this is all assuming that the european research group, the hardline brexiteers, will support this.ll. all the indications are that they would support it. my personal view is, should he be able to get this deal through europe and bring it back, it probably would pass through parliament. certainly, jeremy corbyn is trying hard to stop his people voting for it but there area number of his people voting for it but there are a number of labour mps who have already expressed and said they quite like this deal, stephen kinnock being one of them. you've got the dup on the side, the erg, i think a number of the 21 rebels that we re think a number of the 21 rebels that were thrown out as tories in parliament, they will come back. yes, it will probably get three. but what about ireland ? yes, it will probably get three. but what about ireland? the dup would vote for it. but the eu. but before we get there, we've got to get it through the eu and that's the bit that's looking unlikely. where does this leave us? there is a lot of talk in the last few weeks about a general election and that seems

brexiteers from the european research group suggested that they had faith in boris.l be no caveat today. there will be no sense of, we give a thumbs up but you have to get a deal, boris, in westminster on super saturday. he will be asking for the eu to categorically say that there should not be an extension that they will give. so if boris asks for it, they will say no. other eu leaders will be thinking, hang on, it's not about boris, it's about the entire parliament. maybe we just have to deal with that. that repeated use of boris produced this response from sonia reed. and that was echoed by this telephone caller. i'm ringing to complain about, yet again, we had the use of the word boris, and frequently we hear nigel. why do we not hear the names farage and johnson when we always hear corbyn? if you have any decent attempt at neutrality, surely they should be addressed in the same manner. do let us know your thoughts on all those points, or on any aspect of bbc news. details of how to contact us at the end of the programme. now, the brexit deal wasn't the only stor

westminster onboard, and is also looking to support from labour and within the tory party, the european research groupbrexiteer is, it's a really difficult process. —— erg. leaders in the eu might think we will agree toa in the eu might think we will agree to a deal, but then it could get thrown out of parliament in london and then we're back to where we were months ago. the issue then goes back to the people. again, this is something that gets lost in all of this discussion around the political aspects and where we go with the dup. it's that - aspects and where we go with the dup. it's that — we already have uproar in the uk about what is going on with brexit and the fact that politicians can't agree on the various different points, whether it is political point scoring or a fight for power. all of these questions remain. if we were in the situation here in the uk where we get borisjohnson, situation here in the uk where we get boris johnson, does situation here in the uk where we get borisjohnson, does have another deal, he takes that the mps and mps rejected again, that is almost as bad for the bri

then you've got the the really hard line breaks it is the european research group they apparently have said yes they're behind the deal now but it still leaves it really too close to call this stage are iberian says still too close to co-op how is johnson likely to presenting his position how is he likely to try and persuade the parliamentarians to support his deal in his remarks. he has got to really talk to 2 audiences here in the houses of parliament no one is very important group that is already mentioned is that it's the labor party m.p.'s say he's going to try and tell them that this is their charms to vote for their constituents who many of them are really fed up people in the u.k. just one to move on and he will try and tell them just you know do the right thing for the country this might be the last chance to get a deal and on this same point he's also his own conservative m.p.'s the brick city is who have in the past not voted for any deal that reason may has brought forward he will tell them well if you want practice it the day is now it's today because if you. you don't vot

you can he has already announced his decision not to back it the hardline breck city is the european research group they have. said they would vote for it but i think i was saying i think it is just too close to call and he will have his work cut out for him now over the next couple of days to try and win more support for his his do you but still really anything possible at this stage scramble able after all this is another twist and it's still water. schalit i'm just going to briefly turn to you because there's also a large protest happening in london against the whole brics a deal can you tell us a little bit about the situation there. yeah tens of thousands of protesters actually right now in central london and they've gathered to support a 2nd referendum if so that is another possible outcome though there is no majority in parliament. at the moment either people would want to put it back to the british people a vote on either boris johnson steel that now he has no negotiated with the european union or whether to remain in the european union after all and this is of course what most of the prote

they've made that quite clear so he really needs the hard line breaks it is the so-called european research group m.p.'s who have said it now looks like most of them will vote for the deal still leaves him short so essentially he's needs the former tories the 21 rebels that he expelled because they went against his plans he needs that is still the numbers don't add up so he needs the next 21 are even going to start doing the math is very nasty and so he needs there are some 20 labor and pays who represent leave constituencies and have said that they would vote for a deal so if all that comes together it may work out it's going to be very close there is still the additional permutation that some and pays abstain ok so again it leaves it hanging in the air so yes we have here is more than 40 individuals that he needs to convince that he wrong arm somehow today exactly. the northern ireland democratic unionist party the the people in northern ireland have been propping up as his government has a thin majority of course how worried should boris johnson be that they're saying they're not going back to

bigger the danger that the party gets taken over by brexit and steve baker is saying, the european research grouphe selection with more members than they had. turning away from politics to something sad we have been recovering all day, the first report dealing with grenfell. the london fire brigade are being accused of hiding behind heroes and they are having a go at the chief of the fire brigade. there have been criticisms that the boss in charge that her initial reaction was not right and the tone was not right at all. the suggestion that we would have done the same again. and actually, the report has found systematic failings across so many report has found systematic failings across so many aspects of the work that the fire brigade do, everything from the stay put order that was given through to the training involved in some of these high—rise buildings and what happens. despite the fact that there have been high profile fires to deal with. it is a sad day for the people who are obviously directly affected by what happened at grenfell but there are a wider community of those who support the f

if the dup are happy with whatever comes out of this, the erg, european research group and brexit territoriesile the dp don't shut this down, there was still hope. not necessarily as a block. there are some smattering on the fringes already from the spartans in the conservative party, the hardliners, one or two people in the dup expressing their reservations. they really ought to see the detail before they commit themselves to it. in terms of the mathematics in the house of commons, borisjohnson certainly has not got it in the bag. it is ten and peace that the dup will be adding to the poem entry arithmetic. —— ten mps. interesting to see what julian arithmetic. —— ten mps. interesting to see whatjulian smith, the northern ireland senator came out saying. he felt that there won't be a situation where one community has a situation where one community has a veto over brexit plants. —— northern ireland secretary. that was one of the things in the original plans borisjohnson one of the things in the original plans boris johnson put one of the things in the original plans borisjohnson put forward

we also spoke to the conservative mp steve baker, chair of the eurosceptic european research group.ed that was the case. it does important things like guarantee the rights of citizens in any circumstances, it is open, tolerant, outward —looking and i am very pleased with it. but you are asking me about the deal, until there is one to be seen, i cannot give you an answer. i know it is driving journalists mad but i am looking forward to seeing the text of the deal that has been agreed. we are very open to open to voting for a tolera nt very open to open to voting for a tolerant deal and i hope that the eu provides that working with the prime minister to get it. on the basis that boris johnson minister to get it. on the basis that borisjohnson was one of those leading the brexit charge, would you not trust him to get a deal that would actually suit what you would like to see? i have every expectation that borisjohnson will get a brexit deal, which i will be able to vote for but again, until we see the text, we cannot tell you what we will be doing. of course, i rely on borisjohnson to

and that that's no longer happening on that he has broken that fundamental pledge that the european research group within the conservative party the heartbreak that his- and others really expected him trusted him. voted for him as leader. for him to really go ahead with that mission that they'd entrusted. nigel farrar's the head of the bridge that party's been awfully quiet. but i think i confirm the project. the t. will be in the coming days and weeks making his voice heard i'm certainly. jeremy corbyn has made it very clear that breaking up pledge is just one example of the prime minister. a prime minister who cannot be trusted to wear hearing already the general election arguments. that we will hear for many weeks to come it seems in the lead up. to what we think will now be a general election on the twelfth thursday the twelfth. of december. yeah thursday is the only thing about the election will make it. like every other election the u. k. has seen thank you so much but it'd probably of that in london thank you for bringing us up to speed. watching these developments with me in the studio wit

another crucial bloc in the house of commons is the pro—brexit european research group made up of somein the eu's customs union indefinitely until a new trade deal with the uk was agreed. borisjohnson's proposals removes the backstop and it seems that what he's suggesting instead works for the erg. they were among some of the conservative backbenchers at the so—called 1922 committed —— committee so—called1922 committed —— committee who met with the prime minister. i was very clear with 1922 just now that as he put it, we are on the hillary step up the way up everest, the top is still shrouded in mist. we're not sure we are going to get there, but he was very clear that the whole uk is going to leave the customs union. not for the first time, for some help trying make sense of this, i have turned to watson. whether a deal goes through... whether they think that this stage in the proceedings any deal is better than the risk of no brexit through a general election, second referendum whatever. and whatever those mps whatever. and whatever those mps what really worries them is the idea ofan

making sure he has the tories behind him the hard core group take a breath magdeburg the tears european research group and also the people he kicked out of his own party will bring them back into the independent conservatism get them back and then he has to look how do i make of the 10 that the t.v. has to give me can i get them from labor that's probably where they would be focusing reverse that would create the vote of havoc in labor should there be a new election coming up so that would have suited our boris johnson down to the ground because it's quite interesting that the 1st thing the 1st group that you mentioned that is members of his own party he comes back with a deal that he says gets done and the people that he has to convince other people who really really really want to leave yes but this is the irony i mean the d.p. we're trying to threaten him by withdrawing his minority or majority he had lost his majority so there hold over there he's in the minus figures already yes exactly so i mean you can be a little bit pregnant you either are or aren't you either have majority or you don't and h

a former conservative said borisjohnson had won the support of tory brexiteers in the european research groupts, but doubted that would be enough. i congratulate him on getting a deal with the erg and the dup, but i remind him that the dup do not represent the people of northern ireland. and i observe they can't even be bothered to turn up today. could the prime minister confirm that not one single other political party or any organisation in northern ireland support his con of a so—called deal? the majority of people in northern ireland will be extremely concerned by the process that he has tabled yesterday —— extremely concerned by the proposals that he has tabled yesterday and spoken to today, which introduce two borders in northern ireland. and may i remind the prime minister that the people in northern ireland certainly do not want the uk to leave the eu without a deal? what people in northern ireland really want, all of them, is to continue to enjoy the peace and stability delivered by the belfast good friday agreement. those two borders, being a customs one with the eu and a regulatory

theresa may's brexit deal failed because she couldn't win over tory brexiteers in the european research groupohnson succeed where his predecessor failed 7 a leading member of the erg signalled support. does he recall that earlier in the year, when the house voted on the so—called indicative votes, on a number of different options a customs union and so on, all of those were defeated bar one. the one option that is ever passed this house other than the withdrawal agreement was the so—called brady amendment. the essence of which was to expunge the backstop in favour of alternative arrangements which passed the house of commons on the 29th ofjanuary by 16 votes. does that give him hope that this could get through? hear, hear! yes it does, mr speaker. i think my right honourable friend for his point, and he is right also in his ambition for what we can do with this deal. because it does liberate us to do free trade deals around the world and to take back control of our customs... connect us to the prime minister to go to his eu colleagues with some confidence and tell them is every likelihood, if

he was one of the mps in that european research group who was totally against theresa may's deal, neveras this afternoon, not confirming he would back the prime minister. i spoke to him tonight, he has told his constituency party that he will be backing the deal in parliament tomorrow, and i think that suggests that even those brexiteers who might still have concerns over the divorce bill, over some of thejurisdiction concerns over the divorce bill, over some of the jurisdiction of the european court, other elements of how this deal might keep the uk aligned to europe on certain fronts, they are prepared to swallow some of that to get this over the line. mr francois was saying tonight that at least this ensures it is done and it means there cannot be any more playing about with whether the uk actually leaves. not all of the erg have confirmed that, i suspect you would find out exactly how they are voting until —— not finding out how they are voting until tomorrow morning, when they meet before the start of the session of parliament. but at least one of them tonight is saying, 0k, but at

we heard from the european research group saying they will as thisproceedings makes its way through parliament. some people backing the willment are concerned it get past today, some will change their minds later on down the line it we will see the process restricted. let's hear from boris johnson. this is what he had to say earlier on about them -- the amendment. >> if the opportunity to have a meaningful vote, which is what i do ise the house wants to taken away from us. pull a vote today if they got the amendment. the numbers at the moment are unclear. there are a number of factions and competing interests. different people are supporting it. they will support it for different reasons. i will show you with happening outside parliament. you can see pictures of that. thousands of people are gathering to call for a vote. they want this put back to the people for another referendum. abouts been moving for half an hour. they are moving down to trafalgar square. they support this vote. they have raised half a million pounds in donations. ordinary people are getting involved, trying to have their

if he did get a majority is there any chance that he would back out of this deal that the european research group the hard line breaks it 2 years possibly would gain more influence that they could use to push through a kind of a no deal solution would you is there any chance we'd see some kind of radical development like that i think that's unlikely because although it's not a good deal in the forest johnson is afraid and he's worried about the chaos that could ensue with a no deal breaks and he's he's intelligent enough and pragmatic enough to know how dangerous it is and they could have not quite a civil war but i mean really chaotic scenes in britain so he's very keen to avoid at all this grandstanding to say you know rather die that it will be all the stuff that he's been saying was just to apply more pressure it order to get a deal done he always wanted an agreement i'm i'm quite certain of that derek. we talked about the majority of what they want in britain but where do people in scotland and ireland stand it has often been said that one of the terrible side effects of bracks it could be e

the music yesterday from the likes of steve baker and other brexiteers in the european research groupf key differences, one is character. theresa names and remain, borisjohnson one is character. theresa names and remain, boris johnson undelete one is character. theresa names and remain, borisjohnson undelete side. she got that his way and i think thatis she got that his way and i think that is why arnie foster's statement was pretty short. there was no, —— arlene foster. on the side of the water, the eu leaders are not stupid, they knew this was, thereby, and yet they are agreeing to it anyway. i was a price likely by how quickly it was done this many. we had that dup statement probably, i think it was about 6:45am, and then just a number of hours later, the eu and uk come at they have a deal. assisting at my negotiating time?|j assisting at my negotiating time?” spoke to a number of senior eu council official today and are said to things. one, this is nearly 60 hours of talks. 12 men and women, technical negotiators in the building just obstacles up it is going on until two o'clock i

he also has the hardline brexiters in his own party, the european research group, with him so far, andto go together. there is a third group that might be crucial to him, some mp'snk mps -- some labour from leave districts that may come over. it is very much in the roma possibility that johnson could get a deal through parliament, but he has to get one that he could get through the eu. theresa may found a deal that could get through the eu, couldn't get it through parliament. we may have the opposite with johnson. vonnie: there's infighting between dublin and belfast as well. therese: it always seems to come back to ireland. is, in manyoposal ways, something that the irish would find very difficult to swallow. checkld require a customs on ireland. johnson is saying they won't happen at the border. they will be decentralized checks. he is promising that various technologies will be used to make them unobtrusive, and that they wouldn't be the kinds of border infrastructure that people worry would be the target of terrorist attacks. the reality in ireland is that the history makes that a

and the members of the european research group, the hardline brexiteers, and the conservative party.hat we have seen so far is nothing truly committal from the eup, but they have not been totally against what is going on. we have seen some great splits among the erg who have previously been united. there have been one or two talking to british journalists, attacking the proposal going on. we still don't know exactly what the proposals are. it is conceivable it could pass parliament. it is certainly not anything like a done deal yet. haidi: given his own political future uncertainty we are seeing, what sort of offers boris johnson would have made? with a be upheld at the end of the day? john: i am never going to comment on whether he might not be operating in good faith. when it comes to northern ireland, we have already had under theresa may 2 years ago when she persuaded them to support her in government when the conservatives did not have majority. that involved a large amount of money going to northern ireland. any packagee that here will include a sweetener. they have to work in

previous prime minister and the current prime minister have succumbed to a hard brexit and the european research group, the hard right of the conservative party and they've been trapped in this -- with these red lines. and that is why this deal, which is even worse than the theresa may deal, because it takes protection for labor standards, environmental protections and other protections out of the deal, the legally binding agreement into the future political declaration which is not legally binding that makes it even harder for labor mps to back. and i hope my colleagues refrain from supporting it. >> if it doesn't pass tonight or this afternoon, then, of course, the ben act kicks in for the purpose of this question. let's assume the prime minister sends the letter tonight requesting the extension which is granted. what do you want to happen then? >> what is important is that we seek consent from the british people on a negotiated deal. when we had the 2016 referendum, there was no clarity about what kind of brexit people will be getting. and what we want, what i want and many in the country want and

to the queen's speech from conservative mp, steve baker, who is chair of the eurosceptic european research groupng us. you are most welcome. a queen's speech but obviously no government majority to get it through, so the focus very much on what happens this week with brexit. would you back any gale that borisjohnson brexit. would you back any gale that boris johnson gets? well firstly, cani boris johnson gets? well firstly, can i say that this was a centre ground queen's speech? i am glad it was and it guarantees the rights of citizens in any circumstances, it is open, tolerant and outward looking andi open, tolerant and outward looking and i am very pleased with it. you are asking me about the gale. until i have it to look at i cannot tell you. i know it is driving journalists mild but i am looking forward to seeing the text that has been agreed. we are open for voting for a tolerable gale and i hope that the eu delivers one and worked with the eu delivers one and worked with the prime minister to get it. on the basis that borisjohnson, one of those leading the brexit charge, we do not trust hi

the european research group, a lot of the men said they will back this. wants to read it before him makes up his mind. arm—twisting going on there presumably. i have heard very few conservative eurosceptics from the erd group saying that they will definitely be voting for this deal. they have always reserved a little bit of theirjudgment to say that they have to read it through thoroughly. as we know the ert has a special meeting at half past eight tomorrow morning, before the commons sits tomorrow morning, to try and reach a conclusion of what they are going to do. the ert are a group of people who have a broad belief about wanting to leave the european union and wanting to leave a clean —— with and wanting to leave a clean —— with a clean break. but i don't think you will definitely see them vote en masse is a blur. we are hearing through the day, and throughout the day, individual mps saying which way they are going to go. day, individual mps saying which way they are going to golj day, individual mps saying which way they are going to go. i think ther

the fourth, the european research group, or spartans, who andhe moment, the state seems more conservative johnson government, but they are anxious that the 11th hour, this will be conceded to the europeans and lead to rev telling in the house of commons -- rebelling in the house of commons. throughors an extension the act this weekend and we move on to later in the year and january in terms of article 50. -- isis there any way there any way to avoid a hard inder if you are not staying the eu customs union as a whole or stranding northern ireland in the eu? that is essentially what they are planning on doing, isn't it? simon: there is a way. it was called the alternative arrangements commission. borisas the basis of johnson's third opportunity to the europeans but unfortunately, internal analysis in the u.k. government and that of the europeans suggested the technology and infrastructure is more than a decade away, and therefore, the europeans have always said through this process an allere needs to be weather alternative to this which in the near-term was always the backstop. the question

some of the key figures in the conservative european research group are keeping a little more tight—lippedwill do. the deputy chair has been to downing street to talk one—on—one with the prime minister saying he needs to talk to boris johnson prime minister saying he needs to talk to borisjohnson before he decides what to do. of course, one of the big concerns for a number ten is now they have lost the dup and it does look like they have lost them, well that influence, and to what extent will it influence, those eurosceptic conservatives who have worked quite closely with the dup and repeatedly have said they will be mindful of what they are saying. that is a key consideration. we know borisjohnson, lots that is a key consideration. we know boris johnson, lots of that is a key consideration. we know borisjohnson, lots of his top team are making phone calls, talking to people one on one this afternoon when cabinet meets i think they will be doing number crunching of their own. making phone calls to tory mps but i wonder if he will be making phone calls to labour mps because they can be crit

he‘s deputy chairman of the european research group — which is a group of pro—brexit conservative mpserence in manchester. let‘s talk now to our guest. thank you for your patience. thank you for talking to us. you do not know the details of this deal, i don‘t know the details, we know a little bit, two borders forfour the details, we know a little bit, two borders for four years, the details, we know a little bit, two borders forfour years, does that sound like the kind of deal you could vote for? well, victoria, good morning. straight to your question, reference to the previous item quickly, we should remember prince harry is a man who served his country in uniform in a war zone. he isa country in uniform in a war zone. he is a veteran and for that reason, if no other, he has my complete support. i don‘t think the country should ever forget that. support. i don‘t think the country should everforget that. coming on to your question, you‘re right, i have not seen the details of these proposals either. they appear to have important implications for northern ireland. i can only tell you

tonight to some of the brexit, brexiteers now house of commons, the conservatives like the european research groupthe rest of the uk when it comes to customs and some other youth eu regulations. it also gives northern ireland a chance to vote on the proposed status, they'll come after four yea rs status, they'll come after four years and involve a simple majority float in the irish assembly, an assembly that is not sitting at the moment, assuming that is resolved, if the assembly gives its consent, the arrangement can continue but if not, the arrangement from the new deal... it goes on to say... now, what those recommendations would be, we do not know. but to be clear, there will only be six years down there will only be six years down the track, four years and then the northern irish assembly could say no, we do not want to carry it on and then another two years where eve ryo ne and then another two years where everyone can consider what to do and then we would have to see what arrangement has been negotiated. it is worth reiterating that boris johnson had to move along the way to get this deal.

of the brics it is the so-called spartans dozen of whom let's say a dozen members of the european research group behind me in parliament who have held out throughout they did know they're going to deal 3 times who will look at whatever comes out from this negotiation and say that looks very similar to what we voted no against 3 times already and the democratic unionist of northern ireland would also presumably say no and that might put paid to whatever majority he might have in parliament for a deal on saturday well it depends arlene foster the leader of the d.p. has made it clear that she will look at any option she was also very angry about that being misreported as if she'd said she would commit to things that she thought was not in else's interests but she in my views on the right thing and said i will not dismiss any potential outcome we should look at these things and see what's in the best interests of our country so d.d.p. hasn't ruled anything out yet and i think it's important for us not to have read the fact that the conservative parties in government or not now seem a minority govern

well, we can speak now to the conservative mp, mark francois, who is deputy chairman of the european research groupudio. 12 december, why does the government wa nt 12 december, why does the government wantan 12 december, why does the government want an election then? very quickly, ifi want an election then? very quickly, if i may have an on your previous item only quickly, the home secretary is a member of essex parliament, as am i, and we are both privileged to represent essex. my big brother was a copper who told me a number of times down the years how harrowing it was to be a police man. in clearly must be absently dreadful for those essex police officers and other members of the emergency services who had to deal with this act of absolute human wickedness. as an essex mp, i'd like to express my full support for the chief constable and his officers and having to carry out an extremely difficult task, and also for the other members of the emergency services. since you want to talk about that at the beginning, let mejust ask to talk about that at the beginning, let me just ask you on that issue, w

the conservative mp steve baker is with me — chairman of the eurosceptic european research group.ke of this package? a broad response first of all. what do you make of this package7m a broad response first of all. what do you make of this package? it is a fairand do you make of this package? it is a fair and reasonable offer and the european union should engage with it constructively. it does meet the objectives which are set out. they are respecting the good friday agreement, avoiding any checks on or near the border. it is a fair and reasonable proposal and should be engaged with constructively. do you expect european to engage in a way that will, in effect, go back against what they said in the past? because they‘ve had their own red lines, haven‘t they? that is to do with protecting the good friday agreement and giving an open border, which, by definition, this seems not to do. both sites have been com pletely to do. both sites have been completely committed to protecting the good friday agreement. the debate has been about how both sides have a and reliable relationship about

political correspondent vicki young about that meeting of brexiteers in downing street, the european research groupparliament. there is iain duncan smith, mark francois, bill cash, steve baker, all seen at that meeting in downing street today, and we have been hearing actually from some of them talking after that meeting, saying they are optimistic that it is still possible that we reach a tolerable deal. that was steve baker in fact saying that. iam was steve baker in fact saying that. i am optimistic that it is still possible we reach a tolerable deal, and that i will be voting for it, and that i will be voting for it, and bill cash said "we are making progress, we can leave the eu on 0ctober progress, we can leave the eu on october 31". so that is them going into that meeting on downing street. amid the reports that the uk may have made some concessions on the irish backstop issue in those talks. clearly the prime minister trying to get the brexiteers, the erg, onside, and they they are optimistic that they may be able to vote for a deal. more on that as it comes into us. royal mail is facing it

effectively this proposal is to win the support of the jacob rees—mogg european research group typesdup on the hard right of northern ireland's politics. how long would that exist? because the idea has always been ruled out that you treat northern ireland separately from the rest of the uk. that is also massively important to people in northern ireland, that they are treated the same as the rest of the country. that is important to the unionist and that is important to the unionist a nd protesta nt that is important to the unionist and protestant communities, and they are entitled to have that protected in advance. the difficulty here is that northern ireland and britain joined the eu at the same time. we've been in the same customs arrangements, we've been in the same trading the single market. all the time, and the last 50 years in the european structures. now we are proposing to make a break from european structures. now we are proposing to make a breakfrom it. the sensible thing to have didn't done, and borisjohnson could do it, is to keep northern ireland and the eu in the same

brexiteers from the european research group suggested that they had faith in boris. to categorically say that there should not be an extension that they will give. so if boris asks for it, they will say no. other eu leaders will be thinking, hang on, it's not about boris, it's about the entire parliament. maybe we just have to deal with that. that repeated use of boris produced this response from sonia reed. and that was echoed by this telephone caller. i'm ringing to complain about, yet again, we had the use of the word boris, and frequently we hear nigel. why do we not hear the names farage and johnson when we always hear corbyn? if you have any decent attempt at neutrality, surely they should be addressed in the same manner. do let us know your thoughts on all those points, or on any aspect of bbc news. details of how to contact us at the end of the programme. now, the brexit deal wasn't the only story covered on bbc news this week, though it might have seemed like it at times. there was also coverage of the visit by the duke and duchess of cambridge to pakistan,

prime minister has received the backing of the prominent conservative brexiteers known as the european research groupnt to seek a delay to leaving the eu, described as an insurance policy to avoid the risk of a no—deal brexit. nick eardley reports. more than three years after the brexit referendum,

we can speak now to conservative mp tim loughton — who's a member of the erg or european research groupts the government's deal, in defiance of his own party. and david linden, an snp mp who is against the deal. welcome all of you. have you been able to read it? i got it late last night and went through most of it and now going through the explanatory notes. that is a problem, little time to read it, only three days to scrutinise, less than the time allotted for the wild animals circus act according to the institute of government. and three times as much time allotted to the benn act. that is not a reasonable comparison. it has had major implications for the way we scrutinise this legislation. angela rayner going on about the usual conspiracy theories. jeremy corbyn said he was going to vote against the agreement before he had even seen the agreement before he had even seen it. if we had debated this until christmas the labour party would still vote against it. we had three and a half yea rs of against it. we had three and a half years of debating brexit in parliament, there is nothing

we may see other colleagues of yours, other conservative colleagues, particularly in the european research groupabout that? ido,i this deal, do you worry about that? i do, i talk to all my colleagues all the time, there are a significant number in the er g who have said that they will vote for a deal if the dup are happy about it, and therefore, the dup carries not only themselves but a number of conservative mps as well. —— erg. that is why this issue must be resolved and why it may take a little longer than the time available for this particular european summit. back to our viewers this morning you would say, we are unlikely to leave, we are not leaving on october 31, despite the do ordie leaving on october 31, despite the do or die promises? i'm not saying that at all, the zeitgeist on the other side of the channel has changed from what it was, they are now keen to do a deal if it can be possibly done because they think thatis possibly done because they think that is infinitely preferable to the uk crashing out without a deal. mechanisms may well be found for us to leave with a deal before th

thehey bring some of european research groups, it the arithmetic just may not stack up.e british pound. we have seen traders compact -- -- what ison how to the risk, there is a lot of risk premium to remove if we actually get something pretty quickly. eleanor: 100%, if we do see something reached that does look like it can pass parliament, than certainly the british pound could actually become one of the top performers by year-end in such a short space of time. but i really think that where it becomes a treacherous trade is the fact that there is so much headline risk embedded in that trade that also the fact that the parliamentary hurdle is huge, and whether we could even see a deal reach between the eu and brexit. haidi: such a pleasure having you on with us, eleanor, here with us in sydney. will the fed cut again? we will have an exclusive interview just ahead. this is bloomberg. ♪ everyone uses their phone differently. that's why xfinity mobile lets you design your own data. you can share 1, 3, or 10 gigs of data between lines, mix in lines of unlimited, and switch i

he is from the eurosceptic european research group, of course.n't trust that it isn't a back door to a no—deal brexit. trust that it isn't a back door to a no-deal brexit. the reason it through is because remain have shifted the goalposts. presumably they thought boris johnson wouldn't pull off getting a deal that could secure the support of the house, so they put in place this unconstitutional benn act requiring him to seek an extension if he did not get a deal. then they have panicked because he has got a deal. they've shifted the goalposts, denied him, and they have once again changed the rules. they accuse us of forcing him into a "no deal", but myself, mark francois, and other collea g u es myself, mark francois, and other colleagues are clear, we vote for the deal, then we vote for legislation all the way through. people know my record as an organiser of my colleagues. we do what we say. in contrast to us, the other side keep shifting the goalposts. at least the prime minister is absolutely clear he isn't going to negotiate an extension. wh

with me now is mark francois, conservative mp and member of the eurosceptic european research group.g. steve baker did yourself you will make recommendations to your group of mps based on your knowledge of the negotiations. what is the latest detail you have? are you party to any information we haven't heard? not really... shouting off camera. growth if we live, it will be delightful... if this idiot would shut up. he is exercising his democratic right. he is. shouting continues. we had a meeting at number ten yesterday. we have another one this afternoon. we haven't yet been given the full terms of a deal because, by the full terms of a deal because, by the sound of it, it hasn't been finalised in brussels, but the erg met last night, we normally meet on a tuesday evening, that is usual, and we agreed at that meeting that, if there is a deal, and we are going to have a meaningful vote on it on saturday, the erg will meet that morning, the offices will make a recommendation to the erg on whether oi’ recommendation to the erg on whether or not to support the deal once we have read the

for thatis facing mrs may, the prime reason for that is that the hardline brexiteers in the european research groupnd his deal at their backing. that is not to say that they are totally signed up to his proposals, there are still things in it that they don't like, they are not happy about the money out of the divorce bill, they are not happy about the role for the european court. but they think broadly about borisjohnson is on the same page as name, heading towards a long—term scenario where britain would actually be quite distant from the eu. so, they seem broadly on board. part of the reason, too, is that the dup have proved noisy, enthusiastic supporters of the borisjohnson deal, which is why this morning the brexit secretary, stephen barclay was sounding cautiously optimistic about the prospects of getting common support for this package. both sides recognise that the best way forward is to have a deal, and what the prime minister has set out is the broad landing zone for that deal. now, of course, there's some further negotiation to be done, that will need to be intensively done in the coming