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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2019/oct/17/eu-leaders-gather-for-summit-as-boris-johnson-scrambles-to-get-backing-for-brexit-deal-politics-live
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| Brexit: Tusk fails to back Juncker as he refuses to rule out granting further extension - live news | Brexit: Tusk fails to back Juncker as he refuses to rule out granting further extension - live news |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| It seems clear that the DUP will not only decline to support the deal, they will vote against it. This from Sky News’ David Blevins and Antonello Guerrera, of Italy’s la Repubblica newspaper: | |
| DUP leader Arlene Foster tells @SkyNews: “We are not going to vote for this on Saturday but... Saturday is not the end. It’s not even the beginning of the end.” #Brexit | |
| BREAKING. DUP's Sammy Wilson tells me that DUP are certainly "voting AGAINST" Johnson's #Brexit deal - NOT abstain - and that all 10 DUP MPs are united in their cause: "We are SOLID as the ROCK of GIBRALTAR".More tonight/tomorrow in @repubblica | |
| My colleague, Lisa O’Carroll, has put together this handy explainer on what, exactly, Johnson’s deal entails. The key sentence: | |
| Overall, the backstop has essentially been replaced by a full stop whereby Northern Ireland remains aligned to the EU from the end of the transition period for at least four years. | |
| How is Boris Johnson's Brexit deal different from Theresa May's? | |
| Besides the motion seeking MPs’ approval for the Brexit deal, a separate no-deal Brexit motion has also been tabled. But, the Press Association reports, it’s understood the government did this as a contingency measure as the talks were still taking place in Brussels. | Besides the motion seeking MPs’ approval for the Brexit deal, a separate no-deal Brexit motion has also been tabled. But, the Press Association reports, it’s understood the government did this as a contingency measure as the talks were still taking place in Brussels. |
| Also, my colleague Rowena Mason has this: | Also, my colleague Rowena Mason has this: |
| SNP tabling an amendment to Boris Johnson's Brexit deal demanding an extension to the end of January for the purposes of calling an election | SNP tabling an amendment to Boris Johnson's Brexit deal demanding an extension to the end of January for the purposes of calling an election |
| The Labour MP, Hilary Benn, has asked government to release impact assessments for Johnson’s Brexit deal ahead of Saturday’s vote, in a letter to the Brexit secretary, Stephen Barclay. | The Labour MP, Hilary Benn, has asked government to release impact assessments for Johnson’s Brexit deal ahead of Saturday’s vote, in a letter to the Brexit secretary, Stephen Barclay. |
| And the wheels are starting to turn in Westminster: | And the wheels are starting to turn in Westminster: |
| BREAKING: Government will move one motion in the Commons on Saturday - for a deal. MPs sit from 0930am. Amendments can be tabled from tonight. There's no cut-off time, so things could run late. | BREAKING: Government will move one motion in the Commons on Saturday - for a deal. MPs sit from 0930am. Amendments can be tabled from tonight. There's no cut-off time, so things could run late. |
| It’s perhaps interesting to note that Johnson spent a not insignificant proportion of his time talking about policies one would expect to see in an election manifesto, as well as deploying the language of such a campaign, rather than about Brexit. | It’s perhaps interesting to note that Johnson spent a not insignificant proportion of his time talking about policies one would expect to see in an election manifesto, as well as deploying the language of such a campaign, rather than about Brexit. |
| “Take back control” makes an appearance, as does “get Brexit done”. | “Take back control” makes an appearance, as does “get Brexit done”. |
| He also refers to the planned recruitment of more police officers (though that might not be all it seems), as well as the government’s living wage plans, which he says represent the “biggest expansion”. Without Johnson setting out what he’s actually measuring that against, it’s impossible to determine whether or not it’s an accurate claim. | He also refers to the planned recruitment of more police officers (though that might not be all it seems), as well as the government’s living wage plans, which he says represent the “biggest expansion”. Without Johnson setting out what he’s actually measuring that against, it’s impossible to determine whether or not it’s an accurate claim. |
| Furthermore, it’s worth putting Johnson’s claims about increased education funding into context. We reported back in March, for example, that teachers have been covering for canteen staff and cleaners in English schools under Tory government policy, while essential funds are raised by parent donations and “charity” non-uniform days: | Furthermore, it’s worth putting Johnson’s claims about increased education funding into context. We reported back in March, for example, that teachers have been covering for canteen staff and cleaners in English schools under Tory government policy, while essential funds are raised by parent donations and “charity” non-uniform days: |
| 'It's dangerous': full chaos of funding cuts in England's schools revealed | 'It's dangerous': full chaos of funding cuts in England's schools revealed |
| Here’s the full text of the prime minister’s speech: | Here’s the full text of the prime minister’s speech: |
| This has been a very productive day for the UK in the sense that the European Council has approved the deal that has been negotiated over the last couple of months and I thank them very much again for their work. | This has been a very productive day for the UK in the sense that the European Council has approved the deal that has been negotiated over the last couple of months and I thank them very much again for their work. |
| I particularly thank Michel Barnier and his team, I thank Jean-Claude Juncker, president of the commission, for all the personal effort that he has put into getting this deal done. | I particularly thank Michel Barnier and his team, I thank Jean-Claude Juncker, president of the commission, for all the personal effort that he has put into getting this deal done. |
| I want to stress that this is a great deal for our country, for the UK. I also believe it’s a very good deal for our friends in the EU. | I want to stress that this is a great deal for our country, for the UK. I also believe it’s a very good deal for our friends in the EU. |
| And what it means is that we in the UK can come out of the EU as one United Kingdom – England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, together. And it means we can decide our future together. We can take back control, as the phrase goes, of our money, our borders, our laws, together. And we will be able to do free trade agreements around the world. | And what it means is that we in the UK can come out of the EU as one United Kingdom – England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, together. And it means we can decide our future together. We can take back control, as the phrase goes, of our money, our borders, our laws, together. And we will be able to do free trade agreements around the world. |
| And we can also build now, after three and a half years, on our relations with our friends and partners in the EU and it will be a very exciting period now, as it were, to get to the positive side of that project; the extraction having been done, the building now begins. | And we can also build now, after three and a half years, on our relations with our friends and partners in the EU and it will be a very exciting period now, as it were, to get to the positive side of that project; the extraction having been done, the building now begins. |
| I am very confident that, when my colleagues in Parliament study this agreement, that they will want to vote for it on Saturday and then in succeeding days. | I am very confident that, when my colleagues in Parliament study this agreement, that they will want to vote for it on Saturday and then in succeeding days. |
| This is our chance in the UK as democrats to get Brexit done and come out on 31 October. | This is our chance in the UK as democrats to get Brexit done and come out on 31 October. |
| This is our chance to focus on our priorities, the people’s priorities: the NHS; putting 20,000 police on the streets; lifting up funding of education across the country; the biggest expansion of the living wage. | This is our chance to focus on our priorities, the people’s priorities: the NHS; putting 20,000 police on the streets; lifting up funding of education across the country; the biggest expansion of the living wage. |
| Those are the things I think the people of our country want us to be focusing on, in addition to Brexit. | Those are the things I think the people of our country want us to be focusing on, in addition to Brexit. |
| We’ve been at this now, as I say, for three and a half years. It hasn’t always been an easy experience for the UK. It’s been long, it’s been painful, it’s been divisive. And now is the moment for us, as a country, to come together. Now is the moment for our parliamentarians to come together and get this thing done. | We’ve been at this now, as I say, for three and a half years. It hasn’t always been an easy experience for the UK. It’s been long, it’s been painful, it’s been divisive. And now is the moment for us, as a country, to come together. Now is the moment for our parliamentarians to come together and get this thing done. |
| And, as I say, to begin building a new and progressive partnership with our EU friends, with whom of course we share so many priorities. | And, as I say, to begin building a new and progressive partnership with our EU friends, with whom of course we share so many priorities. |
| It’s suggested that, without the support of the DUP, his predicament is similar to that of his predecessor, Theresa May. Is he not simply repeating her mistakes? | It’s suggested that, without the support of the DUP, his predicament is similar to that of his predecessor, Theresa May. Is he not simply repeating her mistakes? |
| Johnson replies again that it’s a good deal that MPs should back. He had earlier told MPs he was “very confident” that, when MPs study the Brexit deal, they would want to vote for it. | Johnson replies again that it’s a good deal that MPs should back. He had earlier told MPs he was “very confident” that, when MPs study the Brexit deal, they would want to vote for it. |
| The prime minister declines to say whether he’ll withdraw the whip from Tory MPs who do not vote for the deal. And he avoids a question on whether he’ll restore it to those from whom it was withdrawn last month. | The prime minister declines to say whether he’ll withdraw the whip from Tory MPs who do not vote for the deal. And he avoids a question on whether he’ll restore it to those from whom it was withdrawn last month. |
| Asked how the deal will help heal Brexit divisions within the UK, Johnson says that moving on from the “extraction” process will allow the country to begin working on determining the nature of the relationship with the EU. | Asked how the deal will help heal Brexit divisions within the UK, Johnson says that moving on from the “extraction” process will allow the country to begin working on determining the nature of the relationship with the EU. |
| Sir Nicholas Soames tells me he hopes the deal will lead to healing - in Tory party and beyond: ‘It’s been a very painful time – not just for parliament, but for the country. Families have split. Businesses have split. The country is split, which is why parliament is split’ | Sir Nicholas Soames tells me he hopes the deal will lead to healing - in Tory party and beyond: ‘It’s been a very painful time – not just for parliament, but for the country. Families have split. Businesses have split. The country is split, which is why parliament is split’ |
| The prime minister is saying that tying up the deal allows him to focus on other priorities, including putting 20,000 police officers on the streets. He has, of course, been accused of misleading the public over this policy. | The prime minister is saying that tying up the deal allows him to focus on other priorities, including putting 20,000 police officers on the streets. He has, of course, been accused of misleading the public over this policy. |
| He says Brexit has “been long, it’s been painful and divisive” and says he believes MPs will back it. | He says Brexit has “been long, it’s been painful and divisive” and says he believes MPs will back it. |
| Johnson says he's "very confident" MPs will support his deal on Saturday. "Now is the time for parliamentarians to come together and get this done". | Johnson says he's "very confident" MPs will support his deal on Saturday. "Now is the time for parliamentarians to come together and get this done". |
| PM says there is a 'very good case' to back the deal and 'I don't think there is any case for a delay' | PM says there is a 'very good case' to back the deal and 'I don't think there is any case for a delay' |
| Boris Johnson is starting his press conference, claiming the deal allows the whole of the UK to leave the EU together. And he says it allows the “building” of a future relationship to begin. | Boris Johnson is starting his press conference, claiming the deal allows the whole of the UK to leave the EU together. And he says it allows the “building” of a future relationship to begin. |
| Here is an important point flagged up by the political commentator and broadcaster Steve Richards. | Here is an important point flagged up by the political commentator and broadcaster Steve Richards. |
| Junker says talks on new trade deal would begin on Nov 1st inadvertently reminding us that the thorny bit of Brexit is still to come and exposing myth that leaving on 31st gets ‘Brexit done’ . Trade deal much harder and its trade that splits parties. Brexit has only just begun. | Junker says talks on new trade deal would begin on Nov 1st inadvertently reminding us that the thorny bit of Brexit is still to come and exposing myth that leaving on 31st gets ‘Brexit done’ . Trade deal much harder and its trade that splits parties. Brexit has only just begun. |
| Boris Johnson is about to hold a press conference. | Boris Johnson is about to hold a press conference. |
| But I am finished for the day. My colleague Kevin Rawlinson is taking over. | But I am finished for the day. My colleague Kevin Rawlinson is taking over. |