particular staying in the customs union is because come so the customs union this whole idea wouldn't actually kick in until after the transition period which is where we're sort of in a bit of a fudge until december twenty twenty it could of course be extended as has possibly been offered by kicking the can down the can down the road and i think the point is that the brics it is also what i read now that actually they're not going to be able to agree this free trade agreement with the e.u. off to that finish that that's why they're worried that this backstop that is customs union idea is going to happen and they won't they have to ever get out of it so they will effectively stay in the e.u. alex you say you as a west mr political correspondent knew a lot of these figures we often perceive these hardcore bret's to tears whether it's boris johnson or the others that whom we saw in the piece as essentially acting on some sort of personal opportunistic basis is that right or is it too simple i'd say that some of them genuinely believe that everything about the e.u. is wrong and they are

to get britain within the customs union but out of the of the common law common market no free move the people that's what people worried about in britain you said it in your opening question to me so european get union is given may some things you can negotiate on it's not they have thought that she's not going be able to get it through parliament right john i asked earlier about may's biggest mistake what about the e.u. is what about brussels biggest mistake i think that the european union side has maybe been a bit slow to communicate its interests in this negotiation. to try to explain to the british population why they're behaving in that way and i think also the ears sides if you did old summit lee won't true trying to find a way of keeping britain close to the european union in some way the sometimes its tone has been a little bit rude children a little bit harsh but maybe the european union has to do that because it's respecting its own interests looking backwards now i think the european union i agree with alan has negotiated this extremely well has stood united is well prepared

it may not be precisely the way the current customs union is set up. i'm not sure that matters. o negotiate. it's not something we can impose on the european union. and i think one of the question marks we have aboutjeremy corbyn's proposed approach is whether it is possible to negotiate really as complex and arrangement as he wants to see, within the roughly 130 days that are left until we are due to leave the european union. and in that context, the best deal available at the moment is the deal that theresa may and company have negotiated. and we would hope that parliament will approve that and then we can get onto planning the longer term. basically, today we saw business, as represented by the cbi, get on board mrs may's schedule. yes. very much. and i think that is a national view. i mean, this conference is taking place in london. on friday, we talked to all of our regional chairman. they were unanimous that we should back this deal. it's not perfect, but it's the best deal available to the british economy and the british people at the moment. we think it would be foolish n

one of those was we were leaving the customs union. we can only leave the customs union.only leave the customs union. we can only leave the 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 the chance to bring this to parliament?” minister before she has the chance to bring this to parliament? i will have to read carefully what the text says. strong voices on the right will almost inevitably be joined by resista nce will almost inevitably be joined by resistance from the left. will almost inevitably be joined by resistance from the leftlj will almost inevitably be joined by resistance from the left. i don't believe the deal is in the national interest. it doesn't meet the needs of all parts of britain. it does not give us security in our trading relationship with europe in the future through a prominent customs union in which we have a say. —— permanent. most ministers did back theresa may tonight, albeit without enthusiasm. the cabinet was even rewarded wit

and the kicker is not only are we going to remain in the customs union and large parts of the customse cost if you look at what they have agreed today, and again they have agreed today, and again the caveat is look at the report, it is also accepted that they must beat customs and regulatory checks down the irish sea between great britain and northern ireland which currently do not exist for the first since partition dublin under these proposals would have more say in some aspects of the government of northern ireland than london. i do not see how you can support that from democratic point of view, i do not see how unionists can support it andi not see how unionists can support it and i do not see how you could support it if you believe in the political and economic freedom of this country. so i will vote against it. boris johnson there a short time ago. more on this on bbc news at six coming up injust a few minutes. but before that i look at the we have a lot of sunshine today across the uk, quite different to yesterday when we had so many showers. now we have this low— pressure show

s customs union. so -- committee to reason may's brexit is a little bit more pragmatic ultimately as a result of the role that the d. u. p. is pride no you wouldn't actually think back from that the hardline recovery being used by the u. p.. but ultimately the do you p. has pushed britain's what's the slightly more pragmatic brexit solution would otherwise be the case but alan that is part of what the brexiteers the hardline exit -- so supporters most hate about this deal they're worried that this temporary fudge on on ireland namely by keeping britain in the customs union temporarily could become a long term solution where the u. k. has the worst. of all possible worlds namely it's still part of the u. but it doesn't even have a voice. exactly -- and and the right of course that. i mean that's what's going to happen if. cool heads prevail if i may get the deal through which is by no means certainly fed why if she got her deal through. its the only possible situation because this is is it is as youou

one of those was we were leaving the customs union.nt 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 wit

my understanding is that the eu could stop us leaving the customs union, evenif stop us leaving the customsve betrayed the referendum, that we have gone against 17.4 million people and what they voted for and i can't look into my conscience and vote for that. do you think those 17.4 million people want no deal? in your conscience do you really think they want no deal? i think they want to be free. mark francois from the conservative party, thank you very much. it's time to look at the weather forecast. carroll has the details. i'm very grateful on a date standing outside that the weather is nice, at least in westminster. you are very welcome, anita we have a north—south divide with the weather because in the north of the country we have a fair bit of rain, in the south where anita is in london it is dry and brighter. this rain shower has been poring over northern ireland, northern england, scotla nd northern ireland, northern england, scotland and wales but it will move north eastwards through the day and fragmenting as it does so. for scotland, northern england and northern ireland you wil

britain out of the european union as expected on march the twenty ninth it keeps britain in the customs union well beyond the leaving dates while the country sorts out its final end stage relationship with the european union and it is the details of that which will be pored over most closely just to see whether that is on the words of the brics it is a betrayal of brics it ties britain to play silly or isn't facts the best compromise possible in what is what is your assessment david i mean it does leave britain in the customs union so technically when teresa mayes says breaks it means brags that it really does it it does. well it leaves person in the customs union for the full seeable future the problem we've talked about this as as time has gone by there were three major questions to resolve the question of the money between what's britain will you as it leaves the question of the ability of british citizens and that their lives normally in the e.u. and e.u. citizens to live and work in the interests of those two seems to have been resolved such as such really was the third big sticking poin

how deluded customs union without... ba cca deluded customs union without... prime minister going forward. i'm worried about that that you are giving controls and authority to someone without having read the document at all, and if he had read a document, instead of standing and saying that our defence is outside the eu structures he would know that within that agreement we are bound into the eu defence structures, because that is what it says within the document. solam is what it says within the document. so i am really concerned that we have people standing in front of us, telling us that they are in support, without having read, and that is a cabinet minister, a man who's meant to be at the top his game. the justice minister was patronising people, members of his party who are residing on the grounds, and they should have a vote that goes back to the people, where the whole party and theresa may should be out the door, the ministers that resigning and other members of the party single didn't quite understand, this is not the kind of confidence we wa nt is n

a customs union is not the only way to ensure we have a good trading relationship with the european union. we have put forward a proposal jut lined in the political declaration to do that, while also ensuring that we are able to take advantage of operate an independent trade policy. >> thank you, mr. speaker. these 585 pages are a testament to broken promises, failed negotiations and abject capitulation to the e.u. will my right honorable friend understand that they represent a list of failures on northern ireland, e.c.j. issue, indefinite extension of time, customs, full defense of trade, -- full independence of trade, and above all on our truly leaving the e.u. because they will control our laws and there being furthermore some serious breaches of ministerial responsibilities, ministerial code, and collective responsibility? >> minister. prime minister may: i thank my honorable friend. what we are looking at here is a withdrawal agreement which determines the withdrawal of the united kingdom from the european union and the declaration which identifies the scope and structure of our futu

, and northern ireland will have to stay in the customs union and the single market, which causes and we don't have the abilityjust to leave, which is bizarre really for a sovereign nation that we can't leave of our own accord. that is where the problem arises. if you are brussels, you are rubbing your hands saying, you know what? we can make the uk suffer by keeping them in the customs union as long as possible until they realise this is actually a disaster. that is what they are playing at the moment. i think that is why dominic raab has gone. norman is why dominic raab has gone. norman is absolutely right. the reality is that i am afraid this deal looks very dodgy. you think dominic raab has gone because he must have been ignored in cabinet. would you now support a leadership challenge against theresa may and do you think she should go? i have personally never agreed about the leadership challenge because i have always felt we needed to make the changes to the agreement, not to the leadership, and it is very complicated. others however, i have got to say, take a very different

the issue of a customs union. n much more in northern ireland and there may be a special case, a stronger customs union, does that help from where you‘re sitting? customs union, does that help from where you're sitting? it absolutely does. the reality here is that your colleaguejohn does. the reality here is that your colleague john campbell on bbc northern ireland has been reviewing some analysis of what the backstop would mean for business as opposed to what no deal would mean. by a factor of 10—1 in the backstop is much preferable, much more economically sustainable. so that means ourfirms economically sustainable. so that means our firms are able to enjoy u nfettered means our firms are able to enjoy unfettered access to the uk market, enjoy unfettered access to the eu market, and snowboarder, then that isa market, and snowboarder, then that is a very positive outcome, that our firms are poised to capitalise on, and actually create more employment. are you frustrated with the politics of all this? we are, the r

in the customs union until we know who to watch we're changing to. and to whom we're satisfied that any change we're returning those benefits and keep completely open from any. cost caused by regulatory different or anything else which will be created by moving away from where we are now and brick the economic future of this country very considerably if we just decide mutal actually to walk out to some of my colleagues seem prepared to recommend yeah right minister my rational nearly friend we have indeed heard from business a very clear message about the importance of friction is borders which is precisely why the proposal that united kingdom has put forward to the european union is based on that concept of frictionless borders and the free trade area that we have put forward is precisely in that frame my right honorable and learned friend talks about remaining in the single market in the customs union i do not believe that is right for the future of the united kingdom because i do not believe that doing those things would deliver on the votes of th

if they need the specs up a customs union where the whole of the u.k. is in this custom union with the european union so ensuring there is no hard border between northern ireland ireland but it's called the swimming pool approach because northern ireland would be a little bit deeper in this customs union than the rest of the u.k. so they're at the deep end of the swimming pool and the rest of the u.k. would be at the shallow end of the swimming pool and that's how they resolved it in this with all the agreement some people who are. very close look at this say it's actually not workable it won't work but it's not meant to work because they want to avoid having it just to give you an insider brags that they go shoot it's thanks max for explaining the swimming pool to us barbara coming to you know about that last point you know do you know what they're not islands party democratic unionist party props up teresa mayes government they have threatened to pull out over this deal what do we take away from that. that was clear from the beginning of the do you ap

a customs union is not the only way to ensure that we continue to have a good trading relationship with the european union. we've put forward a proposal that's reflected in the outline political declaration to do that and as ensuring we're taking advantage of an independent trade policy. >> thank you, mr. speaker. >> these 585 pages are a testament to broken promises, failed negotiations and abject capitulations for eu. will my right honorable friend understand that they have represented a list of failures, indefinite extension of times, custom, full independence of trade and above all, are truly leaving the eu because they will -- and there have been furthermore some very famous speeches of ministerial responsibilities, the ministerial code and collective responsibility? >> minister. >> my honorable friend, to say what we are-- what we are looking at here is a withdrawal agreement which determines the withdrawal of the united kingdom from the european union and which identifies the scope and structure of our future relationship. our future relationship is one that will not see the euro

telling the express i will not let the uk be trapped in a customs union.int brexiteers have against her package which is it includes this irish backstop which we will probably never hear the end of ba cksto p we will probably never hear the end of backstop is an insurance policy that will be staying in the customs union with the eu, brexiteers day that means you cannot do trade deals, remainders say it will protect the irish border. what theresa may is saying here is the customs union would always be a temporary thing. how she's going to pledged to do that, we don't quite know because in the withdrawal agreement which will become a legally binding international treaty, it does say is everything else fails we will end up in a customs union. i think coming back to david's point before, the real dangerfor brexiteers, to david's point before, the real danger for brexiteers, when they started this campaign against theresa may's deal they have the public on their side. the numbers we re public on their side. the numbers were not in favour of this deal. if they h

michel barnier was quite clear that this single customs union, the temporary customs arrangement, asbuilt on the uk proposal, what the uk wanted, and so that is seen as a win for theresa may, but it comes with demands from the european side, and that is that the two sides it first on a level playing field —— exist on a level playing field, and thatis exist on a level playing field, and that is what concerns some of the brexiteers? absolutely, and there are these provisions to try and create a level playing field in areas that include state aid, so rules about preventing governments from giving unfair subsidies to industries, rules on the environment and agriculture. those kind of provisions are undoubtedly in there. it doesn't mean the uk having to follow a bsolutely it doesn't mean the uk having to follow absolutely everything, but i have no doubt that there is more than enough in there to get well and truly up the noses of some people who have been campaigning to take the uk out. andrew walker, thanks for those initial thoughts. we will get more, as people pore over these texts. it

customs union backstop.ers haven't been sent to graham brady... not by the end to day but if nobody else follows that might if you lay people and everybody hides in a covered, it will not be a great position to be in. —— if you lead people. i think the letters will go on but no timeframe. who do you think should be the next prime minister? —— brexit secretary. there is no point in a brexit secretary when it is being run from downing street. stop brexit! obviously not. i‘m so sorry. stop brexit! save britain! stop brexit! you need to clean your spectacles. secondly, we are a democracy and that‘s why the splendid people can shout away because we believe in the right to free protest and that man isa right to free protest and that man is a great man. he was by birmingham and he is everywhere and that is what democracy is about. you make your case and then you have the vote and you accept the result. many, many people of the 48%, as shown by opinion polls, except the result even though they did not like it. that

one of those was, we were leaving the customs union. 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 plan? 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 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 us 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's far, far too early for theresa may to toast success. let's take a look at some of the day's other news: firefighters say the worst of the wildfires in california are now un

but the truth is that we will be remaining in the customs union both in the transition and in the backstop arrangement which can only be ended with the agreement of the e.u. and the truth is also that the only way to protect jobs investment and an open border in northern ireland in the long term is to remain within it will the prime minister now look the british people in the eye and make that remaining in the customs union is in our national economic interest because without it we will be.

during transition, and from the eu's point of view, this customs union arrangement isn't an emergency last resort model, it is the model for the future relationship. the discussion goes on. adam, thank you forjoining us. the debate carries on. good evening. it has been a day of mixed fortunes. days across —— rain across northern ireland. a fair bit of cloud that for many of us be sunshine broke through. this picture was taken in leicestershire. temperatures as high as 17 degrees with mild southerly wind, but things are turning colder because colder air mass is moving in from the east and particularly as we had through next week, some of us will struggle to get up to six celsius, where we have had temperatures up to 16 over the last couple of days. it is still world for most of us through this evening and tonight. cloud around in general across england and wales. a bit of low cloud, mist and fog places as well. i held under the cloud with temperatures of 9—12d. drizzly rain at times for southern scotla nd drizzly rain at times for southern scotland but clearer skies for the north of sc

customs arrangement binding the whole of the uk intoa arrangement binding the whole of the uk into a customs unione eu had always said, that might work, but we still need this underlying northern ireland specific backstop as the ultimate safety net if you like. what seems to have happened towards the end of the negotiations is that there was only going to be one backstop, so the northern ireland specific backstop if you like was dissolved, and you have these uk wide customs arrangement, but there would be specific provisions for northern ireland bolted onto that, and those provisions would deal with the single market rules and, critically, customs. so clearly there is some differential between northern ireland and great britain on customs and the single market. how deep that goes is really the problematic area for the dup and large parts of theresa may's government. tony, very good to talk to you, thank you forjoining us, tony connko thank you forjoining us, tony connolly from the irish broadcaster rte giving us his view from brussels. a quick word again with vicki young. vicki, what is the latest

including northern ireland, they will be in a customs union with they will be in a customs union withe irish sea or customs checks on the irish sea or customs checks on the irish sea or customs checks on the border but there are going to be other specific provisions for northern ireland which cover rules of the single market so that any goods produced in northern ireland will be able to circulate in the single market. they will need to be checked. this is all an insurance policy so that after britain leaves the european union and before that isa the european union and before that is a free—trade agreement that deals with all these things, this backstop would kick in. european officials and politicians have been very quiet today, leading the action for theresa may and everyone at westminster. you're been talking to people, what have they been saying about what michel barnier has arrived at? the eu ambassadors are being briefed about what is in this document. they have been leaving their telephones and ipads outside so that is no leaks. essentially, most member states think this is a ba

at the shallow end still in the custom unions in the customs union but in a more basic way that's why you call it the swimming pool principle deep in northern ireland shallow and rest of the u.k. that's a backstop that's what brigadiers don't like at all you've got the backstop and the swimming pool in there max that's very impressive barbara if i could ask you about what jeremy corbin had to say the leader of the labor party saying that no deal is not an option is the right. no deal of course is not an option for the labor party because they don't want to be responsible for the ensuing chaos everybody knows that if there is no deal till the training ninth of march of next year if you will have them in the way that they will there will be files of trucks going back all the way from dover off to london and they will be scarcity on the shelves of a supermarket of certain fresh goods within days and so on and so far as everybody knows what happens if you break down trade in this very interconnected world from one day to the other so jeremy corbyn doesn't want to own that but he also said

we will leave the common fisheries policy, we will leave the customs union, we will leave the customse customs union, we will leave the agricultural policy, and we will take back control of our orders and laws. the united kingdom is leaving the european union on the 29th of march 2019. but the prime minister's task of getting a brexit deal through parliament will be tough as this question from one of her own mps proved. you are not delivering the brexit people voted for. today you will lose the support of many conservative mps, and millions of voters across the country. cabinet agreement later today would be a big boost for the prime minister, but her tory critics are circling and parliament could yet torpedo her plan. enright, news, westminster. —— ben wright. the irish border has been nick easter can point in the negotiations between london and brussels. emma fardy now looks at what this draft eu withdrawal agreement could mean for northern ireland. —— emma vardy. the road to brexit has again and again led us back to the question of the irish border. today is the day we may finally

but the truth is that we will be remaining in the customs union both in the transition and in the backstop arrangement which can only be ended with the agreement of the e.u. and the truth is also that the only way to protect jobs investment and open borders in all in our lives in the long term is to remain within it will the prime minister now look the british people in the eye and lift that remaining in the customs union is in our national economic interest because without it we will be poorer as a career it. is in our national interest is ensuring that we continue to have a good trading partnership with the european union once we have left that is why we put forward a proposal which is reflected in the outline declaration for free trade area goods act you are watching the debate in the commons in london theresa may here friction has been speaking to the parliament delivering a statement defending the draft deal that she hammered out the u.k.'s exit from the e.u. and she said this puts us close to a bridge that eales deal that is in the national interest to protect the integr

think it is possible for the simple reason that we are today in the single market together, in the customs unionhing is, if that's what the two sides want to replicate this in legislation on the uk's side nationally, and the european union will maintain the existing legislation. so we start from a very good point. we now have two transferred this in the new situation with an agreement between the eu and what the uk will be, which is a third country. but the starting point is very good, so it should, in principle, not be too difficult. just briefly, one quick question, if britain were to crash out and we we re britain were to crash out and we were to revert to wto rules, would suffer more, britain or the european union? well, that is difficult to say. i think that the uk is in a position to defend its interests in the wto, as the other members are, and there isa as the other members are, and there is a solid basis of wt0 rules and procedures and so on. how this will evolve in practical life, in practical business on a day—to—day basis, i think nobody can foresee. it's a basis, i think nobody can

the point being the customs union, as we just the point being the customs union, as wejust mentioned, mentioned, we are in the point being the customs union, as wejust mentioned, we are in it but have a transition period, we may stay in it, people don't quite know, we are wrestling with jelly. is in a mould, and the mould has defined the freedom of movement, so that is britain getting control over immigration, defining we will not pay billions of pounds to the eu every year, defining we will not be pa rt every year, defining we will not be part of the european political institutions and people worrying about the eu army and things like that, we will not be a part of that. but it all —— is also a assuring bremainers worried about the economy that we will retain single market access that we will retain single market a ccess 0 n that we will retain single market access on industrial goods and have access on industrial goods and have a close trading relationship... but without much of a say on the boundaries of all this? some things on this like if you are trading to another person's mark

if goalkeepers in the customs union and de facto the single market.his is the vassal state, a failure of the government negotiating position and afailure the government negotiating position and a failure to deliver on brexit and a failure to deliver on brexit and potentially dividing up the european union. the shadow brexit secretary sir keir starmer said labour would not back a deal which did not meet the party's tests. given the shambolic nature of negotiations this is not likely to be at good deal for the country. we've made it clear on a number of occasions if it does not meet our tests we will not be voting for it. do stay with us — we'll be bringing you all the latest on tonight's developments on that agreed brexit text and the political reaction to it. in a moment it will be time for sportsday but first lets return to that breaking news — that after nearly a year and half of often fraught discussions, british and eu officials have come up with a draft brexit withdrawal agreement. cabinet ministers are being called into downing street individual

now, he says he wants to be in the customs union. that would stop him from doing trade deals around the rest of the world. we know what is good for this country. good trade deals with europe and the rest of the world. international trade secretary is not the only one who doesn't understand international trade rules. he is not the only one in the doesn't understand a few things. the brexit secretary said last week, i hadn't previously understood the extent of this, but we are particularly reliant on the dover crossing. when did the prime minister become aware of this absolutely shocking revelation about britain's trade routes? say, helly have to stands there and reads out something that says we don't know about trade policy. we do know, that is a exactly why we are negotiating the contin agreements. it is why we will be taking our place as an independent state in the wto. he wants to talk about different positions being taken. while we are doing is delivering a good deal which will deliver on the vote of the british people. what have

cannot agree on the nature of their future relationship free trade area for example or customs union and that backstop in this withdrawal agreement draft says that it would be a customs union between the e.u. and the whole of the u.k. but in definite meaning that to get out of this customs union both sides would have to agree and that is something the brics a two years have criticized very harshly those plans in the past now this doesn't mean that the e.u. is on the right track for drugs that of course although they have managed to have this withdrawal agreement agreed on five hundred eighty five pages of an agreement that is positive for the e.u. but if the recent may is able to do anything with it in the u.k. to get the backing of her parliament and it looks like she has to get a serious step backwards now with the resignation of the many then of course those five hundred eighty five pages can just put be put in the worst best ok so what's next is just saying they're big get the ball is now very much in britain's court as we just found out today we've got to resignations already we

things like the end date of the customs union, the end date of the customs union, the 20 - xx. thing we can help you with? they have always said this isn't a final text, it could be open to changes. those could also come from the eu 27 countries, because they have been saying today that they have been saying today that they need to look at this, to look at the detail, particularly of the safeguards applied to the uk if it we re safeguards applied to the uk if it were to have the customs union arrangement. i think it would be open to it, but there would be limited provisions. we have heard eu sources saying that the room for manoeuvre has been exhausted. similarly, angela merkel said today in germany that this has been agreed by both sides as the basis for an understanding, or for an agreement, so it is very unlikely that the eu would reopen it. although, remember, they have always said that if the uk changed its red lines, then different things could be on offer. the problem with that is now timing. we are the problem with that is now timing. we a re really the problem with tha