Brexit news latest: What's in Boris Johnson’s ‘great new deal'? What we know so far

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Boris Johnson’s “do or die” pledge to deliver Brexit has received a sudden boost, after EU and UK negotiators finally secured a divorce agreement.

The Prime Minister hailed it a “great new deal”, while European Commission president Jean-Claude Junker said it was “fair and balanced".

But Mr Johnson's opponents aren’t convinced.

Opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn called it “an even worse deal than Theresa May’s, which was overwhelmingly rejected”. And Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage told the BBC: “It’s just not Brexit.”

With the government facing a crunch vote on the agreement in the Commons on Saturday, the Standard explains what we know about the deal so far.

What is in the deal?

The legal text has only just been released, but most of the deal is the same as the one agreed by Theresa May last year - except for its proposals on Northern Ireland.

The UK will continue to adhere to EU rules until the end of 2020, and possibly longer, to allow businesses to adjust.

The UK will pay an estimated £39 billion "divorce bill".

And the rights of EU citizens living in the UK, and UK citizens in the EU, will be guaranteed.

Has the Irish backstop issue been resolved?

Yes, according to both Mr Johnson and EU officials.

“The anti-democratic backstop has been abolished,” the Prime Minister wrote in a statement on Twitter.

“The people of Northern Ireland will be in charge of the laws that they live by, and – unlike the backstop – will have the right to end the special arrangement if they so choose.”

The backstop has been a crucial sticking point throughout talks, with fears of a hard border returning to the island and unsettling the Good Friday Agreement.

But a freshly agreed four-pillared solution has resolved the deadlock, as set out by the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier:

Regulations

  • Northern Ireland will remain aligned with Single Market regulations on goods
  • Checks on such goods will take place at ports and airports in Northern Ireland and not on the border
  • The UK authorities will be responsible for applying the EU rules in Northern Ireland

Custom duties

  • Northern Ireland will remain in the UK's customs territory, so it will be included in any future trade deals struck by the government
  • At the same time will be an "entry point" into the EU's customs zone
  • UK authorities will apply UK tariffs to products entering Northern Ireland as long as they are not destined for onward transportation across the border
  • For goods at risk of entering the single market, the UK will collect EU tariffs on behalf of the bloc

VAT

  • EU rules on VAT and excise duties will apply in Northern Ireland, with the UK responsible for their collection
  • However, revenues derived will be retained by the UK.The UK will also be able to apply VAT exemptions and reduced rates in Northern Ireland that are applied in Ireland

Consent

  • The Northern Ireland Assembly will vote every four years on whether to continue with the new trading arrangements after an initial four-year period. These arrangements will come into effect at the start of 2021
  • The decision will be based on a simple majority, rather than requiring a majority of both unionists and nationalists to support the rules in order for them to pass
  • This means the DUP will not have the chance to exercise a veto
There will be no hard border on the island of Ireland under the agreement
Getty Images

So, will this protect the fragile peace process on the island of Ireland?

No 10 pledged in a statement: “We will guarantee – and reinforce – the peace process and avoid any issues at the border.

“Northern Ireland will have no hard border with the Republic or Great Britain, and will remain forever part of the UK customs territory. NI will have access to the single market, but also be part of UK trade deals negotiated around the world.

“Crucially, this arrangement will be underpinned by the principle of democratic consent, through the ability to leave the special arrangement via a democratic vote in the NI Assembly.”

What happens next?

In order to get the deal approved, Mr Johnson needs to seal a majority in Parliament.

If he is unable to get sufficient backing, he will be required by law to ask the EU for an extension to the current October 31 deadline.

To get a majority, he will need the support of all Conservative MPs as well as a substantial number of opposition members.

The 10 MPs of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) have already conformed they will not support the deal.

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