To get brexit done and get this excellent deal over. The dup arent the only ones not in favour of the, labour say they wont be backing it either. As it stands, we cannot support this deal and will oppose it and parliament on saturday. And with two weeks to go until the uks official departure date the eu says theres no reason for any further delays. Also on the programme. High stakes diplomacy in ankara. The us Vice President announces a deal has been reached with president erdogan for a brief ceasefire in northern syria. Hes the key witness the impeachment inquiry wants to hear from. Today Gordon Sondland answers questions about pressure for ukraine to investigate joe biden. Welcome. Michelle is in washington. Im Christian Fraser here in brussels. The deal with the eu is done. Boris johnson has managed to get an agreement, something many of us thought was impossible. The eu did move, contrary to its own assertions, and to those of many experts and, dare i say it, journalists. But to get there he has had to make some quite severe concessions, ones that he had suggested were unthinkable more detail on what those were in a minute. And now the battle turns to parliament. It all hangs on saturday or what some are calling supersaturday. When the Prime Minister will try and get his deal through parliament. For all the sense of crisis in recent months with prorogation, the suspensions of tory mps, a lost Supreme Court case, all that is history right now. Brexit now simply comes down to the numbers in the commons. The Prime Minister seemed pretty confident that the deal would get through at the weekend. I think that there is a very good case for mps across the house to express the will of the people as we pledged many times to do and get brexit done and as i repeat again, i dont think there is any case for a delay. We should get on and get it done by october the 31st. The Prime Minister wants to make that key parliamentary vote a simple choice this deal or no deal. The europeans were trying to help him out on the front, with Jean Claude Juncker seeming to support that binary choice. We dont think that it is possible to give another prorogation. Iam speaking sorry. You were saying . Clearly its been a long week. Its worth adding of course that its actually up to the europe 27 whether or not to grant that extension. Speaking at a press conference this afternoon, president of the European Council, donald tusk, struck a more poignant note, reminding the british that there would always be a home for them in europe, should they ever change their minds. What i feel today is, frankly speaking, sadness. Because in my heart, i will always be a remainer and i hope that our british friends decide to return one day. Our door is always open. So whats in the deal . Most of it is the same as the one agreed by theresa may last year. The uk will continue to stick by eu rules until the end of 2020, and possibly longer, to allow businesses to adjust. This is whats known as the transition period. The uk will still pay an estimated 39 billion pound divorce bill to the eu to settle its financial obligations. The rights of eu citizens living in the uk, and uk citizens in the eu, will be guaranteed. And then there are the changes most of them around Northern Ireland, which will be aligned to the eus Single Market. The controversial backstop plan to avoid a hard border between ireland and Northern Ireland has been removed. Northern ireland will instead remain a part of the uks customs territory. This means the uk will be able to strike trade deals with other countries in the future. There will be a legal Customs Border between Northern Ireland and the republic of ireland, which stays in the eu and therefore remains part of its Customs Union. But in practice the Customs Border will be between Great Britain and the island of ireland, with goods being checked at points of entry in Northern Ireland. If products are to remain in Northern Ireland then no tariffs will be due. If items are destined for across the border in the republic and would therefore be entering the wider eu market then tariffs are due. A joint eu uk committee will monitor this and the uk will collect tariffs on behalf of the eu. The Northern Ireland assembly, or stormont as it is also known, will get a vote every four years on whether to continue with the new trading arrangements. The decision would be based on a simple majority without the right to veto demanded by the democratic unionist party. Why does the dup matter . The partys support is seen as crucial if the deal is to pass in parliament before the 31st of october deadline and theyre not happy with the latest developments. In a statement they said these proposals are not, in our view, in a statement they said. They added that. I hope all of that gives you a starter for ten i hope all of that gives you a starterfor ten on where i hope all of that gives you a starter for ten on where we are. With me now is our europe editor katya adler. After a ll after all of the ups and downs. I really expected we would be going late into the night. Yet things were done pretty early this morning. Who can see that most . I think i gave the inference that it was Boris Johnson earlier. Is that true . You talked about the eu giving things you said it never would. I think we gave that. Lesson, both sides gave something. We look at the bigger picture, a week ago we said this would never happen. What change . Borisjohnson would never happen. What change . Boris johnson chang. He would never happen. What change . Borisjohnson chang. He seemed to suddenly have come to the conclusion that it suddenly have come to the conclusion thatitis suddenly have come to the conclusion that it is notjust about being seen to negotiate our negotiating but not breaking any red lines, but he needed a deal. In order to try to stop asking for a new brexit extension which he said he will never do. So, he started making the red go pink and some of them pretty much disappeared. So this idea of 0k come and Northern Ireland will remain part of the uk customs territory come after brexit, legally, but in practice, it will be in there with the eu customs code and regulations as well and this is and regulations as well and this is a separation that borisjohnson said that he would never counter had. The eu as also conceded. Dont you remember that after Theresa Mays Brexit bill was turned down by the house of commons three times, Boris Johnson said he wanted to renegotiate. We will never renegotiate. We will never renegotiate it said this will draw every government. But they have reopened that and rewriting parts of it, and they have looked again at this idea of Northern Ireland, and also they are giving a voice to stormont, the power sharing assembly and Northern Ireland as well. The eu has moved but the bottom line . Everybody can say they kept it. For the eu, when it comes to Northern Ireland, they wanted to say they would safeguard the Single Market on the island and safeguard the Northern Ireland peace treaty and thatis Northern Ireland peace treaty and that is what they have done. And for borisjohnson, he that is what they have done. And for Boris Johnson, he is that is what they have done. And for borisjohnson, he is able to say Northern Ireland will leave the Eu Customs Union after brexit. But there have been big concessions. Lets also put some context around what i said ofjean claudejuncker, it seemed to give this rather. He was picked up that maybe he was going to grant an extension if this wasnt bo voted to on saturday but a lot of people say that is not the case. What do you think the true situation is with regards to an extension . Two situations. One thing that he said it one thing i think what will happen, asJean Claude Juncker spoke to a number of genderless and different ways about an extension, and one of them he was very clear he said no there will be no extension. But that is not had dissension. A journalist. That is made by the eu national leaders, the 27 leaders in their it is not Jean Claude Juncker his to 27 leaders in their it is not jean claudejuncker his to make lots of it is all of their interest to make focused on mps to why all of them have been very coy today about them have been very coy today about the idea of an extension because they dont want the house or commerce to get the feeling this could just go on forever and have loads of extensions. These leaders are fed up as so many of our viewers in the United Kingdom whojust are fed up as so many of our viewers in the United Kingdom who just say we had enough of the Brexit Process. But all this time alone, the eu wa nted but all this time alone, the eu wanted to avoid a no deal but do not imagine that at this stage, come this end of the month, the ego says no extension for some if the house of commons of boats down this second brexit deal as they did with theresa may come and we believe that as a way for you leaders, there is a chance there could be a general election and a second referendum or a referendum on the deal, these leaders are not going to say no. However coy they may want to appear. No deal is definitely worse case scenario. Get to see you. Thank you. Do you get to sleep now . |j scenario. Get to see you. Thank you. Do you get to sleep now . I am com pletely do you get to sleep now . I am completely awake. Get to have you with us. The drama has been where you are. But now it is shifting to westminster. Joining us now from the central lobby in the palace of westminster is our chief political correspondent, vicki young. Some good news for the Prime Minister vicki in the shape of some of the 21 tory rebels the mps who left the party over its no deal policy saying they will vote for the deak. Not all of them. What all of these cases, it is not one group, one defined group of mps acting one way. I spoke to several of them today. They have had briefings from downing street and many of them say they are willing to back a deal, do not forget m ost willing to back a deal, do not forget most of them back theresa may three times, they will continue to do so because what they are worried about is a no deal scenario. However, it is not all of them. There will be some who are pushing for another referendum, at least three of them will not affect the deal and there are others who are just extremely upset about the way this is been handled. They didnt leave the tory party, they were thrown out for defying the government because they want to stop no deal. One of them said the government has a lot of work to do with them. And that is not the only group. The dup as well. A lot of tories to think they cannot get this over the line. I cannot get this deal back and they dont have the dup. Talks are still going on there andi dup. Talks are still going on there and i think when everybody can say is unlike when theresa may brought her deal to the house of commons, everybody knew she was going to lose, just a matter how much it by force of that is not the case now. I saw a minister who said we are really close. They are banking on a number of labour mps backing this deal on saturday. Anybody listening to that would be rightly biting their fingernails. To that would be rightly biting theirfingernails. Yeah to that would be rightly biting their fingernails. Yeah i just to that would be rightly biting theirfingernails. Yeah ijust watch borisjohnson here theirfingernails. Yeah ijust watch Boris Johnson here in theirfingernails. Yeah ijust watch borisjohnson here in the last hour beaming hugely optimistic that he will get this deal to do. Why . Why does he think that what will have and saturday he went both ways . He went both ways. I think the point is that people in downing street have said for months that Boris Johnson is an optimist, and they think people do get swept along with that, a lot of the time people next to him have been much more fearful about getting a deal, now course it will be pretty happy at the moment, people said he couldnt get the Withdrawal Agreement reopened, they said he couldnt get any changes to the backstop, though things have been achieved. Rather than this person gunning for no deal, he can stand there and say look, i have got a deal, and this is parliaments lasse jensen that a deal, and this is parliaments lassejensen that is how downing street are selling this, saying here is on saturday a very clear path for parliament after three and half yea Rs Parliament after three and half years to vote for a deal. Parliaments last years to vote for a deal. Pa rliaments last chance. Years to vote for a deal. Parliaments last chance. And may be lead by october 31. The other path is with the branches and you dont know where that is going to go forth of that is what they have been saying to other mps and what they saying to other mps and what they say to labour mps is low, we can offer you things including employment rights, expecting something on that soon to try and persuade them again, the labour mps and brexit every guest to come across and finally get this over the line. It is not there yet of course. Still conservatives who have deep reservations about all of this. But do not forget the difference it is the message that comes down foster sigh when previous minister who resigned over theresa may deal saying the differences it is Boris Johnson, it is the Vote Leave Team now who have negotiated this is the mess we are going to get. The best we are going to get. Thank you, vicki. With me now is rtes europe editor, tony connolly. Have you spoke to the irish team . Yes. A few times. I think they are related to but you can hear from that News Conference earlier that ireland give his fall throated endorsement of this deal and in turn, the European Council and eu leaders have taken their lead from ireland and there was notable that donatella said that nobody wanted to put ireland and the pressure. This is clear evidence that compromise has been made. Notable that donald tusk said. Something in a chemistry between borisjohnson and the Lilley Leo Varadkar that seem to work in the past few weeks that shifted the dial and brought about a compromise that seems to have managed to reconcile all of these and reconcilable things. What about the dup . We heard from nigel dodds tonight, he says johnson the dup . We heard from nigel dodds tonight, he sastohnson has given way too much and we cannot support this in the reason he gave so much was the bent act, which demands an extension. It meant that he had no option. Because of the bent act. Is that true . It certainly meant that the eu had less to lose if things didnt go well this week. They could have afforded to let this run for they could have afforded to let this runfora they could have afforded to let this run for a week or two but if you look at the parameters of what has shaped the Brexit Process the past three years, we are talking about the same issues, how do you avoid the same issues, how do you avoid the hard water on the island of ireland when the uk has the Customs Union. The hard embroidery. If it was in this deal, it would be something similar to theresa mays tale. This happens to be a merger both and i think a key moment was that when Boris Johnson both and i think a key moment was that when borisjohnson realised that when borisjohnson realised that his initial proposals which would have have partial alignments on agriculturalfood would have have partial alignments on agricultural food product was still a custom board on the island of ireland, and i do a lot of hostility not just from of ireland, and i do a lot of hostility notjust from ireland but other member states. And i think he realised he was going to have to ta ke realised he was going to have to take a stride towards the eu side and have that customs arrangement on the i received, but heavily mitigated by exemptions and facilitation. Consent with a huge issue, a consent mechanism for Northern Ireland. Important for all parties in smaller parties as well, but just a focus parties in smaller parties as well, butjust a focus on the dup because a lot of people say why did they dig them so hard, from their perspective, this goes right to the heart of unionism . The fear that the pool will be towards europe and away from Great Britain. That is always meant the dup position fossum and also the average government when the backstop initially took shape, to resent say no apartment minister could accept this and a shot as a constitutional threat. Theresa may said no Prime Minister can accept this. Nothing in this that threatens the integrity of Northern Ireland. It is simply a pragmatic way to manage customs checks to avoid a hard water. That is the point borisjohnson will be making next days. Yes. A pragmatic solution. Jean Claude Juncker. When where consent is a bacon and there is a much more prominent role thought that a hard border. It is not a beach of the dup want in front of the dup essentially wanted a veto on entering this proposal. Now there isa on entering this proposal. Now there is a mechanism to say whether you wa nt to is a mechanism to say whether you want to leave it or stay in command that mechanism is a simple majority, not a veto for any party. I think the sense is that clearly in the past two years, a totality, or a plurality of voices in Northern Ireland, perhaps not you need the business sector and manufacturing sector, been faction sector wanted to make sure there were flea flowing trade relations between Northern Ireland in the custom board had to be removed. And the fashion sector wanted to make sure there was a free flowing trade. Sector wanted to make sure there was a freeflowing trade. Then next box option. Thank you. So theres discontent in the uk but it seems borisjohnsons attempts to woo the eu have been working. To tell me more about how hes been received in brussels ive been speaking to Arturs Krisjanis karins, the Prime Minister of latvia. Prime minister, thank you for joining us. I couldnt help but notice Boris Johnson came joining us. I couldnt help but notice borisjohnson came into the room this afternoon, a lot of clapping and high fiving. Was that because there was relief in the room that a deal had been done orjust because this was his first European Council some equipment it is a bit of everything. There is relief that looks like we do have a deal and we all endorse it. Without anybody being opposed. But also among the heads of comradery when new people come into the council room, the room is very happy. We have five new people and the council room, including borisjohnson. People and the council room, including Boris Johnson. It people and the council room, including borisjohnson. It is a lwa ys including borisjohnson. It is always pleasurable when somebody else comes in. What did he say to you . He basically said that in his view, it is a good deal, and he would recommend that we endorse it that deal. They talk about the future concerning the future in the sense that it paves the way when did he talk about the future . The relationship for the eu and uk. He was very upbeat. He said it was important that we have a strong relationship. He wants to make sure we have a strong future relationship. He was very upbeat. Did he try and hurt anybody in the room to rule out a further extension . Did he try and persuade anybody in the room. There was no talk of an extension. The talk that he was there is a deal, do we like the deal, do we accept the deal or not accepted. He came in, he made the suggestion, he went out, we discussed it and asked mr barnier. There were various questions about about that. When all the questions we re about that. When all the questions were asked, everybody was happy. We endorse the deal. The reason i ask, you may or may not know thatjon hi junker seem to be suggesting that he didnt want to talk about prolongation. Jean Claude Juncker seem prolongation. Jean Claude Juncker seem to be. We couldnt decide if he was willing it out. I really cant comment on whatJean Claude Juncker said. But we had a very. One of the simplest actions that we had. Very clear deal put on the table. And a yes or no do we like it. And we said yes we think it is a good deal. Youll know that if there is not a deal agreed in the house of commons on saturday, legislation kicks in which required the Prime Minister to come and ask for another extension. How do you think, did you discuss it . What do you think the 27 leaders will think about that . that happens, then we would have to discuss that. We have not discussed that. All kinds of potential what ifs in any circumstances. We really. It is sort of a pointless exercise. Right now, it is a very simple for one situation. In this whole saga. A deal has been negotiated, partially renegotiated by midyear barnier and Boris Johnson. Michel barnier. The council of georgia. Now it is up to the house of commons and the house of lords to say what their view is. Yes or no. We have said yes. One perspective from europe. Labour Leaderjeremy Corbyn laid out his partys objections to the deal. This is a day when the Prime Minister seems to have made a deal with the European Union, which does not give us the complete freedom of movement between britain and Northern Ireland, because it creates a Customs Union down the irish sea, and secondly, it does nothing to do with all the concerns we raised during theresa mays premiership about rights and protections, and we believe the deal proposed is heading britain in the direction of a deregulated society to sell off National Assets to american corporations. So as it stands, we cannot support this deal and will oppose in parliament on saturday. And also, it is unclear if he has the support of his allies in the dup or indeed many of his allies on his own backbenches. Jeremy corbyn there, who was on my training. Who was on my training. I asked lambert if they would be prepared to negotiate for a third time withjeremy corbyn and he said that in his view, the deal would not change very much. They could put more things in the political declaration part of the deal, but there Withdrawal Agreement was as sad as it could be and when you reopen and be prepared to every offer key to that vote passing will be the labour mps. We contacted every single one of these politicians today to ask them what they might do bear in mind they all signed a letter last week asking the eu27 and the uk government to work day and night to agree a deal. Not one of them took us up on the offer, and in fact one said he didnt want to comment until hed made a decision about how to vote suggesting their support is by no means guaranteed. I looked at the number today, 320 as a majority on saturday. The dup are not voting, there are some who say he would need probably as many as 15 labour mps to cross the aisle. Not impossible. But it will be really tight on saturday. So much at stake for borisjohnson because if he doesnt get a deal, if there is no vote, if there is not a vote for no deal, then he is obliged under the bed act to request an extension politically. The bin the last thing he wanted to im curious how theresa may is feeling right now to of this. She got to the stage, only to then have her dell rejected in parliament. Boris johnson to then have her dell rejected in parliament. Borisjohnson now is just days away from finding out whether he has gone further than she was able to, or whether he faces a similardie limited and was able to, or whether he faces a similar die limited and when she did. Yes, a lot of people making their point today, 90 of the still is the same noncitizen rights in the money. And keeping the border open another island but a crucial difference and that is that the backstop they could not vote for in the house of commons, voted down three times, that is been taken out and replace with this tool customs record of them. It allows the uk as a whole to leave but also he where openin a whole to leave but also he where open in order in that is the crucial difference as far as borisjohnson would be concerned. Certainly true. Now to the other major story of the day. The us Vice President and secretary of state have Just Announced that a deal has been reached with president erodgan for a 120 hour pause in military operations in northern syria. In that time the us will facilitate the withdrawal of ypg kurdish fighters from the so called safe zones on the border. It comes after meetings between the officials in ankara today. Today, i am today, iam proud today, i am proud to report thanks to the strong leadership of President Donald Trump and a strong relationship between president erdogan and turkey, and the United States of america, that today the United States and turkey have agreed toa United States and turkey have agreed to a cease fire in syria. Weve also had very strict from donald trump about this. At various tweets from donald trump. This agreement comes after President Trump said yesterday that the situation in syria was a regional problem. Right before we came on air as the news was breaking i spoke with democratic congressman seth moulton, who served as a us marine and did four tours in iraq. The president is sweet and good news coming out of turkey, but my question is has the damage already been done now after nine days of this offensive . The damage is absolutely been done. Once again, the president is celebrating trying to undoa the president is celebrating trying to undo a problem that he has created. He did this with iran, he did it with north korea, and now it is after a disaster or cessation to withdraw our troops from syria with no plan whatsoever. We dont know all the details of what the secretary of state and Vice President have secured, of course what will matter is what will happen on the ground, but make no mistake, this is a problem of trump bus up his own administration but we are in this place to begin with. Of toms making. You served in the military and served during the iraq war. Explain to us what it means to an ally when essentially they have been abandoned the way the kurds have been by the americans. Been abandoned the way the kurds have been by the americanslj been abandoned the way the kurds have been by the americans. I spent a lot of time on the ground in iraq, working closely with a range of allies. With iraq is. Who we asked to put their lives on the line, not just for their country but ours. And the reason they were willing to do thatis the reason they were willing to do that is because we said we have got your back. In the same way that they had our backs. We both put our lives in each others hands, and that meant that if they ever got in trouble, we would help them. And thatis trouble, we would help them. And that is when the case with the me in many of the iraqis i started with. Several of whom ive got into the us because they and their families were threatened. Their lives or threatens. And the only way to keep them safe was to bring them to america. Those are the extents to which americans are willing to go to protect our allies on the ground. What the president doesnt understand any of this. He had just said you are abandoned, we dont have your back, our policy is the United States government should be the line that general matus, who became secretary matus commandant resigned under trump when he was asked to make the same withdrawal from syria, the line he used when he was my Division Commander which was no better friend no was my Division Commander which was no betterfriend no worse was my Division Commander which was no better friend no worse enemy in the United States of america. That should be our policy and everybody in the welsh and know in front of our ally should know it in our nations or trust us and our enemy should know. Everybody should know it. Which brings me to this letter that donald trump sent to president erdogan, let me read you a section. Lets work out a good deal, you dont want to be responsible for slaughtering thousands of people come i dont want to be responsible for destroying the turkish economy, andi for destroying the turkish economy, and i will. What did you make of that letter from the us and i will. What did you make of that letterfrom the us president and i will. What did you make of that letter from the us president to turkey . It is embarrassing. To be honest. I will not to be able to defend my country here but it is absolutely embarrassing. I would like to defend. An average high school to correct a more effective later than that. Unfortunately, this is the challenge that we all have in america, it was such a ineffective commander in chief locked up at the Important Message for anybody in the well to know is that our system of government is notjust about well to know is that our system of government is not just about the president. We have through the halls of power in washington, congress, the executive, the president and the judicial branch. The congress is united in the opposition in a very bipartisan basis of what the president has done here. Interesting that 24 that 2a hours ago, so many people we re that 2a hours ago, so many people were talking about how the president was saying it was a problem far away and now here we are looking at basically the us and working to try and get the curtis forces out of the suppose that safe zone. The kurdish forces. All of this cease fire led to a tweet from donald trump, let me read, he hails the deal saying. In one of his other tweets he said this deal could never have been made three days ago and that president had again needed to do what he needed to do. Now that the kurds are much more inclined to do what they need to do. Hes also gone on to say that sanctions wont now be necessary on turkey. Given they lost a vote yesterday, 2 i necessary on turkey. Given they lost a vote yesterday, 2 1 in the house, people opposed to what President Trump had done, it does describe someone trump had done, it does describe someone who is relieved tonight and maybe snatching victory from the jaws of defeat because that tweet suggests that this was all one great strategy. And as we know, there was little strategy behind it, and lots of people on all sides have been making that point over the last week. Shall we turn back to brexit . We can get some views from westminster. With us now, andrew bridgen, who is a key member of the european search group. Thanks for sparing us some time. Let me put to you what steve baker tweeted today. He said, that they will vote for this agreement after dealing with a limited remaining concerns. What are those limited remaining concerns . Stephen spoke to me later on this afternoon. He said he had just one outstanding concern with the new deal, and he expected that to be resolved later this evening. He was speaking to number ten. I think what we do know is that borisjohnson, the Prime Minister, has confounded his critics. He has managed to reopen their Withdrawal Agreement that everybody said you cannot reopen. Hes got rid of the despised backstop trap which was in the original Withdrawal Agreement. And hes changed the political declaration from close regulatory alignment to one of a more straightforward free trade agreement. It looks like brexit. It smells like brexit. This is brexit. And the more i hear about this deal the more inclined i am to support it. But you were one of those who said you would not vote for one of these deals until the dup were on these deals until the dup were on the side. Quite clearly they are not onside. And they are going to make life very difficult for the Prime Minister. I said without the dup supporting the measures affecting Northern Ireland it made it more difficult for us to support the deal. However, weve got to look at what is in the best interests of the whole of the uk. The public appetite now is to get brexit sorted. I think we can bring our country back together and solve the divisions. But we cant do it until we deliver on the mandate we have. The time is now. I think in the past the dups voice has often been ulster says no, but i think this time it needs to be Northern Ireland says yes and we need to move forward. It sounds like you are on board with this deal, that you will give it your support, but any steal of how things might go this saturday . I think it is going to be very close but ill give you some inside information. Any steer. Several labour front bench spokesman, who will remain nameless, confided in me this morning. This was before Jean Claude Juncker declared that the choice was deal or no deal because he wouldnt authorise an extension to article 50. These labour spokesmen said to me, we will be whips to vote against this deal, but, my goodness, i do hope you get it through because we need it. Can you give us an insight into the waiting operation. Someone said it might bea waiting operation. Someone said it might be a medieval waiting operation, thumb screws out, and everything. Presumably, they are going to try and entice the 21 rebels back. Whipping operation. I havent had any of those conversations or heard any collea g u es conversations or heard any colleagues who have had those conversations. Colleagues need to reflect on the deal. As long as there is no devil in the detail which comes out tomorrow, i think i can support the Prime Ministers position, and i think its time. And i think all mps are going to come under huge pressure from their constituents who actually want this matter resolved so we can move on from brexit and get back to debating the bread and butter issues that affect peoples lives on a daily basis, the nhs, schools, dealing with this Violent Crime epidemic we have got in london. We need to get moving. Even the eu now are com pletely moving. Even the eu now are completely fatigued with this and they accept we are leaving and they wa nt to they accept we are leaving and they want to move on. Good of you to spare us want to move on. Good of you to spare us time this evening. Thanks very much for your time. As youve heard, one of the main Sticking Point over the brexit deal has been the border between Northern Ireland and the republic. All sides want to avoid the return toa all sides want to avoid the return to a hard border with checks and infrastructure which could be targeted by paramilitary groups. Coming up with a solution to this a cce pta ble coming up with a solution to this acceptable to all sides has been very challenging. Our ireland correspondence, emma vardy, has this report. Ireland correspondent. Like a patchwork quilt, belfast is imprinted with reminders of Northern Irelands dual identity. While nationalists have fought for closer ties to the eu, unionist politicians have pulled the other way. Todays deal divides these communities again. I think its ridiculous that the Unionist Community is holding everybody to ransom. Theyjust dont think of anybody but themselves. Anything catholics like, they automatically are against it it doesnt matter what it is. In unionist areas of the city, its viewed very differently. For those who identify as british, the arrangements for trade in the brexit deal strike at something deeper a fear that closer alignment with ireland and the eu undermines Northern Irelands very place in the United Kingdom itself. Nice to meet you. Its at the back of their minds. No matter what it looks like, theres always that fear the enemies are to the south of them, the enemies are to the east of them, the enemies are right at the heart of the Northern Ireland assembly. And when you live in that, its almost like a permanent paranoia when you live with that all the time, you tend not to see rainbows, you just see thunder. The new deal could end three years of uncertainty for Northern Irelands businesses. Companies have often found themselves caught in the middle amidst the bitter political divide. I am proud to be british, but im running a business. John mccann runs one of many farming and Food Companies that believe if this brexit deal fails, their supply chain will no longer work. My staff are demoralised, we cant plan for the future. The dup argue theyre digging in very hard against this deal to protect business for Northern Ireland. The dup. Are certainly not helping us. The brexit deal requires Northern Ireland to stay in sync with some eu rules to avoid checks on the border. It gives stormont a vote on whether these arrangements should continue. But the assembly hasnt sat for more than two and a half years, since power sharing collapsed a symbol itself of Northern Irelands irreconcilable divides. Emma vardy, bbc news, belfast. John bruton was the Prime Minister of Northern Ireland just before the good friday agreement was signed. He was deeply involved in it. He knows all of the challenges and he joins me from his home. Good to have you with us this evening. Do you think this agreement, if you have seen it, respects everything that was in the belfast agreement . There is a fundamental contradiction between brexit itself and the belfast agreement. Because the belfast agreement. Because the belfast agreement is all about convergence between north and southern ireland. But also convergence between ireland and britain within the wider context of the European Union. If you think of the European Union. If you think of the European Union. If you think of the dates, the customs code of the eu was agreed in 1992. The Single Market launched in 1993. The good friday agreement in 1998. One was built on the other. If there hadnt been a Single Market there probably would never have been a good friday agreement. Inaudible. And inaudible and what we are trying to do now is put together some not necessarily imperfect way of mitigating the damage. Inaudible can we talk about the dup . Today they have been saying that this tramples all across the agreement. They want to veto it. They want community majorities in terms of the veto. So a veto for the Unionist Community and a veto for the nationalist community. They havent got that, it would be a single majority within stormont. Does that create a rolling instability . So every four year stormont has to get to grips with that. Do you foresee problems there . I think. Inaudible is consent. Inaudible im really sorry, this is a very bad line and we can barely hear you, which is a shame because we really wa nted which is a shame because we really wanted to hear your thoughts. The former irish taoiseach there. He is one of the key witnesses in the impeachment enquiry, and he is one of the central figures who worked with meir giuliani as he tried to get ukrainian officials to investigate joe get ukrainian officials to investigatejoe biden. It is this Text Exchange which many will be questioning when bill taylor said, ithink will be questioning when bill taylor said, i think its crazy to withhold Security Assistance for help with a political campaign. Sondland replied hours later for more on what we are hearing from him today we are joined by the bbcs chris butler. Any surprises . What have we been learning . This is taking place behind closed doors. We have a lengthy preprepared statement which has come from sondland and within it you can start to see what he is saying about all of this. First of all, he makes Crystal Clear that it was President Trumps decision to get giuliani involved in all of this. Firstly he said he was concerned the ukraine was going to fall through with tackling corruption dealing with reforms in the country, and rather than turn to the country, and rather than turn to the state department, which sondland admits then that he and other officials thought was the wise thing to do, the president said lets get giuliani involved and get him as one of the key people within this. This isa of the key people within this. This is a big issue in all of this because, frankly, it seems that giuliani was pushing along with President Trump to try to get an investigation into joe biden, President Trump to try to get an investigation intojoe biden, who, of course, is potentially mr chums political rival in the 2020 election. We thought we would be talking about impeachment today and this testimony, but there was also the announcement of where the g7 summit will be held. Its coming to the us next year. Donald trump already floated the idea that potentially one of his resorts could hold it. Now it seems itll be in miami. This is essentially President Trump setting the g7 summit with a gathering of World Leaders in one of his own resorts. And you can imagine there will be criticism about that. When the white house chief of staff came out and said there would be criticism and scepticism, but his argument is that it is the best place to resort, in fact, he said it was almost as if this resort was built to hold an event like this. Ill go through some of the things there including cabana. And should it interest ambassadors, a 120 foot water slide thank you so much cani water slide thank you so much can i come . That sounds like fun we will save a place on the slide for you. Absolutely. All of this talk about the monuments clause, which is the idea of a president profiting off the presidency, and he wades straight into it, almost tempting those who are leading an impeachment enquiry at the moment. Its almost as if he doesnt care he must surely know what the reaction to that would be, hosting a g7 event at one of his hotels but there we are. If mrjohnsons deal passes through the commons on saturday, and that is a major if, britain would be free to start striking trade deals around the world. The pm has made comment on his desires to get cracking on with that. His first looking at the us. He is first looking at the us. When he and donald trump met, they both talked about the prospects of getting something done. The us president even promising to deliver a magnificent us uk trade deal after brexit. The reality is that any trade agreement would have to be approved by congress and democrats and pretty consistently said no trade agreement would get through if the uks exit from the eu endangered the uks exit from the eu endangered the irish peace deal, even introducing a resolution of proposing a hard border on the island of ireland. Earlier i spoke to Brendan Boyle and i asked him for his reaction to news of the deal. This is encouraging. I am heartened that the new uk Prime Minister and eu leaders were able to reach a new Withdrawal Agreement. I know that there still has to be a vote of the Uk Parliament on saturday. I suppose this will be the fourth vote will be at this time in a different Withdrawal Agreement. I really am quite pleased that this agreement does achieve some of the most important principles to those of us here on capitol hill who care and have been following this issue. So fari have been following this issue. So far i think it is a good, fair agreement for everybody, and i hope that saturday we see a positive vote. It sounds like you feel confident that the deal, as things stand on the table, it does add here, in principle, to the good friday agreement, which was crucial to you . Thats right. That certainly does appear to be the case, that it would avoid the reconstruction of a ha rd would avoid the reconstruction of a hard border on the island of ireland, which concerns so many of us ireland, which concerns so many of us from dublin, to brussels, to washington, to many places across the world. That does appear to have really been upheld in this agreement. And i think it does so in agreement. And i think it does so in a way that really is reasonable and fairto all a way that really is reasonable and fair to all sides. In the end, there is only so much you can really fudge this without coming to the overall conclusion, that certain hard decisions have to be made, if you we re decisions have to be made, if you were going to avoid that hard border. It sounds like you would certainly urge the dup to consider voting for this deal on saturday. Well, im not going to give any advice to any fellow elected official, i would just say that i hope that at long last this is the agreement that passes the Uk Parliament. I think that it is a very good and fair agreement. It will enable those who want to push forward with brexit to be able to do that. And at the same time ensure that. And at the same time ensure that the very hard fought gains of the good friday agreement, which has meant so much to many people, not just on the island of ireland, but in the rest of the uk, on the continent of europe, and here in the United States, its time now to make sure that we are able to move forward and make sure that those gains are not given up. You wouldnt object to a trade deal between the us and the uk if this agreement, as it stands, is the one that goes forward . It stands, is the one that goes forward . I wouldnt. This really does take care of the concerns that so many of us had. Keep in mind, as weve said all along, i think as we move forward with the prospective us uk trade agreement, there will be other issues which will need to be worked out. I think there are concerns on both sides. That said, though, the concern around the good friday agreement would obviously be removed. That obstacle would be removed. That obstacle would be removed. And we could press forward with other things. That isnt insignificant. He said one of the key obstacles has been removed. Borisjohnson, all along, key obstacles has been removed. Boris johnson, all along, has key obstacles has been removed. Borisjohnson, all along, has said the purpose of a hard brexit is to free up the uk economy to more competition, and that means agreeing new trade deals, as you just heard there, at least from this congress ands perspective, it can move ahead. Congressmans perspective. You would think borisjohnson would put foot to the metal. Hed want to get something agreed with donald trump before 2020. And that would be a message to those who like the idea of no deal, that it is a better idea to get a negotiating withdrawal with the eu. With me now is brussels correspondent for the guardian, jennifer rankin. You have been busy meeting your deadlines this evening. What was your big takeaway . That the deal is done. We did not expect that one week ago. Leo varadkar and Boris Johnson had a meeting recently, they saw a pathway to a possible deal, but it looks like itll be it would have been very difficult. But seven days later it has been done. And also what the eu said could not be done, the opening of the withdrawal. So much has happened to get a deal across the line. |j withdrawal. So much has happened to get a deal across the line. I know you have been talking to various people coming out of the room about what they think about an extension. I was getting different messages from different people, how about you . JeanClaude Juncker caused a lot of attention when he said he was ruling out any extension. I think that was helpful for number ten. It plays into their line that it is vote for this deal or it is no deal. On the other hand, other leaders were much more circumspect. Angela merkel was saying a little while ago, well, we didnt talk much about extension today, eu leaders hadnt talked much about it, they are going to wait and see what happens in the commons on saturday, she said we wont run through all of the possible options. And donald tusk very much on a similar line saying we will cross that bridge if and when we come to it and then we will discuss. I think in reality, the eu do not want a no deal. If there is another political crisis in there is another political crisis in the uk ora there is another political crisis in the uk or a deepening of the political crisis and the brexit deal is voted down i cant imagine anybody would rule out an extension. Interesting. Jean Claude Juncker can say what he wants. But really the power is within the room of the 27 leaders because they will decide whether there is an extension. You would only need a veto from one of them. Absolutely, it only takes one member state to veto and thats why weve heard all of these rumours about is Boris Johnson weve heard all of these rumours about is borisjohnson going to ask poland to cast their veto. But i think it is highly improbable that either of these countries would act in that kind of way. It isnt for any gainfortheir in that kind of way. It isnt for any gain for their own interest, but simply to help out the uk. But that is getting into hypotheticals now. Although maybe in a few days, in one weeks time, we could be talking about this question of extension with so much uncertainty. One final thought, if it did pass the house of commons on saturday, that really is the final hurdle to the uk leaving the final hurdle to the uk leaving the European Union. Because i spoke to parliamentarians from strasbourg today, i spoke to people from eu council, they are very happy with the deal, they can sign it off reasonably quickly, maybe even by october the 31st, and ratify it. It really is dependent on the Uk Parliament. Thats right, the eu side are confident in their procedures although the Eu Parliament would still have to give it their consent. I think they are on board. Michel barnier has been consulting them all the way through so there should not be any surprises in store for them. If parliament votes for this deal on saturday things could lead very quickly to october the 31st. Thank you for your thoughts this evening. One of the most extraordinary things today was borisjohnson going most extraordinary things today was Boris Johnson going into most extraordinary things today was borisjohnson going into the room of 27 leaders. Yes, it was his first eu summit, there was a lot of high fives and backslapping, there was even some applause. Part of that was because it was his first summit, and pa rt because it was his first summit, and part of it no doubt was because they we re part of it no doubt was because they were relieved. He had been driving a ha rd were relieved. He had been driving a hard line, a hard bargainfrom were relieved. He had been driving a hard line, a hard bargain from the be from the beginning. And they think they have a chance of a deal this evening. When he sat down he said its very nice to be here, this is my first eu council summit, and hopefully itll be my last. Chuckles when i look back over this week, it is astonishing where we are. We said at the beginning that if there was going to be a deal it would be very last minute. Certainly thats been the case. All of that will pale into comparison by what we are it suspecting on saturday. Nobody at this deal knows whether it will get through parliament. Nobody really knows. But the moment of progress and a breakthrough was definitely the meeting between borisjohnson and leo varadkar r. David davies said right at the beginning of this process, the uks brexit secretary at the time, you are putting the cart before the horse, you cannot solve the border issue in ireland until you know what the future relationship is going to be with ireland. In a way this is what this deal has done. It is looking to the future razzmatazz looking to the future razzmatazz looking to the divorce. And i think probably david davies was right on that. Probably david davies was right on that. It probably david davies was right on that. It is looking to the future, looking to the divorce. When push came to shove, the eu did move, and Boris Johnson will push came to shove, the eu did move, and borisjohnson will be able to point to that in the house of commons and claim that as a victory, that they did open the Withdrawal Agreement, they did give him a deal by the 17th, and they did take the backstop out of it. There are certainly some feathers in his cap. But he has an enormous job on certainly some feathers in his cap. But he has an enormousjob on his hands on saturday. We will be there on the green to see what happens. Of course, now the drama shifts from where you are in brussels to westminster. Much more next week. Thanks for watching. From me in washington, goodbye. There is some dry weather in the forecast, not over the next few days, but looking ahead to the start of next week this is High Pressure extending itself across the british isles. Most of us will get a couple of days fine weather. Feeling cooler than it has done, may be some fog patches and a touch of frost overnight. Right now low pressure is in control. Not everyone has seen showers today. A lot of them over the western side of the uk, in particular. This is how close low pressure is. In fact, more of these showers as we go through tonight and into tomorrow will push in across the uk. They will be well more distributed today, going into areas which have missed out today. Showers will be heavy over the south of the uk. Winds will also be gusty. Overnight temperatures around six to 9 degrees. Heavy showers down to central and eastern parts of england to start the day tomorrow, feeding off into the north sea, then there is a drier, brighter spell. Showers lingering around northern scotland. Not many showers elsewhere in scotland and Northern Ireland where there are lighter winds. Gusty winds with showers packing in in the afternoon to wales and south west england. Temperatures mainly around 12 to 1a degrees. A little bit cooler than it has been today. Here is how we are setting up. Low pressure moving right across us into the north sea. A spell of rain heading south through scotland, may be into parts of Northern Ireland and northern england, of Northern Ireland and northern england, some showers elsewhere with some sunshine, a cool wind developing, especially over northern scotland, bringing temperatures down here. Generally winds easing a touch for many as we go into the weekend and low pressure becomes less deep and heads into the north sea. More of us feeling that northerly breeze on sunday. Itll feel cooler as low pressure heads into the north sea, you are closer to that in eastern scotland and North Eastern england, which is where most of sundays showers will be. Elsewhere, looking drier, lots of cloud around, but some bright and sunny spells. That area of High Pressure is how we start next week. So it is going to be dry for a couple of days for most of us. Some fog patches around. You may see a touch of frost overnight. A rather more settled picture for a time before it looks like low pressure revisits us later in the week. Im Christian Fraser at the european summit in brussels where a new brexit deal has been agreed between the uk and the eu. For us in the uk, and means that we can deliver a real it means that we can come out of the European Union as one united england and it means we can decide every future together. What i feel today is, frankly speaking, sadness. Because in my heart i will always be a remainer, and i hope that our british friends decide to return one day. 0ur door will always be open
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