THE Brexit deal has been branded a "farce" after MPs were given just a few hours to debate and scrutinise its content.
The crucial vote will take place at 2.30pm today before the bill moves to the House of Lords for approval – meaning the ongoing House of Commons debate can last no more than five hours.
MPs across the divide criticised the time frame – but with the all-important European Research Group faction of Conservative MPs opting to back it, any opposition will almost certainly be squashed by Boris' huge majority.
You can follow all the action from the House of Commons today here, live on this page, via the live blog below or by watching the live video above…
- Catriona Graffius
ED DAVEY FUMES AT 'BAD' BREXIT DEAL AND VOWS LIB DEMS WILL VOTE AGAINST BILL TONIGHT
Ed Davey has branded the PM's Brexit deal 'lousy' and vowed that Liberal Democrat MPs will vote against it tonight.
Speaking to the Commons, the Lib Dem leader said: "This deal will make British people poorer and less safe.
"It's not really a trade deal at all, it's a lack of a trade deal.
"We were told leaving the EU would cut red tape but this deal represents te biggest increase in red tape."
Mr Davey said Lib Dems have been left "no choice but to vote against this deal tonight".
- Catriona Graffius
LABOUR'S HILARY BENN WELCOMES 'ABSENCE OF TARIFFS'
Chair of the Brexit committee Labour's Hilary Benn has welcomed the "absence of tariffs" in the Brexit deal alongside the level playing field and security provisions in the agreement.
While the Leeds Central MP said trade will not be frictionless adding "it will impose checks and costs on British businesses", he said he will back the deal.
- Catriona Graffius
BILL CASH PAYS TRIBUTE TO 'OUR DEMOCRACY' IN HISTORIC DEAL
Tory MP for Stone and key Brexiteer Sir Bill Cash paid a "profound tribute to our democracy" after the historic post-Brexit deal.
Speaking to the House of Commons, he said: "In these historic days as we regain our freedom and our independence, I pay a profound tribute to our democracy but above all to our voters in the referendum and the election last December and of course to our Prime Minister who against all the odds led us out of parliamentary paralysis last year to victory, delivering us from 48 years of subjugation and European court jurisdiction, regaining our sovereignty."
In a flourish of rhetoric, Sir Bill told MPs that Boris Johnson, like Alexander the Great, had "cut the Gordian knot".
He added: "Churchill and Margaret Thatcher would have been deeply proud of his achievements and so are we."
- Catriona Graffius
IAN BLACKFORD TELLS EUROPEANS 'SCOTLAND IS YOUR HOME'
SNP's House of Commons Leader Ian Blackford has told EU citizens in Scotland that "Scotland is your home, you are welcome."
In a heated exchange he added that "Scotland European before it was British" and that the government will "end our access to European relationships".
He added that the deal meant "broken promises and economic vandalism".
- Catriona Graffius
THERESA MAY CRITICISES SIR KEIR FOR CALLS ON A 'BETTER DEAL'
Ex-PM Theresa May called out Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer for saying he wanted a "better deal" as he voted against her EU agreement in 2019.
Mrs May also said she is "disappointed" over the details on financial services, arguing that no "groundbreaking" arrangement has been achieved.
But despite her criticisms, the Tory backbencher urged MPs to vote for the government's bill today.
- Catriona Graffius
SIR KEIR STARMER SCRUTINISES POST-BREXIT DEAL ON SECURITY
Sir Keir Starmer has questioned the post-Brexit trade's deal efficacy on security, saying the agreement leaves "massive gaps" in protection and access to security databases.
The Labour leader told the House of Commons: "The treaty does cover important protection in DNA and finger printing but the treaty does not provide what we were promised: a secure partnership with unprecedented breadth and depth."
He added that there would be no access to the EU security database for the Schengen zone – a database which was accessed 600million times by British Police in 2019.
Sir Keir said there was a "massive gap and the PM must explain how it will be plugged".
- Catriona Graffius
'A THIN DEAL IS BETTER THAN NO DEAL', SAYS STARMER
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has told MPs a "think deal is better than no deal".
Sir Keir said: "The choice before us today is perfectly simple: do we implement the treaty that's been agreed with the EU or not.
"If we choose not to, the outcome is clear: we leave the transitions period without a deal, without a deal on security, trade, fisheries, without protection for our manufacturing sector and without a foothold to build a future relationship with the EU.
"Everyone who is choosing that option today knows there's no time to renegotiate, there's no better deal coming in the next 24 hours so choosing that option leads to one place: No Deal."
He added: "It matters that the UK has not gone down the blind alley of no deal."
- Catriona Graffius
SNP MPS TO OPPOSE DEAL IN VOTE TODAY
SNP MPs are expected to oppose the PM's post-Brexit deal when MPs vote later today.
The SNP's House of Commons leader Ian Blackford has intervened multiple times on the PM's speech, with debates circling around agreements on fishing in the deal.
Speaking on BBC Breakfast earlier Mr Blackford said: "One of the big flashpoints has been about fishing.
"The prime minister repeatedly told us it was about taking back control – we now know nothing could have been further from the truth.
"The fishing industry has been gutted and filleted."
- Catriona Graffius
BORIS JOHNSON: UK CAN BE 'AT ONCE EUROPEAN AND SOVEREIGN'
Boris Johnson has hailed the new Brexit deal which allows the UK to be "at once European and sovereign".
The PM congratulated the UK's negotiator Lord Frost and his team for the "newfound legislative freedoms" of the Brexit deal.
He said: "We've done this in less than a year in the teeth of a pandemic."
Mr Johnson also paid tribute to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and the EU's chief negotiator Michel Barnier for reaching an agreement in the EU.
The comments came amid opposition remarks from SNP leader in the House of Commons Ian Blackford and from Labour MPS over the agreements made on fishing.
- Catriona Graffius
PM BEGINS WITH THE SECOND READING OF THE BREXIT DEBATE
Boris Johnson has begun the second reading of the historic post-Brexit bill in the Houses of Parliament.
The PM said: "We now seize this moment to forge a fantastic new relationship with our European neighbours based on free trade and friendly cooperation."
- Catriona Graffius
BREXIT DEBATE AND VOTE 'FINAL BIT OF ICING ON THE CHRISTMAS CAKE', SAYS REES-MOGG
Today's Brexit debate and vote are the "final bit of icing to be put on the christmas cake", says Jacob Rees-Mogg.
The Leader of the House made the comments after telling MPs the debate on the UK's membership of the EU had been going on for "four, five, six – perhaps even 50 years".
But today marks the final hurdle for the UK's departure of the EU as parliament was recalled to vote on the historic post-Brexit deal.
Parliament began proceedings today with a vote to allow MPs to debate the PM's deal virtually.
Credit: PA:Press Association - Catriona Graffius
TIME 'TO OPEN A NEW CHAPTER' IN UK HISTORY, SAYS PM
Boris Johnson will hail the chance to “open a new chapter” in history as he implores MPs to make his Brexit deal law.
Mr Johnson will attempt to unite both Remain and Leave factions in Parliament today by saying the deal will make Britain both “European and sovereign” and enable us to be “the best friend and ally the EU could have”.
A vote by MPs on the deal is expected to take place at 2:30pm after five hours of debate and will then move to the House of Lords for approval.
The Queen could be forced to stay up into the early hours of Thursday morning to give the Royal Assent.
- Catriona Graffius
BREXIT PROCEEDINGS IN HOUSE OF COMMONS TO START AT 9:30AM
The debate on the post-Brexit deal will kick off in the House of Commons at 9:30am today.
Parliament has been specially recalled to debate Boris Johnson's landmark deal – which has already been signed by EU leaders.
The event is a rare one – parliament has only been recalled 30 times since 1948.
The action will start with a motion to allow for virtual participation in the debate due to the pandemic.
Once this has passed, MPs will begin debating on the bill, with the majority joining via video – a vote is due this afternoon.
- Catriona Graffius
EU LEADERS SIGN BREXIT DEAL
President of the European Council Charles Michel and Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, have signed the post-Brexit deal on behalf of the EU at a ceremony in Brussels.
The document, officially named EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, will now be flown to London by the RAF to allow Boris Johnson to add his signature.
MPs will debate the details of the deal today, but the bill is expected to pass comfortably in this afternoon's vote.
- Catriona Graffius
STARMER FACES MP REVOLT OVER BREXIT BACKING
Sir Keir Starmer is facing a revolt from some Labour MPs after he decided to back Boris Johnson's EU trade deal in today's vote.
The Labour leader will order MPs to vote for the deal this afternoon, allowing it to pass into law just in time for the end of the transition period tomorrow.
While Sir Keir called the deal "thin", he's said it's better than no deal.
But critics led by ex-shadow Chancellor John McDonnell have urged the Labour leader not to back a "rotten" deal.
A statement signed by a group of Labour MPs read: "We are witnessing an act of vandalism against our livelihoods, our rights and our horizons. We call on Labour, the Labour movement and other opposition parties not to support the Tories' Brexit deal when it is put to a vote in the House of Commons."
- Catriona Graffius
'STAR CHAMBER' LAWYERS HAIL UK TAKING BACK 'FULL CONTROL OF WATERS' AFTER TRANSITION PERIOD
A statement from the ERG's "star chamber" of lawyers hailed the new Brexit deal for reeling back in "full control of its waters" after a five and a half year transition period.
Both sides agreed on a 25 percent cut in the share of fish caught by EU vessels in U.K. waters during that time.
The PM's break-through deal is expected to pass through both the House of Commons and House of Lords in just one day as the Government rushes to get it over the line before December 31.
Once the deal has been signed by the EU, it will be flown by RAF plane to Downing Street where Mr Johnson will put his name to it tomorrow.
The record-breaking accord – worth £660 billion – was forged in less than a year- after the withdrawal deal was signed off in January – and will allow free trade to continue without tariffs or quotas in a major win for Britain.
- Catriona Graffius
BREXIT DEAL 'PRESERVES UK SOVEREIGNTY', SAYS TOP LAWYERS
The European Research Group (ERG) of backbench Tory politicians have said the new Brexit deal will protect British sovereignty and have vowed to vote for it in the Commons today.
The group's "star chamber" of Brexiteer lawyers have advised them that the "FTA is consistent with restoration of UK sovereignty".
A three page statement said: "Our overall conclusion is that the Agreement preserves the UK’s sovereignty as a matter of law and fully respects the norms of international sovereign-to-sovereign treaties.
"The 'level playing field' clauses go further than in comparable trade agreements, but their impact on the practical exercise of sovereignty is likely to be limited if addressed by a robust government.
"In any event they do not prevent the UK from changing its laws as it sees fit at a risk of tariff countermeasures, and if those were unacceptable the Agreement could be terminated on 12 months’ notice."
- Catriona Graffius
MPS TO DEBATE BREXIT TRADE DEAL TODAY
MPs will be given the chance to debate on Boris Johnson's post-Brexit trade deal – with the majority taking part virtually due to the pandemic.
Proceedings are expected to kick off around 9:30am with a preliminary vote allowing MPs to take part via video link.
The PM will then open the second reading debate in person – it will be closed by Michael Gove.
Debate will then follow on the second reading of the bill and further discussions or potential amendments should last until 2:30pm when there will be a vote – giving parliament five hours to discuss the bill.
Boris Johnson's deal is expected to pass the Commons today with both Labour and Tory backbenchers supporting the bill.
- Britta Zeltmann
DEAL TO BE SEALED TODAY
The UK and European Union are today expected to sign a mammoth trade pact to put the seal on their drawn-out Brexit divorce in the dwindling hours before they part ways definitively at the dawning of 2021.
EU chiefs Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel will ink the 1,246-page Trade and Cooperation Agreement at 0830 GMT, officials in Brussels said, days after it was clinched on Christmas Eve following months of hard-fought talks.
The hefty document will then be flown by the Royal Air Force to London for Prime Minister Boris Johnson to add his signature, as the UK parliament embarks on a rushed debate to clear the decks before a December 31 deadline.
The government only released the accompanying UK legislation on Tuesday afternoon — less than 24 hours before the debate is to start in parliament an hour after the signing in Brussels.
- Niamh Cavanagh
TURKISH DELIGHT
Britain has signed a bumper trade deal with Turkey today as the ink on the EU agreement was still drying.
Trade Secretary Liz Truss signed off a £18.6bn pact yesterday as Chancellor Rishi Sunak said the nation can now “do things a bit differently” after sealing the Christmas Brexit deal.
The latest agreement, which comes into effect on January 1, provides a major boost for British car industry, manufacturing and steel industries and lays the groundwork for an enhanced relationship in the future.
Trade between the two countries was worth more than $25billion in 2019.
Today’s deal will secureexisting preferential tariffs for some 7,600 British businesses that exported goods to Turkey in 2019.
So farm Ms Truss and her team have now agreed trade deals with 62 countries, alongside the new EU deal – accounting for around £885bn of UK trade.
She said: “Today’s deal covers trade worth more than £18 billion, delivers vital certainty for business and supports thousands of jobs across the UK in the manufacturing, automotive and steel industries.
“It paves the way for a new, more ambitious deal with Turkey in the near future, and is part of our plan to put the UK at the centre of a network of modern agreements with dynamic economies.”
- Niamh Cavanagh
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED
Brexiteer MPs have backed Boris Johnson's historic trade deal with the EU.
The European Research Group (ERG) of backbench politicians have said the pact will protect British sovereignty and have vowed to vote for it in the Commons tomorrow.
The group's "star chamber" of Brexiteer lawyers have advised them that the "FTA is consistent with restoration of UK sovereignty".
The same set of lawyers repeatedly refused to throw their support behind Theresa May's deal.
The PM insisted last week the deal would survive even the most "ruthless" scrutiny from the ERG's lawyers
A three page statement said: "Our overall conclusion is that the Agreement preserves the UK’s sovereignty as a matter of law and fully respects the norms of international sovereign-to-sovereign treaties.
"The 'level playing field' clauses go further than in comparable trade agreements, but their impact on the practical exercise of sovereignty is likely to be limited if addressed by a robust government.
"In any event they do not prevent the UK from changing its laws as it sees fit at a risk of tariff countermeasures, and if those were unacceptable the Agreement could be terminated on 12 months’ notice."
- Niamh Cavanagh
BORIS JOHNSON SAYS 'HISTORIC RESOLUTION' WILL BE DELIVERED BY BREXIT BILL
A "historic resolution" will be delivered when MPs approve the UK's Brexit deal with the EU, according to Boris Johnson.
On Wednesday, Parliament will return in order to vote on the agreement reached more than four years after the referendum in 2016.
The EU (Future Relationship) Bill is expected to clear the Commons despite the SNP, the DUP, Plaid Cymru, the SDLP, Alliance and the Liberal Democrats all indicating that they will not vote for it.
But Mr Johnson has insisted that UK will be "the best friend and ally the EU could have", whilst fulfilling the "sovereign wish" of the British people to live under their own laws.
In a Commons speech, he will tell MPs: "The central purpose of the Bill is to accomplish something which the British people always knew in their hearts could be done, but which we were told was impossible.
"Namely that we could trade and cooperate with our European neighbours on the closest terms of friendship and goodwill, whilst retaining sovereign control of our laws and our national destiny."
- Niamh Cavanagh
CONTINUED
And it had reserved its verdict on Mr Johnson’s until its experts had examined the 1,246-page document.
Yet the ERG said the controversial level-playing-field clauses “go further than in comparable trade agreements”.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, who fought to overturn the 2016 referendum, has ordered his MPs to vote for the deal.
But he is braced for a rebellion and he could face resignations from his front bench.
The crucial vote will take place at 2.30pm before the bill moves to the House of Lords for approval.
The Queen could be forced to stay up into the early hours of Thursday morning to give the Royal Assent.
- Niamh Cavanagh
A NEW CHAPTER
Boris Johnson will hail the chance to “open a new chapter” in history as he implores MPs to make his Brexit deal law.
And on the eve of tomorrow’s landmark vote, the PM won the backing of an influential Brexiteer group of Tories.
Mr Johnson will attempt to unite both Remain and Leave factions in Parliament by saying the deal will make Britain both “European and sovereign” and enable us to be “the best friend and ally the EU could have”.
The European Research Group declared that the deal “preserves the UK’s sovereignty”.
The hardline bloc of Tory MPs’ repeated opposition to Theresa May’s Brexit deal ended her premiership.
- Niamh Cavanagh
TOP 10 TOWNS WITH THE BIGGEST HOUSE PRICE GAINS
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