. they didn't want to get in the way of what was a very delicate moment for the prime minister but let's ta ke for the prime minister but let's take a look at what is in this document because michel barnier has been spelling out some of it for us. 585 pa g es been spelling out some of it for us. 585 pages in all. there are, we are told, three protocols within that and 85 different articles. deals with cyprus and the uk bases on cyprus, deals of gibraltar and it deals with northern ireland. alongside that is a much shorter political declaration which will speu political declaration which will spell out the future elation ship but that is very short. theresa may said some time ago she wanted that to go into great detail so people in the house of commons would know what they were signing up to but that is not the case, it is quite a short document although there is some

speculation and some reporting that the customs union which is the temporary custom arrangement and is there in this agreement will form there in this agreement will form the basis for the future deal. so, the basis for the future deal. so, the government is now preparing for in the use —— preparing for an eu summit. we have heard from donald tusk that he feels there is decisive progress “— tusk that he feels there is decisive progress —— someone is calling for donald tusk to start a process. we will talk further about some of that detail. it is worth explaining just as well that it is 585 pages long so there are very few people in this town who will of actually gone through all the details of mac it might bea through all the details of mac it might be a slope earner this as people get to grips with the various issues in the document and we said

already, we have been talking to rosalind russell ‘s tonight about the level playing field. and in exchange for the testing in the customs union, there has been quite a lot that theresa may has had to give and notably, that is these issues of the uk abiding by eu regulations on environment, tax, workers' rights and that it is that sort of detail pass the transition that will concern many of the brexiteers. they don't like the fact that the uk has signed up to some of that the uk has signed up to some of that and they don't like that the european court of justice that and they don't like that the european court ofjustice would also have some say in it. with me here now is the times' deputy political editor, sam coates. i don't think we have some actually, he is not with us. so why don't we go over to brussels. we seem to have

lost our guest. what is some of the reaction in brussels? bank used a mac lets look at the irish border issue, i enjoyed by david grant, chief x —— thank you for coming out. a lot of people said the irish border issue with unresolvable comment you think they manage to crack it? i think they have. be welcomed a proposal and they said it was not going to affect the good friday agreement. the diplomatic team have really made this a court issue of the negotiations, it is one of the first three items that the commission had to deal with sol think they have worked hard on it and they have been there about it. they have a knowledge along the way there was need for flexibility and he has worked through that sol think in terms of keeping the border open and ensuring the flow of people and goods across the border, which

was very important to the people of ireland, i think we out there on that. i think about the backstop, it will only get used to be transition period ends and is not extended and there is no trade agreement in place. if those things do happen and the backstop is implement it, northern ireland will be treated differently to the rest of the uk, wanted? it will, according to the text we have seen that even a. there isa text we have seen that even a. there is a special provision there. but i think there is an opportunity for northern ireland, it is giving a unique economic impetus, it is the only place with a lime border can trade directly with the eu, easy access to since i think there is an opportunity there to be taken. businesses on both side of the order had been very concerned for a long time as to what would happen and tonight we have some clarity on that andl tonight we have some clarity on that and i think what is being proposed is an opportunity. you're seeing it as an opportunity but clearly the

democratic unionist party does not see it this way. no, they don't and they have their issues and they made that very clear over the last new hours but i think they represent a constituency, they have a particular view, they have a relationship with the prime minister and the politics of westminster and they have to be given time to deal with that and to reflect that how best they go forward with it. understandably we focused on the irish border, not least because it was the biggest stumbling block to a deal by another pressing concern for the irish government is its trading elation ship of the uk is hugely important the irish economy. how do you view the irish economy. how do you view the plans have been laid out tried to mitigate against any possible fallout? i think are right. the uk has been a main trading partner but we are less dependent now on the uk than we once were but that said, it still remains a very important supplier and its export market so decent negotiations are gone to have

to continue. we only at the halfway stage, we are only talk about the withdrawal agreement, we saw the future relationship trade agreement to look at. we have a long way still to look at. we have a long way still to go in these issues and those matters are very important to the economy of ireland and certainly the government will be prioritising those now. it is not an experienced the irish government would have chosen or the european union at i wonder in some ways if this has helped strengthen the relationship between ireland and the institution such as the one that is behind us, the european commission? changes happening in brexiters only about a change. initially when the boat happened there was concerned that ireland may be a casualties and one between the two and i would have beena between the two and i would have been a big problem but certainly the solidarity that the members states have shown ireland have been very positive and welcomed by the country so positive and welcomed by the country sol positive and welcomed by the country so i think going forward ireland has to create a new relationship with

the european union and the other member states are going to remain. we did have a great allegiance with the uk, an alliance of various sporting issues, we are going to have to move on and find new relationships and that is a challenge. but is also an opportunity. thank you. assumes the wheels are moving reasonably quickly here in brussels, we have been told we may get a statement for michelle barnier tomorrow morning, perhaps with donald tusk is well. whether that happens tomorrow or not, all indications are that the european union are set on community to with us. notjust on the details of the deal on why the approval of them but the process which will now kick in and take us to a point whether this moves from a proposal to confront a deal with the uk and the eu. needless to say even if brussels gets everything lined up, things don't need to be lined up for you area don't need to be lined up for you are a westminster and arguably that's going to be the harder task,

yes, first things first will have to create our diaries for the european summit look forward to that one. 90 very much. you're watching a bbc special. will bring in more detail in the coming minutes on the silly 600 page document which spells out how the uk will leave the eu. —— nearly 600 page document. never before has there been so much talk ina never before has there been so much talk in a document that no one has seenin talk in a document that no one has seen in the last two hours. i have been speaking to sammy wilson about his objections to his text and what they are going to do in the days ahead at the house of commons. when it comes to the house of commons she's going to find that many people share that view because why would a prime minister wish to sell something to the house of commons which keeps us tied in the customs union, which keeps us tied to eu regulations, which doesn't allow us to break free of those except by the permission of a body

outside of the united kingdom. and for that, we pay £39 billion, i think that people will be appalled at this. to use her own words, no deal is better than a bad deal and i would think the house of commons will give theirjudgment on it when it eventually comes too. this puts a parliamentary conservative party between a rock and a hard place. brexiteers don't like it and you'll do remainers. we also spoke to the conservative mp, grant shapps, who says he will be taking a very close look at the agreed document before coming to a final decision on whether to support the prime minister's deal or not. take a look at this. i read every word of the chequers agreement which interestingly the cabinet that were looking at that at the time certainly would not have had the opportunity to do and i doubt they have had the time to be read this either. in fact, they won't have done in the little time they have had

to look at it beforehand so i will read every single word and what i will be considering is this, are we going to get any of the advantages of actually leaving that have been promised? so, that is being able to sign up your free trade agreements and go out and win in the wider world through being competitive through tax and other things. or are they going to get any of the benefits of remaining, that is obviously the idea of staying in the customs union and actually, in the end are we any better off at all and so that is what will guide my vote come, i imagine, the second week of december in the house of commons. theresa may's cabinet has agreed to back the brexit deal she's struck with the eu. mrs may said the decision involved difficult choices especially on the fall—back policy to avoid controls on the border with ireland. the nearly 600 page agreement has now been published, along with an outline political declaration on britain's future relationship with the eu. let's get some other news now, and dozens of people

are still unaccounted for in the town of paradise in northern california, which was destroyed by a wildfire last week. 48 people are now known to have died. firefighters say they've now contained the worst of the fires many people remain missing. we are now in a town next to paradise and it is completely destroyed. people are coming to places like this, this is actually a parking what that a walmart and with the past three days it has been transformed into an impromptu evacuation centre, you can probably see behind me there is free food for people who come here, there are supplies, clothing, pet food with those that need it. to my left there isa those that need it. to my left there is a tent village which is strewn across is a tent village which is strewn a cross every is a tent village which is strewn across every available piece of grassland here and of course this is

just a short—term fix. there an off aof just a short—term fix. there an off a of people who've had to evacuate the town of paradise which no longer exists. people here considered themselves be lucky once because 48 people have now been confirmed to have died and there is a list of 100 or so people that are missing, some of them have come forward since that list was published but it is safe to say that people here are bracing themselves for the number of dead to rise quite sharply. a desperate but slightly hopeful seen here of a community trying to come together. dave, are the fires under control now? there are two fires that have been the focus of efforts in the state, in the south there was a fire which firefighters say they are making good progress with on many that they have have had to evacuate and many are able to go back to

their homes but here the fire is still raging. we recently had the interior secretary for the us, basically the man looks after land issues, he he described it as simply the worst situation he has ever seen and he described it as worse than any war zone he had seen in iraq. so it is the dizzy this is very much an emergency situation, a dangerous situation and the people that have come here hope the rest through the imminent danger but there is still a lot to be done. thank you. works quickly bring in someone in brussels, david, while we have been concentrating on the withdrawal agreement there is a shortage document looks further ahead than that? yes, the outline of the future declaration and the future relationship ideas between the eu

and the uk, quite a big thing, it is not agreed yet but the thing i would highlight from this as it talks about creating an economic partnership in the future with free trade based on the customer unions idea already in this withdrawal agreement. that is quite controversial this one. for people just joining controversial this one. for people justjoining us who have not seen the last few hours of political drama, what you see is more significant element of the agreement? i think it is this over all idea to lock the uk into a customs union to solve the irish border, that the uk can only get out of the eu's agreement so that is a big thing. we appreciate your help. thank you. there is going to be a pause, not a long one but a pause forjust a few hours were people get sleep. the day is quick to start early in brussels, we are expecting significant dip or matic activity ——

diplomatic activity. people start putting your support between this idea but theresa may is presenting to the cabinet and we're going to see to parallel political tracks play out and for the first time in a long time, those two different groups of politicians, one in brussels and one in westminster are some ways on the same side. yes, i think you're going to see some develop meant on the side. of course those cabinet ministers that have reservations in the meeting today have to go awake, think about what they have heard today, pour over that document and no doubt they will be interviewed and we will hear their thoughts. whether they can stay in thejob, their thoughts. whether they can stay in the job, two their thoughts. whether they can stay in thejob, two or their thoughts. whether they can stay in the job, two or three cabinet ministers are wobbling. of course, there is the other story about the vote of no—confidence. will there be one? will be let us go in? it is going to be a very busy day in westminster tomorrow. thank

you for watching soccer it is been incredibly mild right across the country. to wednesday we did see some cloud and i brought some rain and strong winds into northern ireland and scotland but further south, it was glorious. look at these weather watcher pictures that illustrate the point. it was a rather grey, wet and windy start across much of scotland at the essex, and this was typical of england and wales, a glorious day. this could actually be in mid june scenario rather than a mid—november one. one unifying factor is we have had a south—westerly winds which is dragged mild air raids across the country, that is the story for the next few days but things are set to change in the longer term victory. more of that in just a moment but by thursday we could start off with some mist and fog which could linger to look cloud with a card breaks and

sunshine comes through, it will be quite warm again, 16 degrees. there will be some rain fringing the far west of scotland and that is a weather front that was to have to quit its way, it will do so, it will wea ken quit its way, it will do so, it will wea ke n offers quit its way, it will do so, it will weaken offers bonds into high pressure and in actual fact as we move through the early hours of friday will see that front using a way. quite a lot of cloud across england and wales but some clearer skies to the far north as an matter is where we are likely to see the best of the sunshine on friday, into scotla nd best of the sunshine on friday, into scotland and northern ireland. it can stay on the graveside be much of england and wales, a degree or so cool but not by much as you can see, the team to 15 degrees. as a move into the weekend we will start to see more of a change as to winds swing around this area of high pressure touristy south—easterly flow, a cooler source and that will bring a noticeable difference to the weather, there will be some dry weather, there will be some dry weather in the story, some sunny spells around the cooler by day and potentially chilly by night. we

could see some evening and overnight frost so it is going to be a crisp started to saturday morning, that south—easterly flow driving in plenty of sunshine across the country, it will be a colluding with temperatures around ten to 12 degrees. it is on the case of spot the difference between saturday and sunday, if anything the winds will strengthen just that little bit further and it will make it a little bit cooler but it will be dry and be lots of crisp sunshine around. weather conditions that may suit some of you, top temperatures around ten or 11 degrees. as we move into monday there is a potential may be for a bit more moisture of the north sea, a bit more cloud and that could be thick enough for the odd isolated shower and maybe as we get to live, there will be a bit of wintry precipitation for higher ground. this debrisjust precipitation for higher ground. this debris just struggling monday. looks as though that the odd isolated shower and maybe as we get to live, there will be a bit of wintry precipitation for higher ground. this debris just struggling monday. looks as though that they will continue into the long—term

trend for next week but there is still a level of uncertainty, high pressure drifting into scandinavia and we are keeping the easterly flow but we need to keep a close eye to an area of low pressure that is moving its way up through central europe and that could cause one or two issues. it is a great deal of uncertainty as to what is exactly going to happen later next week but we will keep that you truly low and they will continue to feel pretty cool but the most likely scenario is we see a return to sunshine and showers, the difference being that it will feel much cooler as with any height, we could see some of the showers turning a little bit more wintry. take care. this programme contains flashing images. tonight at ten, we're in downing street, where the cabinet has approved theresa may's brexit plans after five hours of intense debate. the prime minister emerged to claim that this was the best brexit plan on offer, urging mps on all sides

to lend their support. i believe what i owe to this country is to take decisions that are in the national interest. and ifirmly believe with my head and my heart that this is a decision which is in the best interests of our entire united kingdom. as ministers left downing street, opposing voices were being heard among conservative mps, and among the government's parliamentary partners. i will vote against it and i expect many others will. this does not meet either the result of the referendum