work on a solution which will satisfy both the republic of ireland and northern ireland's democratic unionist party prime minister to resume a relies on support from the governor the u.k. needs to reach a joint position with the european commission before next week's european summit well joining me now in the studio is our u.k. correspondent barnaby philip this is usually complicated but very briefly just explain to us what the issue is over the irish border the irish border at the moment between northern ireland part of the united kingdom and the republic of ireland is open we call it for us it's been an important part of the peace process dating back to nineteen ninety eight everyone on both sides at least in public says they want to keep it that way the problem is this to reason may is interpret the bracks it faute as one which not only takes britain out of the european union but also out of the customs union and the single market is that compatible with an open border on what will become britain's land front here only land front here with

the democratic unionist party would not be happy with a different situation in northern ireland to the rest of the uk. the initial reaction to the leaked d raft the initial reaction to the leaked draft that rte have got access to is not particularly positive. i must stress that that is a leaked draft. we have seen theresa may arrived in brussels for significant talks which he is hoping will pave the way for trade talks. doctor was more about this possibility of regulatory alignment. what that might mean.

the previous deal had been blocked by northern ireland's democratic unionist party but its leader, arlene foster, said she was pleased to see today's agreement means there will no customs barrier in the irish sea. we believe that there have been substantive changes and we are pleased to see those changes. for me, it means that there is no red line down the irish sea and we have the very clear confirmation that the entirety of the united kingdom is leaving the european union, leaving the single market and the customs union and that is an important statement to have. it is also vitally important that the integrity of the united kingdom was kept in place. there are still matters they are that we would've liked have seen clarified. we ran out of time, essentially. we think that we needed to go back again and talk about those matters. the prime minister have decided to go to brussels in relation to this text and she says she has done that in the national

today's intervention from the democratic unionist party was the latest reminder of the extreme difficultythe question of the future border between northern ireland and the republic. the dup said it could not accept any solution which meant northern ireland would be treated separately to the rest of the uk. in dublin, the taioseach leo varadkar said he was ‘surprised and disappointed' at the british government's approach. our correspondent chris buckler reports. all of this border you will find derelict huts. no one wants return of them or what is sometimes called a hard border. the dup has become concerned about what it sees as the potential price for keeping these roads completely open. it is worried that trading ties with the republic of ireland are being prioritised over those with the rest of the uk, that they could in fact put in place difference and division between here, northern ireland, and great britain. that is extremely sensitive and it is also extremely awkward for theresa may who relies on the dup support in the commons. the journey to a brexit deal is proving far from easy.

but it's this band she needs right now, the democratic unionist party's ten mps, feeling their powerep. good afternoon, folks. they refused to back theresa may's deal in brussels yesterday over ireland's border. their fear? it would send northern ireland on a different path to the rest of the uk. clearly, the text that we were shown very late yesterday morning did not translate what we had been told in general conversations into reality. would you be willing to see the deal fail? we don't want to see the talks fail. we don't want to see an outcome where there's no deal. we want to see a sensible brexit. it's not a done deal, never too late. yesterday's collapse provoked arguments on all sides, with some believing scotland, wales or some sectors of the economy should all get special status now. in dublin, one clear message: no budging. clinging to the agreement that the north and south would mirror each others‘ rules and regulations in future. the ball is in london's court. the prime minister and the european commission, the negotiating teams, have asked for more time. i understand th

we'll talk to the democratic unionist party, to a conversative leave mp, and to scotland's snp.hether you voted leave or remain, what do you think of events over the last 2a hours? also on the programme, a warning that sex offenders are using live online streaming platforms to groom children with almost 200 suspects arrested in one week alone. it offers offenders an immediate connection to children and young people, that is one—to—one, it allows them to manipulate children and young people, offer them excitement, sympathy, some connection, emotional connection, involve them with games and trickery. we'll talk to parents whose children have been groomed via live streaming sites. if it's happened to someone in yourfamily, do get in touch. have you done anything to monitor or restrict your children's use of streaming apps? and it's been described as a "plague of plastic" destroying life in our oceans. what needs to be done to tackle it? the un is discussing the issue today — we'll talk to them live. hello. welcome to the programme, we're live until 11. we will bring you the latest

the democratic unionist party made an agreement of confidence and support with may's conservative party in the summer it agreed to support the prime minister's party in key votes a member of the house of lords and former lord coombe thinks the problems there but the r.h. border could lead to another general election. there cannot be any border within the united kingdom any suggestion of that would mean that the unionists and all of the especially the g.o.p. which is the largest party and all about it would withdraw supporting the government and we'd have a general election in february in the united kingdom i don't belong to any party but i live on the border i'm a unionist and i do not want to be treated differently in foreign affairs from the rest you know to keep this is a form of parish matter not a devolved matter and all foreign affairs applied to united kingdom equally to all parts united kingdom and if the tories in any way are trying to weaken rescission within united kingdom and they've done for before don't always trust the tories i would say it's a little penned and there's a

leave the european union hopes of a deal on monday were dashed at the last moment when the democratic unionist party raise objections prime minister theresa may could not ignore the party because it is propping up her fragile government we'll get some analysis from our correspondent in a moment but first a look at how the deal unraveled. the handshake so maybe a little premature the u.n. britain say they close to solving one of brics it's thorniest problems the status of the irish border but despite reports a deal had been reached it failed to materialize despite our best efforts and to significant progress really on the way to have made over the past days on the street main move towards issues it was not possible to reach a complete agreement today but on a couple of issues some differences do remain which require further negotiation and consultation and those will continue but we will reconvene before the end of the week and i am also confident that we will conclude this positively. the border between northern ireland and the republic of ireland as part of the u.k. northern ireland will also leave

the democratic unionist party rather raised objections to allow northern ireland to stay in the e.u. is customs union after the u.k. leaves the ruling party in northern ireland says that it wants to leave the e.u. on the same terms as the rest of the u.k. prime minister theresa may cannot ignore the party because it is propping up her fragile government. well earlier we asked london correspondent there get mass why the stance of the democratic unionists has apparently not been clear before these negotiations began. well yes for sure i mean it's not a surprise that to do you would be very very on the edge and really looking out for the particular words that would have been drafted in this document because in the northern irish peace process it is really words about details about the minuta behind that it is of course the do wish of the do you and the other unionist in northern ireland to stay close to the u.k. this is what they're really their big objective is this is where they where they entered into the peace process because they thought that they could stay close to the u.k.

at the same time, it seems she has placated the democratic unionist party, the main party inin northernland. she depends on that party for support in parliament, because she has a minority government. what made the democratic unionist party come on board in effect is a pledge that there would be no new regulatory barriers emerging between northern ireland and the british mainland itself, and the result of brexit. it seems theresa may has been trying to give all thanks to all people, trying to please everyone. of course, there is a question here. if northern ireland are happy, if the republic of ireland are happy in terms of the border situation for now, that begs the question, where exactly will that border go? at some point, that issue, that big question, will have to be addressed. now, it seems it will have to be addressed during the trade negotiations rather than during the divorce settlement. molly: duncan, coming up at -- and wethe u.k. have the flurry of activity and talks overnight. what sort of reactions are we seeing now today? duncan: we are seeing very diversion reactions acr

the democratic unionist party made an agreement of confidence and support with major conservative party in the summer it agreed to support the prime minister's party in key vote member of the house of lords and former m.e.p. lord coe clune thinks the problems with the irish border could lead to another general election. there cannot be any border within the united kingdom. any suggestion offered would mean that the unionists and all of the especially the g.o.p. which is the largest party and all that would withdraw support from the government and we'd have a general election for every in the united kingdom i don't belong to any party who put a livable border over unionist and i do not want to be treated differently in farm affairs from the rest you know to keep this is a farm a first matter not a devolved matter and all foreign affairs applying to united kingdom equally to all parts united kingdom and if the tories in any way are trying to weaken position within the united kingdom and they've done that before don't always trust the tories i would say absolutely and and as a unionist i w

negotiations came to a halt after the democratic unionist party who prop up the conservative governmentution to an intractable problem. what to do with the shared border between northern ireland and the irish republic when the uk leaves the eu. andrew plant has the latest. as the british prime minister arrived in brussels on monday morning, there was hope that a deal would the decided on what is phase one of britain's exit from the european union, but after hours of talks still no agreement for now at least. it is clear, crucially that we wa nt least. it is clear, crucially that we want to move forward together but ona we want to move forward together but on a couple of issues some remain which require further negotiation. it was not possible to reach a complete agreement today. we stand to resume the negotiations with the united kingdom here in brussels later this week. the task on the table, to agree the status of eu citizens living in the uk, and the financial obligations, and to decide what is to be done at the irish border. and it is was —— it was this last issue that prevented pro

in northern ireland's democratic unionist party has stood in the way of an agreement so far that support is vital to may's minority government and even now they're not satisfied with what's been agreed so far. but the talks can still proceed from here that's the e.u. leaders sign off on the deal at a council summit next week. and the beauty of macsoftware and joins me now on this story max into president after this agreement a lot of questions remain unanswered specially on northern ireland progress then has really been made there describing it as a breakthrough. right there has been some progress in the sense that the outline what they want to have in the end and that is no hard border between northern ireland and ireland and that is good news of course for the people in ireland but the question is how do they want to do that and you know there are only two known ways of doing this at the moment unless you're really creative in the first one is you a line you can trade rules or rules to those of the european union and then you don't need a border between or a hard border between the u.k

the democratic unionist party made an agreement of confidence and support with may's conservative partyin the summer it agreed to support the prime minister's party in key votes member.

she only managed to stay in power through a one billion pound deal with the northern irish democratic unionist party political writer downgrades broke believes the prime minister can no longer overlook the deep divisions within her own party is a humiliation and historically governments don't tend to last very long after after after they get defeated at the hands of their own backbenchers to i think it shows that the government government is really up for grabs and really demonstrates how insincere the conservatives were in their promise that they would. vote on the final deal to parliament because if they were sincere why would they be so determined even at the risk of a parliamentary to defeat to resist making this into a legally binding commitment. the value of bitcoin briefly hit an all time high of twenty thousand dollars on sunday has become so popular with millennial that by the end of twenty eighteen it's thought one in three will have invested in the cryptocurrency all up. action was made by the london block exchange that's britain's first digital currency a situation in light of this meteo

the democratic unionist party made an agreement of confidence and support with may's conservative party in the summer and agreed to support the prime minister's party in key votes member of the house of lords and former clinton thinks the problems of the border could lead to another general of. the kind of any border within the united kingdom any suggestion offered would mean that the unionists and all about of the especially the g.o.p. would just that are just party and all about and would withdraw support from the government and we'd have a general election in february in the united kingdom i don't belong to any party but i do have a border i'm a unionist and i do not want to be treated differently in foreign affairs from the rest united kingdom this is a foreign affairs matter not a devolved matter and all foreign affairs applied to united kingdom equally to all parts united kingdom and if the tories in any way are trying to weaken decision within the united kingdom and they've done for before don't always trust the authorities i would say as an independent and as a unionist i would

it seemed that a deal was likely earlier in the day — but the democratic unionists party objected toat northern ireland could be treated differently to the rest of the uk. this is all before we have got one scrap of concession from the eu on a free trade negotiation. it's mad. i don't think the focus needs to be on us. don't think the focus needs to be on us. the prime minister will have to look at her own party and many within her own party who could not be happy with this. and also within the implications. we are proud she has said she is a unionist and she wishes to stand up for the union, well this is one of the tests. we'll pa rt well this is one of the tests. we'll part of the united kingdom be treated differently just part of the united kingdom be treated differentlyjust because brussels bureaucrats demand it to be in the case and the cynical abuse of northern ireland —— or because of this cynical abuse of the northern ireland by the by minister? the move by the dup "surprised and disappointed" the irish prime minister leo varadkar. the taoiseach said he wants talks to progres

we‘ll talk to the democratic unionist party, to a conversative leave mp, and to scotland‘s snp.s to groom children with almost 200 suspects arrested in one week alone.

but it's this band she needs right now, the democratic unionist party's ten mps, feeling their powerfternoon, folks. they refused to back theresa may's deal in brussels yesterday over ireland's border. their fear? it would send northern ireland on a different path to the rest of the uk. clearly, the text that we were shown very late yesterday morning did not translate what we had been told in general conversations into reality. would you be willing to see the deal fail? we don't want to see the talks fail. we don't want to see an outcome where there's no deal. we want to see a sensible brexit. it's not a done deal, never too late. yesterday's collapse provoked arguments on all sides, with some believing scotland, wales or some sectors of the economy should all get special status now. in dublin, one clear message: no budging. clinging to the agreement that the north and south would mirror each others‘ rules and regulations in future. the ball is in london's court. the prime minister and the european commission, the negotiating teams, have asked for more time. i understand that the pri

today's intervention from the democratic unionist party was the latest reminder of the extreme difficultyg the question of the future border between northern ireland and the republic. the dup said it could not accept any solution which meant northern ireland would be treated separately to the rest of the uk. in dublin, the taioseach leo varadkar said he was surprised and disappointed at the british government's approach. let's join our correspondent chris buckler on the border tonight. all along this border you will find old huts that were once customs posts. no one wants a return of them oi’ posts. no one wants a return of them or what sometimes is called a hard border. however, the dup has become concerned about what it sees as the potential price for keeping these roads completely open. it's worried that trading ties with the republic of ireland are prioritised over those with the rest of the uk and they could put in place difference and division between here, northern ireland and great britain. that is extremely politically sensitive and it's also extremely awkward for theresa may who

the problem she has as suggested is with the dup, the democratic unionist party from northern ireland are propping up theresa may's minority government so they are vitally important and what they are vitally important and what they were concerned about is a compromise floated in brussels could in effect, in their view, see an internal border between northern ireland and the rest of the uk, which is unacceptable to them, so they have to have more talks with they have to have more talks with the dup to date. even yesterday of course theresa may's negotiations in brussels were into pop —— interrupted with the leader of the dup. she has another problem as well, and that is what happens with the european court ofjustice, will it have a continuing role and for how long after brexit? it might seem technical and not as important as the ireland issue. it is important to her mps. many of them want to see jurisdiction by brussels ending after we leave the eu. so she has a lot on her plate. success today i think is no longer guaranteed. thank you for the moment. thank you for the moment. let's sp

do you piece stands for democratic unionist party and that's not the union of ireland that's the union of the u.k. so that's something they will be opposed to so what we're seeing here is they're still trying to put a round peg into a square hole and this so-called breakthrough has not changed this. from what has things that a lot of open questions now that constant president don't know just because also been speaking off that meeting first let's take a listen to what he said. so we have a number of various ideas we need small cloudy deal on how the u.k. cece our future relations. has left the single market and customs union right being satisfied with today's agreement which is obviously the success of prime minister that there is a major let us remember that the most difficult challenge is still ahead. and what don't just kissing doesn't sound like a ringing endorsement for what's been achieved from the e.u. perspective so this so-called breakthrough. right and you could sensible despair with donald tusk although he's always very somber but in this case it's just it's taken so long to

s from the northern irish democratic unionist party political writer.

until now northern ireland's democratic unionist party had stood in the way of an agreement their support is vital to may's minority government now despite reservations the d u p has agreed to move ahead with this part of the deal it means trade talks can now get underway that's if e.u. leaders sign off on the deal at a council summit next week. german social democrats are meeting in berlin to consider what he issues they want to take into talks as anglo-american on forming the country's next government party leader martin schulz stressed the role of germany in europe pledging to push for reforms that would have. lead to a united states of europe. delegates voted on thursday for coalition talks with merkel's conservatives will start next week after more than two months since germany's elections to w.'s thomas sparrow spoke exclusively with martin shields and asked him if that wasn't a bit too we'll. many countries in europe and indeed around the world are looking at germany and wondering when there will be a formal government and now the social democrats have agreed on a procedure that co

what has been going on in the past few days, and the deals that she has been doing with the democrat unionist partyds to be done in the wider context of these negotiations. i am not sure we want to get too involved in the specifics of the negotiations, yet, because this could all change this week. what we are looking at is regulatory consistency across different parts of the united kingdom. if northern ireland gets one deal, is that fair for scotland, wales, england... that is the real issue. the business, that level of continuity, and what are these regulations, that matters. because you could have unfair competition across the united kingdom. i will skip over the japan times now, it is i am interested in this blog for the wall street journal, where it says that they will light use the term millennialss. —— millennials.” will light use the term millennialss. -- millennials. iam will light use the term millennialss. -- millennials. i am a fan of this. i'd like the word. millennials get out lot of flak and they inherited a pretty tough economy from those that came before them. i think it insisted it

we begin with the irish times, and a warning from the democratic unionist party to uk prime minister theresa may that any concessions over brexit which affect northern ireland's relationship with the rest of the uk risked the party's support for mrs may's minority government. the new york times says the white house has developed a plan to force out secretary of state rex tillerson, whose relationship with president trump has been strained, and replace him with mike pompeo who's currently director of the cia. the ft leads with the head of ubs bank, sergio ermotti, who has criticised regulators‘ efforts to rain in bankers‘ pay, arguing that the push is fuelled by envy among people in less well paid professions. the telegraph business section carries a warning from the us federal reserve that bitcoin and other digital currencies could endanger the safety of the financial system if they continue to grow. and finally on front of the guardian, children as young as two in the uk are being put in groups based on ability and behaviour. meanwhile, teachers have hit back saying it will have neg

we begin with the irish times, and a warning from the democratic unionist party to uk prime ministerct northern ireland's

in northern ireland's democratic unionist party has stood in the way of an agreement so far their support is vital to may's minority government and even now they're not satisfied with what's been agreed so far. but the talks can still proceed from here that's the e.u. leaders sign off on the deal at a council summit next week. joining me now is quentin peel he's at up on a mentor studious quentin is in alice with the ukip think tank chatham house welcome quentin is this a right to call this agreement that they've come up with in brussels as a breakthrough. it is a breakthrough but still quite a modest one because the really heavy lifting or lies ahead what is going to be the long term relationship between the united kingdom and europe but nonetheless the three questions which they had to settle in advance were all very difficult ones there's one the financial question how much to the british contribute for outstanding obligations second the rights of the citizens and british citizens in the e.u. and thirdly this absolutely nightmarish question of trying to maintain no border between north

in northern ireland's democratic unionist party has stood in the way of an agreement so far that support is vital to may's minority government and even now they're not satisfied with what's been agreed so far. but the talks can still proceed from here that's the e.u. leaders signed off on the deal a council summit next week are let's get you more now from our correspondent in brussels a modest who's reporting on this story extensively both sides are saying this as a breakthrough was actually chafe since monday. well if we look at the key subject here the question of a hard border or the regulatory alignment that is apparently guaranteed now by the british side in case there is no better deal after breakfast on the table nothing much has changed and the real difference here is now that the unionists in northern ireland so the party who are the part of the party that is propping up trees that mace government that they are they can at least can live with what is now presented in brussels and that is because no hard border in the irish sea has been guaranteed to them apparently and that is i

the talks stalled on monday, after northern ireland's democratic unionist party objected to the draftlans, because of their concern over the status of the border with the irish republic. our political editor laura kuenssberg is in westminster and gave us this update. after the embarrassing collapse of the whole thing on monday when theresa may had gone to brussels and had to then come back without a deal, things have been kept pretty close in a very tight circle in westminster. there have been lots of phone calls tonight. lots of talks. but both sides have been pretty tightlipped and when we saw the westminster leader of the dup, the northern irish party, nigel dodds emerge from talks at whitehall this afternoon he very much avoided answering any questions or giving anything away. however, tonight, there certainly have been signs that we are moving towards some potential conclusion. we know that theresa may has spoken to the irish leader and also to the president of the european commission. there have been positive noises coming out of europe. i've been told by other sources that ther

she had gone to brussels and it had fallen through because the democratic unionist party who pf°p up ocratic unionist party who prop up our government said they wouldn't go with it. then it was all back on, friday was a great success. we were here this week saying unity had broken out in the conservative party. now it has turned around again. it shows those who were on the remaining side of the argument, who don't want this cliff edge brexit, who want to be closely aligned to the european union after we leave, wanted to stand up and be counted. that had been doubted because they have promised rebellion in the past but they never really did it. but they did tonight and it may make theresa may thing twice in the future. she is trying to navigate a difficult path to not just two wings of her party but are divided parliament and a divided country here in britain.|j divided parliament and a divided country here in britain. i know no members of parliament will say out loud they want to stop brexit because it seems to go against the will of the people, but some brexiteers will say that is wh

year she only maliciously in power with a one billion pound deal with the northern irish democratic unionist party some of the westminster watchers we've spoken to believe mrs make can no longer overlook the deep divisions within her own party is a humiliation and historically governments don't tend to last very long after after they get defeated at the hands of their own backbenchers to i think it shows that the government government is really up for grabs and really demonstrates how insincere the conservatives were in their promise that they would. vote on the final deal to parliament because if they were sincere why would they be so determined even at the risk of a parliamentary just defeat to resist making this into a legally binding commitment. ok there is some breaking news coming into us from the netherlands at least one person has died and several injured. into stopping incidents in the city of must strictness according to local reports part of medics and police are off the two locations right now there is speculation on social media that this may have been a terrorist attack but we need t

the reason the democratic unionists have a big say it's because that's the party which agreed to help prop up to resume a minority government after her general election gamble backfired it agreed this summer to support the prime minister's conservative party in key votes in parliament house of lords member and former n.e.p. lord coe clune thinks the problems with the irish border issue could lead to another general election. there cannot be any border within the united kingdom any suggestion that it would mean that the unionists and all of the especially the g.o.p. would just that are just party and all about and would withdraw support from the government and we'd have a general election favoring in the united kingdom i don't belong to any party but i live on the border i'm a unionist and i do not want to be treated differently in foreign affairs from the rest united kingdom this is the first matter not a devolved matter and all foreign affairs applying to united kingdom equally to all parts united kingdom and if the tories in any way are trying to weaken decision within the united ki

s from the northern irish democratic unionist party political writer done glazebrook says the pm can no longer overlook the deep divisions within her own party. it's a humiliation and historically governments don't tend to last very long after after they get defeated at the hands of their own backbenchers to i think it shows that the government government is really up for grabs really demonstrates how insincere the conservatives were in their promise that they would. fall on the final deal to parliament because if they were sincere why would they be so determined even at the risk of a parliamentary to defeat to resist making this into a legally binding commitment that's why the weekly is looking at this hour on a review of the top stories from the past seven days i'll be back with more in thirty minutes time state twenty four seven r.t. . we first like when you on the us coming to inspect the property if somebody would have been to spend my life playing committees or a lot of disco corrosive of salt it was clear. every night we were attacked by the arabs we will attacking them and we

they need more time to negotiate after northern ireland's democratic unionist party refused to compromiseorder issue. both ireland and the eu want britain to guarantee there will be no hard border after brexit. investors are keeping a close eye on brexit and tax reform negotiations in the u.s. tech shares fell after republicans passed their tax overhaul plan in the senate. it was a split finish for stocks. the dow gained 58 points. the nasdaq lost 72 points. >>> youtube is hiring more people to screen content that violates its policies. the total number already more than 10,000 next year. the move follows a wave of criticism after a number of child abuse violence on the site. youtube will also plan to increase the learning system to remove inappropriate content. the system currently flags 98% of the videos removed for violent extremism. >>> facebook is launching a new messaging app aimed at kids. it's for children under 13 who can't have their own accounts under facebook's rules. it comes with a number of parental controls. only parents can add friends or delete messages. children won't g

she only managed to stay in power with a one billion pound deal with the northern irish democratic unionist party some of the westminster watches we've spoken to believe right now to resume a can no longer overlook the deep divisions within her own party. a humiliation and historically governments don't tend to last very long after after they get defeated at the hands of their own backbenchers to i think it shows that think that the government government is really up for grabs and it really demonstrates how insincere the conservatives were in their promise that they would. vote on the final deal to parliament because if they were sincere why would they be so determined even at the risk of a parliamentary just defeat to resist making this into a legally binding commitment on wednesday facebook handed over its findings to the british government on alleged russian influence on the platform in the run up to the big vote and it seems the prize to sway the referendum cost less than a cup of tea. chief among those today of course is russia but it is russia's actions russia's illegal annexation of crimea

s from the northern irish democratic unionist party political writer dan glazebrook says that the reason may can no longer overlook the deep divisions from within her own party is a humiliation and historically governments don't tend to last very long after after after they get defeated at the hands of their own backbenchers to i think it shows that the government and government is really up for grabs really demonstrates how insincere the conservatives were in their promise that they would. follow on on the final deal to parliament because if they were sincere why would they be so determined even at the risk of a parliamentary just defeat to resist making this into a legally binding commitment. now in a report released on tuesday amnesty international accuses european governments of condoning their detention and abuse of migrants trying to reach europe from libya we believe they knowingly complicity in a system of abuse and torture of refugees and migrants in the because they know exactly what is going on and they have chills and to support. the system of detention and their view of migr

but the talks ran into the ground when the democratic unionist party complained that a possible solutionthe issue of the border between northern ireland and the irish republic would mean northern ireland being treated differently to the rest of the uk. so on tuesday, the brexit secretary came to the commons to update mps. we held further talks in brussels over the past two days and progress has been made. we have not yet reached a final conclusion. however, however, i believe we are now close to concluding the first phase of negotiations and moving on to talk about our future trade relations. mr speaker, what an embarrassment. the last 24 hours have given a new meaning to the phrase "coalition of chaos." yesterday morning, number ten was briefing that a deal would be signed. there was high expectation that the prime minister would make a triumphant statement to the house. by tea—time, we had a 49—second press conference saying the deal was off. mr speaker, the government who said they would bring sovereignty back to parliament is now being controlled by someone who is not even a member o