hello and welcome to this bbc news special — with me christian fraser in westminster and ros atkins in brussels. our headlines... taking the right decisions, not the easy ones. the prime minister vows to continue with her plan for brexit despite strong opposition from all sides in westminster, promising it will deliver on the promises made in the referendum. i believe that this is a deal which does deliver that, which is in the national interest and am i going to see this through? yes. earlier today, a series of ministerial resignations, including that of the brexit secretary dominic raab who said the prime minister's brexit plan had ‘fatal flaws‘. the leading brexiteerjacob rees—mogg submits a letter of no confidence in the prime minister and says he expects there'll be a vote on her future. here in brussels... michel barnier says the deal is fair and balanced and lays the ground for an ambitious new partnership. but the german chancellor warns against any changes to the plan at this late stage.

translation: we now have a document on the table that britain and the eu 27 have agreed to. so for me there is no question at the moment whether we negotiate further. good evening and welcome to westminster. theresa may has insisted that she will see brexit through and that she has set out the right course for the country. it's been a day of intense political pressure since the draft agreement was published yesterday with four ministers resigning. let's have a look back at how we got to this point... yesterday the uk and the eu presented its draft agrement for britain's withdrawal, which included provisions for a transition period and ‘backstop‘ while a trade

deal is negotiated. in response, brexit secretary dominic raab quit this morning, followed by esther mcvey and two other ministers. theresa may defended her deal in the house of commons and was on her feet for three hours taking questions, some critical, from all parties. leading eurosceptic mp, jacob rees—mogg, submitted a letter of no—confidence in theresa may's leadership saying her draft brexit deal ‘had turned out to be worse than expected'. theresa may then held a press conference, where she said she would see brexit through. she said "leadership is about making the right decisions, not taking the easy decisions," adding her brexit deal would deliver on what people voted for. our political editor laura kuenssberg now reports on today's turmoil at westminster. there seems to be a certain interest in today's proceedings... on exactly the spot where theresa may took on the job of prime minister, the march of the brexiteers, trying to walk her to the exit.

and this is it, the brexiteers‘ attempt to force theresa may from office, that could be the beginning of the end. what we need is a leader who will say to the european union, it is impossible to divide up the united kingdom, it is impossible to agree to a situation where we have a perpetual customs union, it is impossible to pay £39 billion of taxpayers‘ money for a few promises. what do you say to some of our viewers and listeners who think this is self—indulgent, you'rejust complaining about what is a practical compromise and this is about the ambition of brexiteers rather than what is good for the country? it is nothing about ambition the brexiteers, it is about ambition for the country. leaving the european union is the most fantastic opportunity for the united kingdom. the ugly fight over how we leave the european union... we voted yes!

stop brexit! now an open battle in the tory party for who runs the country. what are we all to make of this warfare playing out in front of our eyes? those who still back her are exasperated. stop rocking the boat otherwise this will prove an historic, disastrous period notjust for the conservative party and for the government but for the country. she is in office but she is not in control, haven't we gone past the point where it is credible for her to be able to turn this around? no. i think she remains our only hope. for the prime minister's allies, this is personal. the prime minister will not be bullied and she will not change course and the government and the cabinet made a definite decision. so, her choice, to get up, go to work... are you confident you have got the rest of the cabinet's support? to use her phrase, get on with the job. it is less than 2a hours since her cabinet reluctantly agreed to back her compromise with the eu.

statement, the prime minister. but after two of them quit, she had to try to explain it to the commons. i do not pretend that this has been a comfortable process, or that either we all the eu are entirely happy with all of the arrangements that have been included within it. mr speaker, when i first became prime minister in 2016, there was no ready—made blueprint for brexit. many people said it could simply not be done. i've never accepted that. i've been committed day and night to delivering on the result of the referendum and ensuring the uk leaves the eu absolutely and on—time. but for 57 minutes there was bitter complaint after bitter complaint, with ministers who hate the plan sitting behind her, obviously down. this is not the deal the country was promised and parliament cannot and i believe will not accept a false choice between this bad deal and no deal. the government must now withdraw

this half— baked deal, which is clear does not have the backing of the cabinet. nor of this parliament or the country as a whole. the prime minister is well— known for her dancing. sadly having seen the withdrawal agreement, it is now clear whose tune she has been dancing to. i could stand here and take the prime minister through the list of policies and pledges that she made to this house and too busy privately about the future of northern ireland in the future relationship with the eu. but i fear it would be a waste of time since she clearly doesn't listen. would she at least today undertake not to roll out taking this back to the british people and having a...? if the honourable members opposite would put their hands up if they actually do support the prime minister on this

set of proposals...? not one. not much evidence of support. after an hour, a message of keep going, rather than congratulations. i want to pay tribute to the fact that the prime minister did get agreement in cabinet and can she reassure us that regardless of however many ministerial resignations there are between now and that vote, but the agreement will come to parliament? we know that millions of people voted for brexit because they are anxious about their futures, about their children and about their families. there is no escaping the big problems. the brick six secretary and some collea g u es the brick six secretary and some colleagues quitting, convince the prime minister signed up to a suffocating relationship with the eu. there comes a point where it is so bad that i felt i could not with good conscience seared over the line. would you forgive some of our viewers, including lots of people who voted for brexit, who will be really angry at people like you, who campaigned for brexit, now it gets really difficult,

andy walker way? —— and you walk away? has risks in any course we take at this historic juncture. but i think the worst possible outcome when you balance the risks is to give in to the eu's blackmail and accept a deal which is bad for the economy and devastating for trust in our democracy. so can she really carry on? a challenge to her leadership, a plan with little support in parliament? she will try. serving in high office is an honour and a privilege. it is also a heavy responsibility. that is true at any time, but especially when the stakes are so high. negotiating the uk's withdrawal from the eu after a0 years and building from the ground up a new and enduring relationship for the good of our children and grandchildren is a matter of the highest consequence. my approach throughout has been to put the national interest first. i do notjudge harshly those

of my colleagues who seek to do the same but who reach a different conclusion. i'm sorry that they've chosen to leave the government and i thank them for their service. but i believe with every fibre of my body that the course i have set out is the right one for our country and all our people. it's very clear you want to stick to your plan. isn't it the case to us that others are seeking to take that decision out of your hands? i'm going to do myjob of getting the best deal for britain. i'm going to do myjob of getting a deal that is in the national interest. when the vote comes before the house of commons, mps will be doing theirjob. am i going to see this through? yes. even if you try, try and try again, you don't always succeed. this prime minister, this government, is still in place. but certainly not in control. our political editor

laura kuenssberg reporting there. i'm joined by the established eurosceptic sir william cash and vera hobouse, liberal democrat. i have been the chairman for nearly ten but i have been on the committee. as the chair tell us where we are at tonight with the votes first of all, or the no vote of confidence in theresa may? first of confidence in theresa may? first of all the withdrawal agreement, i think the sense of the house of commons was that it is not going anywhere, the numbers are not stacking up and i think that is commonly understood. regarding the question of a vote of confidence in the prime minister, letters are definitely getting in and i have known idea how many there are but i think they are agreeing quite strongly and it is more than possible that there will be

confirmation. you will be conscious that there are a lot of people out there as the prime minister said today who will want you to get on with it and deliver brexit. what would you say to those people who are fed up to the back teeth of what is going on here in the westminster bubble? we have to go back to the main question which is the vote took place, which is a significant vote to leave the european union and it is about who governs you, it is the democratic bastion, the underlying one, all the other things, important as they are and they are very important about trade and jobs and the rest of it are all part of the question of who governs you and how. so basically that is the fundamental question and the reality is this agreement does not match up to the promises that were made as i said in the house of commons today. it is a capitulation to the eu. we are crawling all over it because we know very well what exactly it does mean and for example on the european

court, the idea the european court is not going to have a massive amount of info into the withdrawal agreement is completely wrong. he is right, third do not seem to be the numbers in the house of commons and the lib dems will oppose it, labour will oppose it, and plenty of conservative mps will vote against it as well. the prime minister has said today that we are leaving on march the 29th so what do you do if you want to stop that whatever is immediate? the prime minister said all sorts of things and then has gone back on her word. today she faced a real humiliation and i agree it is brexit in name only and i do not believe that anybody voted for that. the best deal we have is the deal we already have as a member of the european union, brexit in name only does not help anybody in the poll today came out 14% would support the deal, 30% would support

a crashing out and 54% would vote to stay in the union. it is really important what she is saying, the reality is that within the european union, if we would go back into it we would be subjected into the manner in which the laws are made in the european union and as the chairman, i know, we have had inquiries into this, decisions are taken behind inquiries into this, decisions are ta ken behind closed inquiries into this, decisions are taken behind closed doors not like perlman here we have amendments, bills and votes recorded, debates and all that kind of thing, does not happen. and habits in the council of ministers without a transcript and behind closed doors and if people knew their laws are being made that way, they would walk away from it. but the problem is that has not been explained to them. if you would like to come back on that, do please stop luke i think the benefits of the european union has not been properly explained to the people and i think it is dawning on people and particularly, when nobody really talk about when we have unique

arrangement with northern ireland and the republic of ireland and only because we are a member of the european union. and join the customs union together can we keep that open“. union together can we keep that open... this point, the prime minister is saying if this deal is voted down, we are leaving on the 29th of march. i am not clear and i asked plenty of politicians tonight what is going to stop that? we have been asking for two and a half years for the people's vote and i think today we have come a lot closer to that and what needs to happen or what can happen with the enough political will is that parliament decides that we are going for a people's vote and do legislation for a people's vote and it will have to be done by government. but it is just not going to happen. legislation can amend legislation or unwind legislation. liberal democrats won't be able to achieve... i believe that the

momentum for the people's vote is growing, 700,000 people have been... cani growing, 700,000 people have been... can i come on please? if the momentum is growing we can make that happen. where is talking about the benefits, two things very quickly as far as youth unemployment and investment in europe is concerned, if your main and just consider in france, in spain, in greece, in italy you have unemployment levels between 20 and 50%. it is catastrophically for young people and in terms of the single market. young people want to stay in the european union, it is their future. they have said it time and time again. gives up and read a lot so let me continue. if we go back into it, that would be the way in which it, that would be the way in which it would eventually affect us as well. the other thing is on the single market, we the deficit in the single market, we the deficit in the single market, we the deficit in the single market of around £75 billion a year. germany on the other hand a

surplus of the same 134 billion, and i could you a good indication it is a political gold mine furred germany, they call the shots and we are in need of trying to establish which we have done, that we leave the european union and we stay out of it. wants some levers be looking at your position, the european reform group in house of commons and if they said to you two years ago before the referendum vote, coming out of the common fisheries policy, stop the payments to europe... not subject to the european court of justice... subject to the european court of justice... you mention control over laws and that is the most crucial questions. but pedestal to laws and that is the most crucial questions. but pedestalto pay laws and that is the most crucial questions. but pedestal to pay for, this is the withdrawal agreement to get to the negotiation. not at all, if you look at the withdrawal agreement there are 585 pages of stuff that describes the european

court will have a very significant role. it will also ensure that the manner in which laws are being made in the transitional period will be made... we are not even sitting at the table and the position taken by majority vote in other countries and impose on us and it is ridiculous. how many mps you think have read 585 pages. have you read it? you have only been given the document this morning so it is difficult to read 550 pages. 9096 of it has been out there for some time. we have gone over it and our advisers tell us what is in the document and i do agree it is bananas and bonkers to become somebody who has to take the rules which are not on the table which is why we say... on that you can both agree. democracy first that

is what i say. thank you very much. well earlier this evening international development secretary penny mordaunt, one of the last remaining pro—brexit members of theresa may's cabinet, went to see the prime minister at downing street. after the meeting she drove herself home as opposed to travelling in ministerial car. good evening, have you resigned ms mordaunt? you should not have anything into the fact that i've driven myself here. what did you say to theresa may? what did you say to theresa may in the meeting? good night, guys. kenny bakker brexit plan? have you resigned ? you have driven yourself does that mean you are no longer a minister? night. not much from her there. 0ur political correspondent ben wrightjoins me. she did not look happy and went home and her own car. i think she is staying put for now, we are waiting to hear from staying put for now, we are waiting to hearfrom michael gove, i think he all they has seemed the pivotable figure year. he was approached by a

the premise are aboutjob of brexit secretary and then known to journalist that he was thinking about it but that remains a huge and very important open question, is he going to take that role or not, is he going to stay in the government 01’ he going to stay in the government or not. it did seem that if dominic raab went, we could have a domino of brexiteers. penny morden is still there, michael gove and em fox are in the cabinet. you have to reject the dill and resign on point of principle but he might be playing the long game here. you might be thinking if i stay in there and this comes back and we have to renegotiate, we want a senior brexiteer in here to focus minds. and michael gove can only speak for himself but i understand that he has been saying privately to people that

a been saying privately to people that 3110 been saying privately to people that a no deal would be an utter catastrophe for the people in the party and is not one of the brexiteers who thinks it is a plausible outcome to all of this. he is one of the only people in also he is one of the only people in the cabin who thinks the long wait eea route is a way through this. which has been put forward. is a voice on the cabinet table talking about that and my hunch is he would wa nt to about that and my hunch is he would want to be part of a government in the next couple months while they try to get brexit over the line and a great difficulty, getting it through the parliament. we are tight for time but we are hearing that the prime minister will be on the radio from a.d.a.m., taking listener's questions. that will be interesting. takeit questions. that will be interesting. take it from blair. it was extraordinary watching the debate and the commons. —— 8am. during the

day talking to tory mps and labour mps, tory ministers, a growing sense of respect for her resilience and doggedness and stubbornness, heard determination to carry on and see it through is winning over people in her party so i think it may be winning over some people in the country as well. and we will be looking at this and wanting a's sense of friaa surgeons that there are grown—ups “— sense of friaa surgeons that there are grown—ups —— a sense of rias surgeons there are grown—ups in charge of this. —— a sense of rias thank you very much. let's go to brussels where ross atkins is for as. we have been watching over there andi and i guess there is some head scratching going on. i suppose all

we can do is sit by patiently and hope the prime minister can force it through. you are quite right, to some degree, the ee you feels to some degree we have done a lot of work and we have this deal and we need to sit back and wait and see if theresa may will get the necessary support in the uk and there is some work on its own to do because there are 27 member states need to give the deal be ok so when percent at 8am, ambassadors for the 27 member states will meet and that will begin a process which in the end will involve europe ministers from the member states and finally the leaders from those states on these special brexit summit which will take place on the 25th of november. the uk make all these best laid plans but if theresa may cannot hold her government together, then those plans will be for nothing. that document that they have been

able to see today, i understand that it has gone to the european parliament as well. and now the ambassador is have seen it. is there ambassador is have seen it. is there a potential that the document could be changed on the european side? donald tusk referred to this and it is worth saying that he mentioned the european parliament, it has the ability to veto the whole plan but because the president of the european parliament has been involved and breathed in the negotiations all the way through, you would be surprised if i came to pass. there is a possibility that on the eu side there may be a request for this to change bite you have heard from donald tusk and you have heard from michel barnier and angela merkel in their own ways effectively saying yes we reserve the right to make some changes, and the mood would suggest that they would be surprised if one of the 27 came back and say

rip up the whole section and do something different. you have been in brussels plenty of times as well and it has been remarkably on message with brexit and immigration has had quite a lot of disagreement on member states but the issue for brexit one 2016 onwards, the eu has been on the same page. we heard from the big guns within the european union and all of them have effectively said much the same thing. thank you very much for the moment. the uncertainty in british politics causing uncertainty in europe as well. the french prime minister edouard philippe said tonight they should keep preparing for a "no—deal" brexit given the chaos in the uk parliament. while german chancellor angela merkel has welcomed the draft text — but has strongly warned against any changes to the plan this late in the game. she said a no—deal would be the worst case scenario. translation: we now have a document on the table that britain and the eu 27 have agreed to. so, for me, there's no question at the moment we negotiate further.

angela merkel they're taking emphasis on the back date the european union does not want to revisit the deal in any significant way and in the words of the president of the european parliament today said this is a good deal and a difficult situation. let's get further reflections on mass. joining me here in brussels is the chief executive of the centre for european policy studies, karel lanno. good evening and thank you very much for your time. some difficult moments for the european union because it almost has to sit back and wait. yes but that is a difficult moment because an important member is leaving and once the text is removed, it will be leaving. it is a pity and that is

what i think, and clearly today it isa what i think, and clearly today it is a pity the uk is leaving but of course there has been a lot of work going into the text and now approved. as you were saying as well, you will have a form of chaos and that is what the eu wants to prevent. there are some british politicians who believed it is possible to change the deal and come back to brussels and look at some amendments being made. do you think thatis amendments being made. do you think that is realistic? it is very guerrilla sick, there could be a fume amendments because they have been discussing up for such a long time and they almost have a final text ready in march. —— it is very unrealistic. so it leaves us almost no time and it has to go through the european parliament here in brussels and all the countries have to deliver it and it has to be translated and that is a lot and as you are saying the member states have to get the approval next so

there are still a lot of work to be done so there is no time to consider further amendments if you ask me. as you know donald tusk is probably the most mischievous of the figures within the european union and he said we are well—prepared for no—deal brexit but we are better prepared for no brexit. to think people are still thinking there is a chanceit people are still thinking there is a chance it will not happen?” people are still thinking there is a chance it will not happen? i think some people are still thinking about it. also some tweets and also from british people, but i think it is difficult to imagine it will be for example another referendum and this would be ready to withdraw the letter or the procedure before the end of march. it is impossible to imagine. would it be possible that the deadline at the end of march be moved back? back to be done but i do not think member states would like to do that. it has budgetary and

elections application so it would raise many huge practical problems. just imagining reelecting for a short period of time some british mep, that alone does not make any sense. i hear from my colleague in london that the french prime minister is saying because of the problems in london, keep preparing for no deal. what is the eu doing to prepare for no deal? what i hear here, there are many different departments of the commission looking at what it would imply for the different sectors if there were to be no deal. the sector i know that's, they have all forms of proposals ready to deal with in case there is no deal. and aviation and other sectors, it is important that they look at this and if i look at for example the opinion polls today, it is still a very high possibility there will be no deal and a kind of

there will be no deal and a kind of the cliff edge at the end of march and on the 1st of april we will serve with a situation where we don't know what the implications will be. i mentioned are warning that the ambassadors from the states will meet and start preparing for the special summit on the 25th of november and help us understand what will happen at the summit. is it a question of coming here and putting the name on the line? that was my question as well, we do it by a written procedure and this has been discussed in so much detail that basically they should not come, they need all the approval because it is very important and may be on the subject last two or three hours and they will fly back in afternoon on sunday. that is what i expect will be the case. who knows there may be some objections like the court of justice or the prolongation of the transition period or some other issue which one or other state may raise. and already starting to

argue, it may have some impact here in brussels. personally it will be understanding what the commission has prepared and also because all the ambassadors have been involved in this process for very long time and also the checkers report has the dust —— been discussed at length so they are really well—prepared and i think the text reflects to a large degree what they are prepared on. the eu politicians do not like talking about british politics and do not want to say anything out loud in case it is taken the wrong way or it causes problems in the uk. behind the scenes when they talk to people like you and to journalists and eve ryo ne like you and to journalists and everyone else here who studies the european union, are they getting quite angry and frustrated about the endless complications from westminster and the impact it is having on the european union's ability to get on with the other things? i think they are frustrated because

they didn't think it was good to be a long process but it's a well organised country of course there have been cases with other countries where things take a long time as well as the situation with italy now, this is not easy either, we see now, this is not easy either, we see now with greece which lasted few yea rs, now with greece which lasted few years, at least to come to an agreement. the situation in spain in 2012 took several months, so brussels has two stomachs is bent is used to it, of course this is an unprecedented issue of a member state beating, and they have to think through the issues, what it means to have a withdrawal agreement which was entirely new, no one had foreseen before this to have the article which allow member states to leave the eu, which i think in hindsight i would not have personally done to have an article in there like imagine the united states would have gotten article in the constitution allowing the state of the united states to leave and the chaos it creates. i would not have done this but of course it

happened a long time before the treaty, but in the end it's a huge hazard. thank you very much for your time. christian you are talking about how there's been a lot of personal sympathy and admiration for theresa may just personal sympathy and admiration for theresa mayjust for her willingness to push through difficult situations after situation we are hearing the same thing in brussels there's lots of personal respect for the prime minister as she deals with huge challenges and political attacks from all of directions but in the and it's not about personal relationships, it's far bigger than that, there is anxiety here in brussels that the turmoil that you're telling us about in westminster could derail a deal that anglo merkle, all these leaders, within the eu think it's as good a deal as the uk's going to get, and they desperately want to get to

sunday and sign it off. thank you very much. yes there some respect for theresa may and he does talk about it often when she's there, in brussels but of course as we said many times before for the eu, no deal is better than a deal that undermines a single market in the customs union and that's why they are fighting hard on their side of the negotiation. this is the withdrawal agreement so what's in it? that's causing controversy, chris as reading in. amidst all of it but agreement remains the same it's the serious hefty document clearing a path that's prompting many resignations from the government. the most difficult part of the negotiation, has been the most controversial, of

this draft text. it's about the so—called backstop, the guarantee of a last resort that there will be no return to a hard border in ireland under any circumstance. the no harder border plan will create a cambrai customs using with the eu, covering the whole of the uk. they're calling it a single customs territory, with no custom checks between great britain and northern ireland, and nine with the eu. but northern ireland would be even more deeply entwined with the rest of the country both with the custom rules and the single rock —— market rules, that specifically is one of the reasons why dominic raab resigned as brexit secretary. the government argues northern ireland would enjoy best of both worlds, frictionless trade with the eu and with the rest of the uk. but that has prompted the scottish government to ask why it cannot have the same. it is worth emphasising that neither the uk nor the eu wants the backstop to come into effect, it would be pretty

awkward for both of them. neither side can bring the arrangement to win and unilaterally, the draft said it would have to be a joint decision another cause for concern in resignation statement. it's also worth remembering that one thing that the withdrawal agreement does not do, is focused on the long—term future relationship with the eu after brexit. there's a separate outlined political decoration just a few pa g es outlined political decoration just a few pages long for now that starts to do that. behind the scenes, lots of progress has been made, on issues like security and foreign—policy. both of the sites also say they want comprehensive free trade deal, it's just that pinning down the details ta ke just that pinning down the details take time. the political decoration though, set ambitious customs arrangements in the future would build on the single customs territory set out in this withdrawal agreement. that's creating for the suspicion which the government says is totally unfounded. and the prime

minister has warned that if her deal is voted down, no brexit at all could the possible outcome. she's been quite adamant that if they voted down, they'll still be leaving on march 29, we are here with a labour leaving on march 29, we are here witha labourmp, leaving on march 29, we are here with a labour mp, no majority for that, but let me also introduce joining us now is delyph miles who's the chair of the clacton conservative association and a former president of grassroots conservatives. but get that right, but you are with the grassroots. i am. but get that right, but you are with the grassroots. iam. if it but get that right, but you are with the grassroots. i am. if it comes to the grassroots. i am. if it comes to the contest you have say in that, what are you thinking? well, i sit on the national committee and i'm here to represent the voice of those people that, our members who are in the thousands probably and i have to say there's a real state of anger

emerging, and a total sense of betrayal. and not a happy conservative membership at the moment at all. you don't like the agreement she came back with. no, they don't, they didn't like the previous one, and i think this more recent announcement has really rubbed salt into wounds and i worry about the future of the party. because in all of my years as an activist have ever seen such anger and a sense of the motive language of the trail and abject betrayal of the nation, calling for the prime minister leadership challenge. 0ne thing i was a by the conservative party we tend to be quite loyal people, but i think i'm in a position where i see people feeling

that they can't be loyal to someone who is totally loyal —— this loyal to the cause. outside today, he said we can get this contest done and dusted in a few weeks if they manage to get rid of the theresa made. that would tend to freak you out the picture and you said to me earlier, that you don't want another coronation. i would hope we don't have a another one because that's what's frustrating the membership, they save when you have paying membership, we do have some influence and we have very little a nyway influence and we have very little anyway because it's the backbenchers and members of parliament to select the two candidates the could forward , the two candidates the could forward, so we're just left with two candidates in the end of the day, and that is all we have to choose from and i do think there is a need for some speed, but i really think we should get it right time. just watching hours of debate today it's pretty clear if there's one thing remainders are brexiteers can agree

on its they don't like the deal. absolutely, and for very different reasons we don't like it because the deal sets out a temporary arrangement for the customs union, there is no clarity on what the future trading relationship would be with the european union, and at the same time the cost will be about 39 billion, so there's a number of reasons why we think this is a bad deal. do we have now is a much better one and what this current so—called deal, it's not really a deal, it's about the transition period primarily, what it highlights is that the conservative brexiteers who told the country in 2016 that you can have your cake and eat it, then have to face up to the reality including people like dominic raab, i find that actually that's not even possible. so instead of facing up to responsibility biggest flounce off and that's what's happening today with the resignations of. would they not argue, they made this point tonight, they are not running the show, dominic raab was overruled and

it's remainder prime minister and a remainder chancellor and that's the point they're making, they would not have got to this point had there been a brexiteers in place. that's pathetic you should be ashamed for saying that because. pathetic you should be ashamed for saying that becauselj pathetic you should be ashamed for saying that because. i don't want to misquote he didn't say that. there've held this prime minister to ransom, they do the majority in the house, she's held to ransom by them, she'd should not have fallen in the job she did, she ever reached out to the whole of the house, if she had she might have been in a different position and they do nothing but moan, and they created this mess they promised the people something that cannot be delivered and frankly, right now when that britain is facing the biggest decision facing the country since the second world war, the government is falling out with the other —— each other ministers resigning party talking about leadership contest that's not what the public deserve a. about leadership contest that's not what the public deserve alj about leadership contest that's not what the public deserve a. i know you want to came back in. what the public deserve a. i know you want to came back inlj what the public deserve a. i know you want to came back in. i disagree with what you are saying, i think

the country will have huge respect for dominic raab, our prime minister, she chose her secretary and cabinet, she chose david davis for brexit, and she chose dominic raab to be secretary state for brexit and both have left. that's because she worked at in isolation of them and she has been working with civil servants and producing the dealfor with civil servants and producing the deal for example without the knowledge and involvement of her secretary of state. now, i'm sorry, i hate saying this and goes against all my principles and integrity, that's not leadership. it's not. this exposes the division within their party when in fact the country needs better government not this government. thank you both, sorry to cut you short. the prime minister made a statement around three hours ago. she appeared confident and committed to seeing the process through. let's listen to what the prime minister had to say in full. my

my approach throughout his and national interest first, not the party interest and not my own political interest. i do notjudge harshly those of my colleagues who seek to do the same, but to reach a different conclusion. they must do what they believe to be rightjust asi what they believe to be rightjust as i do. what they believe to be rightjust asido. iam what they believe to be rightjust as i do. i am sorry that they chose to leave the government and i thank them for their service. but i believe with every fibre of my being that the course i set up is the right one for us and our people. from the very beginning, i have known what i wanted to deliver for the british people to honour their vote in the referendum. full control of our borders by bringing an end to the free movement of people, once and for all. full control of our money, so we decide ourselves how to spend it on higher dislike our nhs. full control of our laws by andy

jurisdiction of the european court ofjustice in the uk. getting us out ofjustice in the uk. getting us out of the common agriculture policy for good. that is exactly what this agreement will deliver. free movement ended. the annual payments stopped. thejurisdiction of movement ended. the annual payments stopped. the jurisdiction of the ecj over. 0ut stopped. the jurisdiction of the ecj over. out of the sea ap out of the cfp. this is a brexit that delivers on the priority of the british people. difficult day for the prime minister but she's still determined, at the end of that press conference sheet u—boat the image of a cricketer who was dodged that the and heating about, she's going to stay. even if she winds the vote across here, if there is a vote of no—confidence, even if she wanted by one vote she says, she would continue, she said that before well. i'm joined now by economist and author of ‘the great economists' linda yeuh now, with some idea of what affect

this continuing uncertainty is having upon the city of london let's talk about the market first of all, the pound has been sinking today against the dollar and a euro, rose yesterday when the game —— the agreement came out what's happening now. they're quite worried that this deal, it's not going to get past parliament as using of course, a few minutes there's have gone today, and that's making them veryjittery because if you rememberfinancial markets like certainty and if we don't have it which i'll agreement than there is a good chance we may not have an agreement in time. they give you a scenario of not really knowing the answer to deed, on the back of that at one point sterling was headed to the biggest fall since the referendum two years ago, it's now pulled back a bit after the press co nfe re nce now pulled back a bit after the press conference by theresa may, about 1.6% against the euro, now it's 1.9% about 1.6% against the euro, now its 1.9% so about 1.6% against the euro, now it's1.9% so you certainly see, i would look at sterling as the

biggest indicator there's also other markets, if you look the stock markets, if you look the stock market aside from the ftse 100, markets, if you look the stock market aside from the ftse100, they benefit from a weak pound because they just about finished and the green but that would 250 predominantly domestic companies was down and you saw big falls in terms of house builders and banks in terms of house builders and banks in terms of share prices. bank of scotland was one of them to quite a beating today on the market because they don't have money overseas or investment? that's a reflecting, oh dear no deal means we do not know what will happen with the domestic economy, so house builders are a domestic business, berkeley, some of the banks are hardest hit on the market are the predominantly domestic business so for instance other global businesses, they were not really kind of caught up in this and finally bond market, guilds,

that's also is reflecting a bit of concern about moving to safety so you actually see gilt prices going up you actually see gilt prices going up and yields coming down. you actually see gilt prices going up and yields coming downlj you actually see gilt prices going up and yields coming down. i have to cut it short i'm sorry, we're out of time but thank you very much indeed. let's go to brussels and join ross, waited are you may give what you hear, the uncertainty on the market lots of people frightened the bread avenue deal are they frightened about that over there brussels? they are fretting about it, a word that was used around this time last night when he was giving a press conference behind me was he felt the proposed deal offered certainty and not people of the uk, but to people who live across the european union. what we are seeing in the markets and what linda described there was cruelly that certainty has not yet arrived and the primary reason it has not arrived as because of the turmoil and political uncertainty that's playing out in westminster at

the moment. just try to understand a bit more about what's in this deal, and the details in the backstop in terms of how the uk and the eu will interact on a legal level. we're now joined by catherine barnard, professor in european union law at the university of cambridge. thank you for your time, having looked at the deal, how you interpret the relationship they sketched out in terms of the backstop? well, the backstop is largely expected, it's essentially an all uk backstop, but with some extra provisions to northern ireland. it's all uk which is good news in a sense you're not going to have a very concrete border, but of course customs union wise it means we can't negotiate our own trade deal so that's actually rather problematic for the department, on

the other hand, it does mean that at least the character integrity of the united kingdom is respected and that's really very important for the conservative party, which of course is you know the full name is conservative unionist party try to keep the union together as a whole. let's also talk about the ecj, we heard a clip a few minutes ago say what are the things the deal will deliver in the long—term is that the jurisdiction of the ecj finishes in terms of the uk, but there are some critics who say actually, i look at the fine print it's not quite that simple, the ecj will still have some influence over the uk for some time come. absolutely am afraid it's not true, there are many areas where they will continue to have jurisdiction so it will control most obviously in respect of the rights of eu citizens living in the uk and auk of eu citizens living in the uk and a uk citizens living in the eu, but

it's not despair, it's this dispute to the meeting of the agreement, which impacts on eu law. ultimately, the culturaljurisdiction justice for those cases, so there are other exa m ples for those cases, so there are other examples as well i'm afraid it's not correct to say the jurisdiction of the court of is gone. professor would have to leave it there but thank you forjoining us on bbc news special, christian i just thank you forjoining us on bbc news special, christian ijust mentioned quote we referred to earlier today, donald tusk the president of the european council when asked about preparing for no deal he said yes we are preparing for no deal, but we are preparing for no deal, but we are best prepared for no brexit and he quite a few people as well i still hoping that perhaps that option is available. ross and russell thank you very much we have to keep planning because they don't know what's going to happen there could be a leadership challenge of course and then on the evidence of what we heard today, there's no guarantee that the deal is going to get past. so they have to prepare for every eventuality. let's see

what they make of it out in the country. joining me now are two people who will be very much affected by the outcome of these negotiations... in our westminster studio is natasha rogoff is a former banker who now runs her own food manufacturing business called seriously italian and in middlesbrough is john elliot. he's the founder of ebac, britain's only washing machine manufacturer. he employs about 200 people. john let me start with you, what does this mean for your business, what you are reading about today, the uncertainty, what does it mean? i think the uncertainty, what does it mean? ithink in the uncertainty, what does it mean? i think in years times we wonder what the problem was, whether we have a long or short brexit, let's get on with it. i guarantee you it two yea rs' get on with it. i guarantee you it two years' time or so will wonder what the fuss was about, this is the most important issue to deal with today's. then what is the big issue? well, running the country better, nhs, all the time we spend our

brexit on a scale of zero to ten, it's about to an important get on with they would try to get things he can getand with they would try to get things he can get and that we are not entitled to it would be the eu we are not entitled to free acts as a single market, we are entitled but not free access, market, we are entitled but not free access , we market, we are entitled but not free access, we must eat —— treat you like every other country with trade with, were trying to get an impossible deal what more do we are entitled to and that's where getting confused or try to satisfy ever with different agendas and there's a big group of people who want to stay in the eu. natascha what does it mean for you do you have foreign staff in europe were restaurants or do you share thoughts ofjohn their brexit is governing everything and overshadowing everything? not really it is the biggest issue we are facing right now, and i have to say that in my company which we are manufacturer and i employ not only italians, but also british people, the main issue really was that affect economy and the referendum and the absence of a deal and the

uncertainty, that's a huge problem for the economy and of my business that small. of rad experienced an effect on where the pound weekend and everything went up and get, i can up the prices up because i'm risking losing my consumers. we find ourselves in situation where we are on hold waiting for something to happen. but you are not reassured by the reassurances of theresa may, i mean, there are provisions in the agreement on citizen rights, and she said that there is a priority for her, to ensure people know they can stay here in the uk those who are already here. yes, i welcomed the news yesterday because there are many issues and the country truly is divided, some people want to brexit some don't, i myself am a remainder, however i welcome any deal which provides a circuit to yankees the pound strong, and keeps the economy going because politicians, yes, they have their own agenda and i really doubt they understand how we operate

on the bottom level. i don't think they understand what challenges we are facing and many people are going to be out of business if nothing is reached. john, you are involved with washing machines, does it matter to you but there could be various put up you but there could be various put up if there is no deal? not really, look we trade with the rest of the world, it does same, most of the traders with the rest of the world do we deal with it all the time is not a big issue is getting out of proportion for political reasons that the problem with that it's politically driven and i've never seen such polarisation in the country between parties and within parties. so you'd be happy to pay? if you have to pay it you have to pay it, but that's not it cost if the tax, and we benefit because we import more than we export, so we benefit from this minimally it's not a big deal were making a big issue, luscious get on with it if you want to export products secret is make

good products if you have to pay is not going to break a deal. so it does not affect you if you were to import parts for your washing machines? it's what we do already, and may affect but it's not as important as what's right for the country, it's what's right for the uk. that's what we have to think about, and my opinion the eu is a field organisation with nothing but cost them are politicians. so, we need to figure out what's right for the uk not individual business some will lose but more will gain. ok, does the final one to you natasha you talked about the pound and the currency exchange, is that what is hurting your business the most at the moment? yes because we experienced prices went up as much as 20% because obviously i use lots of british produce for example, like meat is lower, but my packaging olive oil and parmesan cheese and maturity went up because of the

collapse of the pound and we cannot haveit collapse of the pound and we cannot have it for the next few years, last year we made a big investment to expand and we are holding back now because we need further it so risky as we don't know what will happen and that's hurting i think most of our businesses in the in the uk, the uncertainty, we need to know that's why we need a deal to move forward. 0k, natasha, and john thank you for your time 0k, natasha, and john thank you for yourtime and 0k, natasha, and john thank you for your time and thoughts this evening very interesting. just to recap where we are this evening, quite an extraordinary day here in westminster, very turbulent, four ministers have left total, two parliamentary private secretary says well, it was a bruising day for the prime minister, and the house of commons as well, three—hour debate and in which he took questions from both sides of the house tonight. she's determined and will fight if there is a leadership bid. theresa may is not giving up at least not for you're watching bbc news. plenty

more from here in the next few hour, but now it's time for the weather. good evening. a day of mixed fortunes today, a bit of rain across parts of northern ireland and western scotland, most places have been dry, and although a fair bit of cloud, the sunshine broke through, this picture taken in leicestershire. temperatures as high as 17 degrees across parts of scotland with mild southerly winds, but things about to turn quite a bit colder with this cold air mass working in from the east, particularly as we had through next week, some of us six celsius, where we have had temperatures up to 16 over the last couple of days. back to the here and now, still mild for most of us through this evening and overnight, cloud across england and wales, low cloud, mist and fog in places. mild underneath the cloud, 9—12 degrees for the overnight lows, drizzly rain at times.

in scotland overnight, but clearer skies for the north of scotland and northern ireland as well. look at friday morning in more detail, pretty great conditions in the south, much of northern ireland and scotland start the day with some sunshine, but more low cloud around the central belt and eastern parts of scotland too. through the day, for many of us, brightening up, the best sunshine in the west, save for the likes of the south west of england, wales, northern ireland, north—west scotland too. further east, gray conditions through the day, and although still mild, 12—15 degrees, not as mild as the last couple of days. then heading on into the weekend, it is going to be this big area of high pressure will that be driving our weather, pushing a little bit further across scandinavia, so a bit of a change in wind direction. as the wind starts to come in from the east or south east, slightly clearer

conditions pushing their way northwards across the country on saturday. after a cloudy start for some of us, it will brighten up, so more sunshine compared to friday, but cold too, temperatures of 10—13 degrees, similar on thursday with a touch of frost, sunday should be a fine day across the board, looking dry with sunshine, a little bit of cloud around east coasts. temperatures for sunday between 10—13 degrees. bye for now. welcome to this bbc news special, with me christian fraser in westminster and ros atkins in brussels. our top story... taking the right decisions, not the easy ones. the prime minister vows to continue with her plan for brexit despite strong opposition from all sides in westminster, promising it will deliver on the promises made in the referendum. i believe that this is a deal which does deliver that, which is in the national interest and am i going to see this through?

yes. earlier today, a series of ministerial resignations, including that of the brexit secretary dominic raab who said the prime minister's brexit plan had fatal flaws. the leading brexiteerjacob rees—mogg submits a letter of no confidence in the prime minister and says he expects there'll be a vote on her future. here in brussels... michel barnier says the deal is fair and balanced and lays the ground