i'm christian fraser, live in brussels, where eu leaders have been meeting for a special brexit summit. theresa may's brexit deal has gone through after 18 months of negotiation. they also agreed the text which will outline the terms of britain's relationship with the eu for yea rs britain's relationship with the eu for years to come. negotiators now hope they can move onto the next stage of the brexit talks. a good deal, a sad steel, not the deal itself but the brexit is a sad moment for the european union. and i wa nt to moment for the european union. and i want to say for britain, too. with the deal approved, next it will face a much tougher vote in westminster. theresa may has written an open letter to the british public, appealing for support.

throughout the hour, we will get reaction from theresa may, who is due to speak to reporters at a press conference here in brussels. we will bring you all the details. hello and a warm welcome back to brussels. you are looking at pictures of the room where theresa may will speak to reporters very shortly. if you have not heard already, the withdrawal agreement on the legal text that was prepared by michel barnier‘s team has been endorsed by the eu leaders today. they have also approved the political declaration, which sets out the framework for the future relationship. when we get theresa may to the podium, we will bring it to you. but we can join

may to the podium, we will bring it to you. but we canjoin our german mep on the balcony, and the european parliament's steering mep on the balcony, and the european pa rliament‘s steering group. mep on the balcony, and the european parliament's steering group. your reaction to what has gone through today? i think it is a proper result. we have a basis forfurther negotiation for a good deal with the united kingdom. free trade deals. therefore i think it is a proper deal. nobody of us likes brexit. brexit does at lot of damage, both to the united kingdom and europe, but even more to the united kingdom, i believe. but now let's make the best out of it and try to create the conditions that we can come to constructive relationship. you've been deeply involved in this process throughout so you know what is in the text and have known for some weeks where it was heading. is it a formality for this to be ratified in the european parliament? we have to do certain other questions to other institutions but we have the last

word. we feel generally that we can ratify it. i'm very confident the european parliament will ratified. you will be painfully aware i'm sure that things are much more difficult in the united kingdom. if this deal is voted down. i know what we have heard today, that it cannot be renegotiated, but it may be just a simple fact, given the maths, that you have to go back to the backstop which is causing so many problems, both that the dup yann sommer the eurosceptics within the conservative party. there has to be a backstop. several possibilities were tried. britain in the beginning wanted to have this customs union. this customs union will never be applied in the transition period, and it will be multiplied afterwards, if there is a proper deal. so it's a theoretical point. but as an insurance, ireland need it, and therefore there is nothing that has to be negotiated.

it's this deal or no deal. you think the compromise that has been achieved, namely that the transition would be extended, possibly until 2022, that should be reassurance for the mps in london? it makes it very possible that we have a deal afterwards. that is the reason for that. and far—reaching free—trade agreement, which stops a total disaster, and it will help us to close cooperation, in terms of both averse needs it very much. therefore, there will be a deal afterwards. i'm so confident. that can be done in four years? a free—trade agreement, it should be relatively easy. at the moment, our standards are the same. in the past all the agreements were different and had to be brought closer together. now it is the same, and

thenit together. now it is the same, and then it should be easy on that basis to come to a result which gives both of us could access to the markets of the others. you talk about the deep and special relationship, as did jean—claude juncker and donald tusk but this sets aside in scale the option for the uk, if they want to canada option for the uk, if they want to ca na da style option for the uk, if they want to canada style deal, more remote from the european union, they could have that. the more they stick to rules and regulation within the eu, the deeper the access to the single market. and that sliding scale, there may be more of the need for there may be more of the need for the backstop if britain is closer to the backstop if britain is closer to the canada deal? that is true, too. but i think from what i hear from the united that is true, too. but i think from what i hearfrom the united kingdom is they want to have far reaching deal, in order to avoid terrible economic consequences. therefore, i'm quite confident this deal will be enough if they are intelligent enough to find a proper solution for avoiding the hard border between the two islands. we mustn't pre-empt what will happen in the house of commons because we don't know how

mps will feel when faced with this decision. but if it goes down and theresa may can't get it through, then what? then a hard brexit. we have not asked for brexit. you don't think there is a point at that stage where the european union would be open to the idea of stopping article 50? the article 50 can only be stopped by a letterfrom 50? the article 50 can only be stopped by a letter from the british prime minister. if she were to write to the european union saying she wa nted to the european union saying she wanted to pause it or extend article 50, with the european parliament be open to that? no, but she can write a letter that article 50 is taken back. and britain remains a member of the european union? hazard yes. you are of the view in the european parliament that it would be as simple as the british raina writing a letter? i'm sure the european parliament would accept that. that is up to britain. the referendum was

not binding. the government and house of commons legally can make a decision. i do not know, it's up to the british people, up to the british government, not our problem. in terms of the future relationship, what role will the european parliament taken what role will the european parliament ta ken that? what role will the european parliament taken that? we want to have a constructive, good relationship. we are very united on that. we want to keep the damage and therefore we will try to be very helpful. i think there should also bea helpful. i think there should also be a joint committee between the uk parliament and european parliament, that we could jointly control the process of the negotiation. great -- grateful for your time, process of the negotiation. great -- gratefulfor your time, thank process of the negotiation. great -- grateful for your time, thank you. that is the thoughts of the european parliament. a short time ago, we heard from jean—claude juncker, the european commission president. he urged the british lawmakers and mps to ratify the brexit deal. theresa

may has negotiated that with european nude leaders rue warning it won't be modified or reopened. good deal, sad deal, not the deal itself but brexit is a sad moment for the european union, and i want to say for britain, too. the future will prove this. this is the best deal possible. this is the only deal possible. i'm convinced that those having to ratify this deal and in westminster and in the european parliament will have this in their minds when they are taking their difficult decisions. speaking at that same news conference we also heard from the president of the european council, donald tusk. ahead of us is is the difficult process of ratification, as well as further negotiations. but regardless

of how it will all end... one thing is certain. we will remain friends until the end of days. so, all eyes now and the british parliament. what you're going to see over the next two weeks is a very vigorous pr campaign, with the prime minister trying to sell it to the british public. as part of that, theresa may has written an open letter to the british people today, published in most of the newspapers, urging support for her brexit plan. in it she described the agreement as being in the national interest. she writes... she looks ahead to the 29th of march next year, the day the uk officially leaves the eu. she says... although she does acknowledge the

letter the challenges she faces of getting parliament to back the deal. she says... of course, the maths and parliament looks very difficult at the moment and that is because the dup that have this confidence and supply arrangement with the uk government have withdrawn their support. arlene foster has been speaking to the bbc about the task theresa may faces to get the agreement backed by mps in the house of commons. as far as i can see, there doesn't seem a great deal of enthusiasm in the house of commons for this deal, in fact, quite the contrary. let's wait until we get to that vote. i don't see any circumstances, at present, where that vote will be able to go ahead in theresa may's favour. so, then we will have to go back. what we've been saying and what i said at my conference yesterday is why waste time? why not look for a better deal now, instead of wasting time and having to do that after the vote is taken?

i guess what i'm trying to get to is, is your deal with theresa may to support her government still live? it is still live, but you should remember, also, that the deal was signed to deliver on brexit and to do that in a way that had shared principles between the democratic unionist party and the conservative party. but, of course, the reality is, there are many in the conservative party who don't like what is on the table today either. at what point would it expire, that agreement? i think, and i've said this before, if it came to the situation that parliament did decide, and there's no evidence that they're going to, but if they did decide to back this deal, then obviously we would have to review the confidence supply agreement. arlene foster of the dup saying yesterday she would prefer to see jeremy corbyn in number ten that approved the deal on the table. what happen if this deal was voted down? jeremy hunt has been speaking today and he acknowledged it will be a challenge for theresa may to get

approvalfrom the challenge for theresa may to get approval from the house of commons for the withdrawal agreement. these are his thoughts. if there was gridlock in parliament, there would be a huge degree of uncertainty. and what the british people want if they want us to get on and deliver brexit. let's remember in this deal, although there are lots of things any of us can point to that we don't like, there's also a huge amount that we have achieved. not just there's also a huge amount that we have achieved. notjust the ending of free movement of people, the ending of large annual payments that are coming out of the common fisheries policy, largely ending the jurisdiction of the european court ofjustice. it gets us a lot of what we wanted, not everything. the question is, can this be the staging post that gets us to the point where we could get everything? i think with a lot of hard work, it can be. amber rudd says the house of commons can't prevent their being no deal? there are circumstances that probably in order to do that, the house of commons would have to bring down a conservative government. what

you see is if there was this gridlock, you would have some people wanting a better brexit deal. some people wanting a second referendum, jeremy corbyn wanting to delay the government. in this incredibly complicated and uncertain situation, is it possible the government simply colla pses ? is it possible the government simply collapses? it's not possible to rule out anything and that's why all of us... out anything and that's why all of us... collapse of the government is possible? hazard what we have to do is say what do our constituents want in this situation? we have to work out what's on the national interest. it's all about the balance of risks. this is in a perfect dealfor everyone. it does have a lot of what eve ryo ne everyone. it does have a lot of what everyone wants and the question is whether we can use it to get everything we want. that will be difficult but not impossible. european leaders coming into the building today at our adam ellis deal cannot be reopened, this is it, it is set in stone. the only person who went away from that script was

the lithuanian president. she said all four options remain on the table, deal, no deal, referendum or a general election. that is all possible in the weeks ahead. quite a sobering thought. the former uk prime minister tony blair has been telling the bbc why he has been backing the second referendum. the whole basis of theresa may's case to the british people is that this honours the brexit mandate and it settles the issue. and actually, neither is correct. it doesn't honour the brexit mandate because the people who most fervently believe in brexit say this isn't brexit. and it doesn't settle the issue, because, actually, there is so much still to be discussed that even those people who stay in the cabinet at the moment, who are really anti—her plan but stay it tactically, want to pull us the other side of march 2019 and carry on the fight. therefore, the only way you're going to unite the country, ultimately, is to get this back to the people and say you've a mandate, whether the government does a proper brexit, the sort of brexit borisjohnson wants, or that we stay.

that is the only way of resolving this now, because i think her deal will fail because in the end it will satisfy no one. it's actually only succeeded in uniting people in opposition to it. the difficulty that many politicians have pointed out is what would you put on the ballot paper for a second referendum. would it be this deal or no deal remain? it is a difficult thing to remain on and i think that would spark a very active debate if it came to a second referendum. let's bring back on chris morris. we will show people the podium as we talk to you because theresa may is about tick—tock. not imminent, bill, i understand. i do not know what the hold—up is. —— theresa may is about to start

talking but is not imminent. the language we have heard from donald tusk and jean—claude juncker is language we have heard from donald tusk and jean—claudejuncker is this is it. i think it would be very possible —— hard to change the agreement. from the start and rejected that counsel of despair and set about negotiating a deal that what the uk and the eu. one that delivered on the result of the referendum and said this on a course for a prosperous future bombing tuning a close relationship with our friends and neighbours. thanks for the hard work aboard sets of negotiators that is what we have today agreed. i want to take a few moments to speak directly to the british people and explain what this deal means. first, control of our borders. not an emergency brake and free movement or a promise of greater transition controls in the future, at an end to the free movement of people in school, once

and for all. that is what this deal delivers. —— in full. an immigration syste m delivers. —— in full. an immigration system based not clear people come from but the skills and talents they have on offer. that is in our national interest. second, control of our money. not a reduction in the membership fee a bigger budget rebate at membership fee a bigger budget re bate at an membership fee a bigger budget rebate at an end to vast annual payments sent to the eu. that is what this deal delivers. instead we will be able to spend taxpayers money on our priorities like the £394 million per week of extra investment we are putting into the national health service. that is no national health service. that is no national interest. third, control over our lows. notjust national interest. third, control over our lows. not just for the return of some areas of control from brussels but an end to the jurisdiction of the european court ofjustice in the uk without lows being made in our country by democratically elected politicians

interpreted and enforced by british courts. that is what this deal delivers and that is in our national interest. in agriculture it does not just deliver a better deal under the common agricultural policy, it takes a side of the common agricultural policy completely meaning we can design new systems and support for farmers about the uk. and in fishing it is notjust delivering a bigger annual quota within the common fisheries policy, it sets us free of the common fisheries policy for good and forever. the uk will be an independent coastal state once again in full sovereign control of our waters and be able to decide for themselves who we allowed to fish themselves who we allowed to fish them without having an excess tied to any other aspect of economic partnership. that is also the national interest. in borders and lows and money this deal delivers for the british people that i have beenjust as for the british people that i have been just as determined that as well as taking back control there should

bea as taking back control there should be a deal that protects the things we value in our relationship with our european friends ancestors on course for the future of opportunity and prosperity. this deal does that too. so if your family 's livelihood depends on a skilled job in our manufacturing sector, you need a deal that keeps goods flowing easily across borders and supply chains intact. this deal does that. we will be outside the single murky and the customs union but added economic partnership with the eu closer than any other country enjoys. good for business and no national interest. if you're one of the over 3 million eu citizens who has come and build your life in the uk, our colleagues are neighbours and our friends, you need a deal that guarantees your rights. if you're one of the almost 1 million uk nationals living elsewhere in the eu you need the same and this deal delivers for you all. and because each one of us is made safer by the close security

cooperation between the uk and the eu we all need a deal with kids that close partnership intact and this deal does that too. —— keeps that close partnership intact. as by minister of the united kingdom i have keenly felt my responsibility to deliver a deal that works for the whole uk and all its parts. what we have agreed protects the constitutional integrity of the united kingdom. we rejected proposals which would have compromised that integrity and insisted on keeping all parts of our uk and the singles customs territory. this deal delivers that and also honours a solemn commitment we made to the people of northern ireland that should be no hard border between northern ireland and ireland. this deal will safeguard the hard—won progress of the last 20 years and allow the people of that pa rt of years and allow the people of that part of a united kingdom to carry on living their lives as they do today. this is a deal that works for the whole uk family including an overseas territories and the crown

dependencies. on gibraltar we overseas territories and the crown dependencies. on gibraltarwe have worked on constructively with spain constructively throughout this process and i want to thank them for the statesman role they are played. we want to make sure gibraltar is cove red we want to make sure gibraltar is covered by the withdrawal agreement and implementation period. for future partnership the uk will be participating for the whole uk family including gibraltar. i'm proud that gibraltar is british and its constitutional status will not change. the deal we have agreed today unlocks a bright future for the uk. outside the eu we will be able to strike new trade deals around the world and open up new markets in the world's fastest—growing economies. we will be able to focus our energies on the many important issues that matter to british people at home and create more good jobs and spread prosperity more good jobs and spread prosperity more widely. take care of our public services like the nhs in schools and

build more homes and tackle the social injustices that prevent too many people fulfilling their potential. in any negotiation you do not get everything you want. you need to identify watcher vital interests are and stick to them. but be prepared to compromise another radius in order to achieve the result. —— in otherareas. ithink the british people understand that when they see this deal they will see it as a good deal for our country and the national interest for everyone to get behind it. it honours the referendum and protects what we value and set is on course for a bright future. today marks the commendation of our exit negotiations with the eu but also marks the start of a crucial national debate in our country over the next few weeks. before christmas mps will vote in the steel. it will be one of the most significant votes of parliament is held for many years. on it will depend on weather we move forward together into a brighter future are open the door to

yet more division and uncertainty. the british people don't want to spend any more time arguing about brexit. they want a good deal done that fulfils a vote on the latest to come together again as a country. so i will take this deal back to the house of commons, confident we have achieved the best deal available and full of optimism about the future of our country. in parliament and beyond that i will make the case for this deal with all my heart and look forward to that campaign. thank you. questions. laura? thank you very much, prime minister. bbc news. throughout this very long process you have often been reluctant to tell us what is really going on because you said it is a negotiation and understandably your capture cards close to your chest. now the processes or work can i ask you to be very straight with the public and tell us who if anyone you think is

pleased about this deal?” tell us who if anyone you think is pleased about this deal? i have just set out in the statement that i think it is a good deal for the whole of the united kingdom. i believe it delivers on the vote in the british people to an delivers on the british people to an delivers on the end of free movement and the jurisdiction of the european court ofjustice and jurisdiction of the european court of justice and the jurisdiction of the european court ofjustice and the vast sums set annually to the eu every year and coming out of the common agricultural and fisheries policies and centres on course for our future. yes, that is the next stage of negotiations in terms of that future relationship and the legal text of that but i think what we see in this deal today is a deal that delivers for people, delivers on the boards, delivers in a way that protects jobs boards, delivers in a way that protectsjobs and boards, delivers in a way that protects jobs and livelihoods and security and united kingdom. and as i have said before i believe our best days lie ahead of us. i have to ask. george. thank you for

persevering. george parkerfrom the financial times. we are fed from other european leaders this is the only deal in the table and that is no alternative to it. if you cannot get this through the house of commons, you said before this is not about you. would you feel duty bound to resign? you're right i have said before it's not about me and i will say again that is not about me. my focus over the next few weeks is as i have just said making the case for this deal. as your parent, —— as your parent, —— as has been said, jean—claude juncker has said this is the only deal and this has been echoed by other european leaders. the first aspect is the living brexit and i think we have a duty as a house of commons and as a parliament to deliver brexit in the second question is what it means for our constituents. the deal we have delivered i believe delivers not

just of what people wanted when they voted for brexit but does it in a way that protects jobs and their security and the united kingdom. faisal. do you think it is helpful thatjean—claude juncker tells mps it is this deal or no deal? if it gets aborted down in the commons will you stand down? —— if it gets aborted down. —— aborted. —— voted. if people think there is another negotiating to be done that is not the case. this is the result of tough negotiations over a significant period of time and this is the best possible deal and is the only possible deal. james. you are

appealing to day to the british people over the heads of westminster but only mps have bought. why don't you take your strategy to its logical conclusion and give the people on board the new deal and they do back to your home and dry? you probably won't be surprised at the answer i will get to that question, james. parliament have decided that the choice as to weather we leave the european union are remaining it was for the british people. we call overwhelmingly voted in parliament to give the british people that thought. —— vote. i believe it is a matter of trusting politicians that we deliver the result of that vote. tom. can you rule out now attaching any conditions to the deal at the meaningful bought, especially attaching a second referendum to your offer? that is what some

conservative mps asked asking for this morning. kenny also rule out forming a government of national unity if the deal fails? on the second referendum i am clear that there should not be that second referendum. we give the choice of british people and the aborted to leave the european union. i think we should now deliver on that. —— —— they voted. if you ask member of the public body they would expect parliament to vote on they would expect parliament to vote on the deal as it is presented. i am focused on making the case and taken the arguments and in favour of the steel to parliament and making the case the british people and that it was people there to kingdom what a deal done and what is to get on with focusing on the issues that matter

to them day—to—day. jason. focusing on the issues that matter to them day-to-day. jason. jerry may hunt has been in the television this morning. —— jerry may hunt. hunt has been in the television this morning. ——jerry may hunt. —— jeremy hunt i said if the deal is not a0 through there might be the colla pse not a0 through there might be the collapse of the government. the british government has to deliver on the bought in a way that ensures that we leave the european union and the smooth orderly way and protects the smooth orderly way and protects the jobs. not backing the steel will ta ke the jobs. not backing the steel will take us back to more division and more uncertainty. —— this deal. this isa time more uncertainty. —— this deal. this is a time for our country to move on. we have the best deal available and it is the only possible deal as has been reiterated today. you've talked about moving beyond

brexit to domestic responsibilities. ba rely brexit to domestic responsibilities. barely a day goes by at the moment without stories about cabinet ministers or ministers or mps making strongly worded comments about this deal and you've had several of your own mps calling for a vote of no confidence. wouldn't it be understandable if the public concluded your party used too divided to govern, even if this deal goes through? no, what we're doing isa goes through? no, what we're doing is a party in government is not only what the british people asked us to do, negotiated the brexit deal. as i said, i believe this is the best possible deal available, i believe it isa possible deal available, i believe it is a good deal for the united kingdom because it delivers on the vote and in a way that protects jobs, security and the integrity of the united kingdom. alongside that we have been doing quite