this is bbc news. the headline that 11 p.m.. the cabinet approved theresa may's brexit plans after five hours of debate. the prime minister claims that this is the best brexit plan on offer, urging mps on all sides to lend their support. i believe that what i owed to this country is to take decisions that are in the national interest. and ifirmly that are in the national interest. and i firmly believe with my head and my heart that this is a decision which is in the best interests of oui’ 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 oi’ either the result of the referendum or in deeper conservative party's ma nifesto or in deeper conservative party's manifesto promises. she has stood up in this very place and says she will not break up the united kingdom, there will be no difference between northern ireland and the rest of the

united kingdom. if she decides to go against all about then there will be consequences, against all about then there will be consequences, of course against all about then there will be consequences, of course they will be consequences. the draft agreement delivered by the eu this evening i’u ns delivered by the eu this evening ru ns to delivered by the eu this evening runs to 500 pages. they say it represents decisive progress. and at 11:30pm we will look at the papers with our reviewers lance price and charles kenningham, so stay with us for that. good evening. charles kenningham, so stay with us forthat. good evening. it charles kenningham, so stay with us for that. good evening. it was one of the most significant cabinet meetings of modern times when ministers decided to support theresa may's plans for leaving the eu. it took five hours of intense debate

for the cabinet to reach that decision, but the outcome is already underfire from decision, but the outcome is already under fire from both sides of the brexit debate with some mps complaining that the uk could be tied to eu rules for years to come. the prime minister has warned that this draft withdrawal agreement is the best on offer. it is set to be put to mps before christmas, but there is no certainty that it will be approved by the house of commons. we start with this report on the cabinet meeting from our political editor laura kuenssberg and there is some flash photography coming up. her deal, who call, her gamble. the government has a long, detailed and impassioned debate on the draft agreement and the outlined declaration on the future relationship with the eu. these documents were the result of thousands of hours of hard negotiation by uk officials and many meetings which i and other ministers

held with our eu counterparts. i firmly believe that the draft withdrawal agreement was the best that could be negotiated. and it was 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. the collective decision of cabinet was that the government should agree the withdrawal agreement and the outlined political declaration. this isa outlined 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 the days ahead. these decisions were not ta ken lightly. the days ahead. these decisions were not taken lightly. but i believe it isa 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 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, protects jobs, security and

borders, ends free movement, protectsjobs, security and our union, or leave with no deal or no brexit at all. i believe that what i owed to this country is to take decisions that are in the national interest and 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. soho deal is on after five hours of talks, pact has been sealed that could determine herfuture, the government's future and of course all of hours. —— so her deal. it was not smooth all unanimous. they might have reached a collective decision... are you resigning? i am told about ten cabinet ministers expressed reservations, fears the agreement keeps us to close to the eu. a cabinet united? a collective agreement. concerns it will never make it through the commons and there was no formal vote. make it through the commons and

there was no formal votei make it through the commons and there was no formal vote. i am absolutely part of the cabinet because i am satisfied that the deal thatis because i am satisfied that the deal that is currently available does meet our demands. why the caution? voila. voila, brexiteers feared eu has got too much, tying the uk into closely maybe for good. we have been able to find common ground and meet oui’ able to find common ground and meet our common objectives —— in too closely. there are big problems back home. the fine print of the deal shows if there isn't a big trade agreement in future great britain would be in a customs union with the eu, northern ireland effectively in a single market. not something theresa may's dup allies want to accept. it certainly doesn't appear that we will be able to support it, because it breaches the red line in terms of having differences between northern ireland and the rest of the united kingdom, in terms of regulation. obviously we would still be in the customs union as well. and

we cannot have that. and in far greater number if brexiteers' suspicions about the deal are proven once they have read it properly. here it is. you have it. i have it here. they might pull the plug on the prime minister altogether. here. they might pull the plug on the prime minister altogetherlj think the prime minister altogether.” think this is a major problem for the government because it destroys trust. the prime minister made some very clear promises in her various speeches but perhaps most importantly in the conservative party manifesto. one of those was we we re party manifesto. one of those was we were leaving the customs union. in this arrangement we can only leave a customs union with the permission of the european union which is a worse situation than we are currently in. will you move against the prime minister before she has a chance to bring the plane? i shall spend some money on some candles this evening and read carefully what the text says. strong voices on the right will inevitably be joined by resista nce will inevitably be joined by resistance from the left.” will inevitably be joined by resistance from the left. i don't believe that the deal i have heard so far is in the national interest, it doesn't meet the needs of all

parts of britain, it doesn't give a security of the trading relationship with europe in the future through a permanent customs union in which we have no say. remember, most ministers did back theresa may tonight, albeit with nought enthusiasm. the government was rewarded with glass of wine at the end, but it is far, far too early for theresa may to toast success. laura kuenssberg. let's speak with the conservative mp simon hawthorn more than dorset and the parliamentary private secretary to the home secretary. good evening. what do you think of the agreement that has been done? let's be frank, it is not perfect, it never was going to be, but it is a pragmatic, reasonable set of proposals which address our concerns to ensure that we leave the european union, deliver on the brexit result, take back control of borders and money, but at the same time ensure that britain's economic prosperity, jobs,

manufacturing, the economy, are not hurt by the process and i think the prime minister and her team have managed to weld the two things together and come up with a set of proposals which all of us should find acceptable. you have spoken with parliamentary colleagues i don't gallop since the story emerged in the evening. what sense are you getting of support or otherwise?” certainly was part of a big meeting this evening where ministers were briefed by number ten. there were a number of questions asked. you would expect that, just as clearly there have been in cabinet early in the afternoon. my take on it, talking to collea g u es afternoon. my take on it, talking to colleagues from across the party, different movements, views, different movements, views, different positions in the referendum, was that this is something we can work the service to sport. —— support. the prime minister is to be congratulated. not perfect but delivering on the ma nifesto perfect but delivering on the manifesto promise, the deep and special relationship with the eu

while delivering on the brexit referendum result. that is the key thing. all of us have been triggered by the largest activity of democracy that our country has seen. we had the result of the british people. we have stuck by that. and the prime minister is clearly delivering upon it. not according to jacob minister is clearly delivering upon it. not according to jacob rees—mogg who you will avert a moment ago because now it ties us into the customs union as far as he is concerned and it is up to the eu when we leave. well, i don't agree with jacob on that, we are very old friend of many years standing but we have never agreed on this european issue, it has to be said. the proposal with the customs union is, i think, abundantly clear — it takes us i think, abundantly clear — it takes us out of the customs union and out of the single market, and by the freewheel and choice of the government, and with a parliamentary vote, we will go into a customs union arrangement, outside the single market, away from free

movement of people, which was a major concern people when they came to vote in the referendum in 2016. soi to vote in the referendum in 2016. so i hear what jacob to vote in the referendum in 2016. so i hear whatjacob says, i think he is neither right, nor will he have much support from the bench. that is the next point wanted to raise with you because when you look at the parliamentary mathematics, he doesn't need a great deal of support, does he? if the dup say we don't like this, if labour put their six key tests in front of them which would likely mean they will vote against, that means the government loses, doesn't it? i don't think it is as clear as that. people have drawn the line is clearly over the last few weeks. but as we move towards crunch point, and parliamentarians across the house start to think about what is at sta ke start to think about what is at stake here, when they start to hear from their constituents and businesses and employers in their

constituencies of the importance of delivering the sort of trade arrangement the prime minister has outlined today, i think people will come around to thinking let's look back and to the period when we debated and voted in the house of commons, i clearly wasn't part of it, when wejoined commons, i clearly wasn't part of it, when we joined the commons, i clearly wasn't part of it, when wejoined the eec, that was a long cross party votes with groups of people coming together in the national interest, so you had tony benn and enoch powell in one lobby and royjenkins and ken clarke in another. i think and certainly talking to friends and colleagues in the snp, in the liberal democrats, in the labour party, there is a body of opinion growing our to say it — andi of opinion growing our to say it — and i think the constituency in north dorset is saying this to me andi north dorset is saying this to me and i am told by colleagues in their constituencies as well saying knock seven kinds of hell out of each other as you like on issues of policing and health education, that is part of british politics, but on this great national endeavour is it not now time for men and women of goodwill and of all parties to come together to make sure that there is a sensible, pragmatic solution to be delivered? i

a sensible, pragmatic solution to be delivered ? i very a sensible, pragmatic solution to be delivered? i very much hope and believe that this agreement will secure support from across the house and therefore can be delivered. thank you for coming on. now, let's turn our attention to brussels. katy adler went to michel barnier‘s press conference and set it has shift. gone was mr finger wag, we are used to seeing the chief negotiator over the last 19 months of negotiations really telling off the uk and warning the uk orthe telling off the uk and warning the uk or the consequences of bradford. tonight it was a different tone, praise for the uk, the ally and friend, praise for uk negotiators who michel barnier said had achieved what they had set out to do, to protect the irish border, to protect the rights of eu citizens in the uk

and uk citizens in the eu after brexit and to protect uk constitutional integrity as well. he said they had managed to achieve all of those things. it was almost as if someone of those things. it was almost as if someone put it to me they created a beautiful faberge egg out of the negotiations, but now could it be smashed? i negotiations, but now could it be smashed ? i put negotiations, but now could it be smashed? i put it to mr barnier tonight what plans the eu has in place if the uk parliament votes down the brexit deal. he didn't want to engage in that. he didn't want to engage in the questions around the temporary customs agreement that appears in the withdrawal agreement here as part of a backstop over the irish border. could that become the basis of the future relationship between the eu and the uk after brexit? and other big question is the role of the european court of justice, something brexiteers want to be rid of, and it is very powerful in this withdrawal agreement, including in the backstop as well. and what do the eu 27 member states make of this? well, looking ashen faced, they don't

think they will have a wink of sleep between now and 25 november when they should have this extraordinary seal the deal brexit summit. they need their lawyers to go through the 585 pa g es need their lawyers to go through the 585 pages of the withdrawal agreement and see whether they disagree with anything of that. and they also need to finalise that political declaration of intent of eu uk future relationships. at the moment if you have a look it is a whole load of bullet points. there is no real content in there at all. careful choreography that at any point any day now could be com pletely point any day now could be completely destroyed by big political problems on either side. all eyes here are on the uk. one eu civil servant pointing to the withdrawal agreement tonight and saving you know what, all of this could still end up in the bin. sam coates the deputy political editor of the times is in our westminster studio. take us through how you see the next

would be for hours on folding up after a ll would be for hours on folding up after all this? —— 2a hours. would be for hours on folding up after all this? -- 24 hours. we had after all this? -- 24 hours. we had a fight after all this? -- 24 hours. we had afighta after all this? -- 24 hours. we had a fight a la cabinet meeting today, two hours longer than we were expecting, theresa mayjust about got through that. we were gathering accou nts got through that. we were gathering a ccou nts of got through that. we were gathering accounts of what had happened, while there was a lot of unhappiness, reservations and criticism for her plan, people did not resign and are bound by collective responsibility. as it were, theresa may has passed test number one, she has for now, got the clincher is negotiated with brussels through cabinet. the next test she faces and we could slam into this in the next 44— 48 hours, is whether or not to many members of the conservative parliamentary party are aghast at what they see and put in those 48 letters to graham brady demanding a vote of no—confidence. —— 24 demanding a vote of no—confidence. _-24_ demanding a vote of no—confidence. -- 24 - 48. it demanding a vote of no—confidence. —— 24 — 48. it seems like they're

ha rd —— 24 — 48. it seems like they're hard brexiteers have switched position, they threatened it but have not done it. they have borne up a gearand have not done it. they have borne up a gear and have written letters and will submit them. hard brexiteers have cried wolf on the letters gained time and time again, we will see if it happens but there is a distinctive change of mood. is that a more pressing concern for her tonight than the prospect of possible cabinet resignations? talking to a number of cabinet ministers and other peoples in government, as the big bay seems to be the main person on the edge, she had headings with the chief whip smith, even the cabinet manual had to be pushed out to her to dissuade herfrom pushing them to be pushed out to her to dissuade her from pushing them to a vote. i think bluntly if theresa may loss ester mcvey or two others, then i think she would still survive. she is okfor

think she would still survive. she is ok for now in terms of the cabinet she has kept those key set of figures. —— centre figures of. to lose out to the party and more widely, to parliament. workbook incredibly difficult but she has got through hurdles before so who is to say she will not get through these? what is the message that came on her outside number ten? she includes a reference to the possibility of brexit not happening at all this doesn't go down the road that she is pursuing? that is a key part of her armoury. is there to say that —— it is fairto armoury. is there to say that —— it is fair to say that the deal she is negotiated has eu friends, there are not cabinet members there that are enthusiastic and have a spring in their step to say it is a positive step. even theresa may herself recognises its shortcomings in the cabinet meetings today. but that is not where we are. the point is that

this only looks like a good deal when faced with the alternatives and that statement that you quoted is theresa may trying to make people, confront people with the choice here. which is ultimately my deal or the prospect of no—deal brexit or no brexit at all. some people disagree with that, people on the people's vote campaign say we can force a second referendum, the maths of that ha rd to second referendum, the maths of that hard to meet in parliament. theresa may is firm, my deal or no deal, she is trying to use that to frighten her colleagues but we are at a stage where the threats are in recently credible because we are getting closer to the march 29 cliff edge can also be will probably taking it quite seriously. so the 500—page document was published by the eu this evening. a shorter statement setting out what the uk and eu's future relations will look like has also been drawn up. but criticism of the draft agreement has focused on the means of avoiding a hard border between northern ireland and the republic and on the uk's potential exposure to eu rules for years to come. chris morris of the bbc‘s

reality check has been looking at the detail. the draft withdrawal agreement is a hefty document. but it's all about how we leave the european union, it's not about our long term future relationship. if everyone approves it — a big if — it means that among a host of other things, over time, the uk will pay at least £39 billion to the eu to settle all its financial obligations. it sets out basic rights in the future for eu citizens in the uk and brits elsewhere in europe, but many of them are dismayed by what's on offer. and future immigration policy as a whole is yet to be decided. there will also be a transition period after brexit, when all the rules will stay the same. that'll last until the end of 2020. it could be extended, maybe up for a year or so.

and the toughest part of the negotiations — it sets the terms of the so—called backstop — the guarantee that there'll be no hard border in ireland, under any circumstances, in the future. part of this "no hard border" plan would be what amounts to a temporary customs union with the eu, covering the whole of the uk, meaning there'd still be no taxes, or tariffs, on goods moving between the uk and the eu. the document calls this a single customs territory. but northern ireland would be in a closer relationship, more closely tied to the eu single market, than the rest of the uk. the uk will, in theory, be able to leave this temporary customs arrangement, but it won't be able to make that decision on its own. the draft document says the arrangement will only come to an end if both parties decidejointly. that's something some brexiteers can't accept.

now, what the withdrawal agreement — all 585 pages of it, which we've seen for the first time this evening — what it doesn't do is set out details of the long term future relationship with the eu after brexit. that includes security relations, foreign policy, and above all, the terms on which we'll trade with our nearest neighbours. there is a separate outline political declaration — just a few pages long for now — that starts to map out that future. progress has been made, and a longer document could emerge next week. but formal negotiation on all those issues will only begin after brexit has actually happened. and one key question for everyone — will a temporary customs union form the basis for the permanent relationship, that is still to come? chris mentioned the irish border issue and let's just show you the scale of what we've been wading through, this is the key wording on the irish backstop, which has been the most contentious issue. the document says that the agreement "respects

the essential state functions and territorial integrity of the united kingdom". the text also says that the backstop will only apply temporarily, but a section that is likely to upset brexiteers and the dup. the text says that the eu and the uk will need to jointly decide when the backstop arrangement will come to an end. the question of how to avoid a hard border between northern ireland and the republic has dominated much of the negotiations with brussels. but it also presents challenges for the people of northern ireland as it raises new questions about their future links with the rest of the uk and the republic, as our ireland correspondent emma vardy explains. bomb blast this island's history is marked by struggles over land and sea. today, brexit is redefining its modern borders. people here have found themselves caught in the middle of a political storm. we don't want to go back to days of old.

whatever happens, happens. i don't think individually we can make a gigantic difference to what the higher powers decide. at northern ireland's larne harbour, every day trucks and trade arrive over the irish sea from britain. checks are needed on live animals, but currently little else, because the whole island, north and south, is under the same eu rules. but after the uk leaves the eu, there could be new checks on some products coming from britain to northern ireland. and northern ireland alone could remain tied to some eu rules. the democratic unionist party believes this would undermine the very integrity of the uk. i know that for the unionist community in northern ireland at the moment, this is quite a difficult time. today, ireland's prime minister tried to allay the dup‘s fears. i know many of them may

be feeling vulnerable, and i want to say to them that the good friday agreement will be protected. northern ireland has achieved peace through a dual british and irish identity. some people believe shared membership of the eu has helped to keep that relationship in harmony, but now brexit is changing things. we're scared about going backwards. it's a big dealfor us. obviously northern ireland always presents that sort of problem, that difficulty of understanding what's happening, and identity. ijust feel with brexit, either we're in or we're out. and if we're out, let's get on with it. brexit isn't just about trade on these shores. it's also about the delicate balance of peace on this island. but now this special brexit status is raising questions on the other side of the water, over whether scotland and wales should be given their own set of arrangements in the agreement too. emma vardy, bbc news. amidst all the debate about the

irish border, big e upu's vote crucial. let's show you a tweet from arlene foster. —— the dup‘s vote. so two and half years after the uk voted to leave the european union voters can now study the government's plans for leaving the eu in march next year. back in 2016, in southmead in bristol, 52% of people voted to leave — 48% to remain — a perfect illustration of the final outcome across the uk. our correspondentjon kay has spent the day there asking voters how they feel about the way things have turned out so far. we will not renege...

it breaches the prime minister's own... you are not delivering the brexit... the prime minister has told us that no deal is better than a bad deal... it is a quite incredible state of affairs... while the politicians argue, the people wait — to find out what happens next. everything will come to a standstill... as she started work this morning, maria didn't know where the uk was heading. how would you sum it up right now? chaos — complete and utter chaos, in't it? it doesn't feel like anybody knows really what's going on, and it doesn't feel like anybody knows what they're doing, so, yeah, it's quite scary, i suppose. as the pm faced the commons, stephen was preparing orders. he exports guitars to europe and has been waiting for a deal. when you see phrases like endgame, judgement day, decision day,

what does that mean for you here? we don't know what it means for us, which is the real problem. it's just a period of uncertainty while we wait to see which way it all falls. and what's that like, living with that? stressful! two o'clock — as theresa may was trying to get her cabinet in line. whether they voted in or out, these dancers feel let down by all politicians. the prime minister is holding an emergency meeting of her cabinet in downing street... they sound like schoolchildren. awful! dreadful. i suppose it's a complicated business, though, isn't it? there's a lot at stake, people have very strong opinions. yeah, but that's what they're paid for. they should be able to do theirjob. how important do think it is to see in black and white? very important, very, yeah, and everyone says the same. why? well, because we're

in the dark, aren't we? tonight, some clarity. the draft agreement published, backed by the cabinet. in southmead's pubs and clubs, we found some relief, but little confidence that brexit was sorted. nobody knows what's going to happen, it's just really uncertain, everything is just up in the air. do you feel any more certain tonight? no. it's not really black and white. i think that most people are confused about it all. i don't know what the answer is. i was going to ask you, what's the answer? i'd like to think i could give an answer, but i can't. more than 100 miles from downing street, still waiting to find out how brexit will end. jon kay, bbc news, southmead, in bristol. now it's time for the weather. hello there. if you put me on the spot and asked me to some this week

‘s weather in one word, it will probably be unseasonable. it has been incredibly mild right across the country. through wednesday we did see some cloud and that at some rain and chandra wind into northern ireland and scotland, but further south it was glorious. look at these weather watch of pictures which illustrates the point. it was a great, wet and windy start across scotla nd great, wet and windy start across scotland but through essex, this was typical across england and wales, a glorious days. this could be a need junior scenario rather than mid—november. one unifying factor was the fact that we have the south—westerly wind and this dragged in the mild air rockers the country and that has been the story for the next few days what things are set to change in the long—term picture. more on that in just the moment but for thursday because the off with mist and fog which will linger to low cloud, the cloud breaks and sunshine comes through it will be quite warm again. there will be some rainfringing quite warm again. there will be some rain fringing that far north—west of scotla nd rain fringing that far north—west of scotland and that is a weak weather front that has to clear its way

steadily south and east. it will do so and we can offer as it comes into high—pressure and as we move to the early hours of friday we see that front is in a way. quite a lot of cloud across england and wales, clear skies to the final. that is where we are likely to see the best of the sunshine on friday through scotla nd of the sunshine on friday through scotland and northern ireland. it could day on the grey side england and wales, at the rear also cooler but not why much, 13— 15 degrees the high. as we move into the weekend, thatis high. as we move into the weekend, that is when we will really start to see more of the change as the wind swings around, this area of high pressure to the south—easterly flow, a cooler source and that will bring a cooler source and that will bring a noticeable difference to the weather. there will be a good deal of dry weather in the story, some sunny spells around, but it will be