EU leaders accept new Brexit deal

The leaders are meeting at a summit of the European Council and have given the go-ahead to the deal, which involves changes to measures concerning Northern Ireland and tweaks to the Political Declaration on the future relationship.

Nothing has changed with regard to citizens’ rights.

The deal will now go to the British MPs who will be sitting exceptionally on Saturday to debate it (the House of Commons does not usually sit on Fridays apart from occasionally to debate private members’ bills).

The leaders gave no view, for or against, the possibility of an extension if the MPs do not agree to it.

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, speaking in Brussels to reporters after meeting with UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, however insisted the deal “has to” be approved by the MPs and “there will be no prolongation”.

“We have concluded a deal and so there is not an argument for further delay – it has to be done now,” he said.