Summary

  • Theresa May is to return to Brussels for Brexit talks on Saturday

  • She faced Brexit criticism from all sides at Prime Minister's Questions

  • UK and EU are seeking to finalise text of declaration on future relations

  • France (fishing) and Spain (Gibraltar) have issues with the current draft

  • Tory Brexiteers' efforts to force no confidence vote seem to have failed, for now

  • The PM published the 585 page draft withdrawal agreement last week. This, and the declaration on future relations, are due to be finalised at an EU summit next Sunday.

  1. May/Juncker meeting expected to last one hourpublished at 16:54 Greenwich Mean Time 21 November 2018

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  2. Pictures from inside May and Juncker meetingpublished at 16:54 Greenwich Mean Time 21 November 2018

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  3. May arrives in Brussels for talks with Junckerpublished at 16:40 Greenwich Mean Time 21 November 2018

    Theresa May and Jean-Claude Juncker shook hands in front of the cameras, but did not answer any questions from reporters.

    May and Juncker
  4. Gove: 'There could be a £1bn fishing bonanza'published at 16:28 Greenwich Mean Time 21 November 2018

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Gove in the Commons

    Mr Gove repeatedly took interventions from MPs across the chamber questioning the implications of the proposed withdrawal agreement on the fishing industry.

    He says "there could be a £1bn fishing bonanza when we leave the EU".

    "We will make sure that we put conservation first," he says. "We need to make sure that the network of marine conservation zones are used to regenerate fish stocks."

    It is quite right to seek to restrict fishing that damages protected species, he says.

    This bill allows the fishing industry to make decisions currently restricted by membership of the Common Fisheries Policy, he says, whilst there will be additional fishing quota that is "fair" and "sustainable".

    In all, 83% of cod caught in the English channel is caught by French fishermen, he explains. compared to just 7% by English fishermen.

    "We will have the opportunity to catch more fish in our own waters."

    Labour's shadow environment secretary Sue Hayman says only a Labour government can secure a "thriving marine environment" but tells MPs they will not oppose the legislation, and will bring forward amendments at committee stage.

    "We want to see more British fish, landed in British ports," she says.

  5. Gove calls for coastal communities 'renaissance' after Brexitpublished at 16:28 Greenwich Mean Time 21 November 2018

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Michael Gove

    Michael Gove has paid tribute to the fishing industry as a "critical part" of this country's heritage, saying it is vital our coastal communities see a "renaissance" after Brexit.

    "My father was a fish merchant. My family, for generations, have made their living from the sea", he sid during a debate in the Commons.

    The environment secretary told MPs that "one of the pleasures" in bringing forward the Fisheries Bill , externalwas the "recognition that the common fisheries policy did damage - environmental, economic and to coastal communities".

    Following Brexit, the UK will no longer be part of the EU Common Fisheries Policy.

    Mr Gove says it will become an "independent coastal state" and be fully responsible for managing fisheries in the UK’s Exclusive Economic Zone of 200 miles. This will include setting total allowable catches and determining who has access to fisheries.

  6. Question on Brexit leads to calls for 'People's Vote' on final dealpublished at 16:28 Greenwich Mean Time 21 November 2018

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    Labour peer Baroness Lister of Burtersett asked about Brexit's impact on poverty during a debate in the Lords.

    She said the UN expert examining poverty in the UK suggested the impact was being treated "as an afterthought".

    Lord Bates said the number of people in poverty has been steadily falling, while exports and jobs have been rising. Work is the best route out of poverty, he says.

    Another Labour peer Lord Foulkes of Cumnock said the CBI and others were only now "cosying up to the deal" because they're scared of the threat of no deal. There's a momentum growing in favour of a second referendum, he said.

    Lord Bates said "we had a people's vote", which was the referendum, followed by "another people's vote, which was the election". The UK was on the brink of an agreement, and that's why people were supporting it, he said.

    Tory Lord Deben said a second vote shouldn't be ruled out, especially as the deal put Britain into a significantly worse position than it currently was in as a member of the EU.

    "I don't accept that premise," Lord Bates said.

    Conservative Lord McKay of Clashfern said a second referendum would be a waste of valuable time, and instead the government should just bid to stay in the EU if they're defeated when the deal is put to MPs.

  7. May due to meet Juncker at 16:30 GMTpublished at 16:22 Greenwich Mean Time 21 November 2018

    May and JunckerImage source, Reuters

    When the meeting was confirmed, it was expected to be a chance for a picture, a nice cup of tea and a quick chat about the future political decleration between the UK and the EU.

    But it seems that the troubles are not just on this side of the Channel and neither Theresa May nor Jean-Claude Juncker are having an easy ride.

    While Mrs May fights fires at home, the President of the European Commission has had to cancel a two-day trip to the Canary Islands to deal with “the many important events taking place at the moment” - listening to concerns over goods, fish and Gibraltar in the future relationship document.

    Spain and France are particularly concerned about the plans.

    And without the documents being signed off by the end of the week, the EU summit on Sunday could be postponed.

    Let's see what comes out of this meeting...

  8. Could Sunday's summit slip?published at 16:20 Greenwich Mean Time 21 November 2018

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    But No 10 still planning for Sunday...

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  9. Brexit: What's next?published at 16:07 Greenwich Mean Time 21 November 2018

    Parliament and EU flagImage source, AFP/Getty Images

    The cabinet has approved a draft agreement for the UK's withdrawal from the EU.

    But that is far from the final step needed to see Brexit come to an end.

    Read our guide here about the next steps in the process.

  10. Gove's special adviser quitspublished at 15:59 Greenwich Mean Time 21 November 2018

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  11. Join Victoria Derbyshire's big debate on Brexitpublished at 15:58 Greenwich Mean Time 21 November 2018

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  12. Jargon-busting guide to the key termspublished at 15:58 Greenwich Mean Time 21 November 2018

    UK and EU flagsImage source, Getty Images

    After a week of Brexit overload, you may still be a little unsure of what all the terms mean.

    But don't worry - the BBC team have worked on a glossary to explain all the commonly used words and phrases.

    Click here to check it out.

  13. Reality Check: What the Brexit withdrawal agreement all meanspublished at 15:58 Greenwich Mean Time 21 November 2018

    Withdrawal agreementImage source, Getty Images

    The draft Brexit withdrawal agreement stands at 585 pages long.

    It sets out how the UK leaves the European Union, scheduled for 29 March 2019.

    Chris Morris, from BBC Reality Check, has been going through it in detail.

    Click here to read all the key points from the agreement and what they mean.

  14. What to look for in the Brexit declaration...published at 15:34 Greenwich Mean Time 21 November 2018

    UK borderImage source, Getty Images

    The EU and UK are poised to complete the document that will spell out the shape of their future post-Brexit relationship and pave the way for a trade deal.

    The political declaration on the future framework will sit alongside the withdrawal agreement that settles the terms of the UK's departure, but the declaration will not be legally binding.

    A seven-page outline has been published, but what should we look for in the final version?

    BBC Brussels Reporter Adam Fleming explains.

  15. Thompson: No deal Brexit 'won't be chaotic'published at 15:32 Greenwich Mean Time 21 November 2018

    Ross Thompson

    Scottish Tory MP Ross Thompson is unhappy with Theresa May's deal, but remains unconcerned by the prospect of a no deal Brexit.

    He told the BBC that he still had concerns around "returning sovereignty" to UK fishing waters, ensuring Northern Ireland isn't "hived off" from the rest of the UK and not being stuck in a transition period for an indefinite amount of time with the current deal.

    But he said if the UK ended up without one, he was "not convinced by the argument that it would be chaotic".

    Mr Thompson added: "The ideal outcome would be to achieve a deal with the European Union, but if that isn’t achievable and we end up having no deal – which is falling back on WTO rules – I don’t see that as the end of the world.

    "We will immediately take back control of our fishing waters, we wont disrupt the integrity of the United Kingdom, and we wont have to hand over £40bn of our own taxpayer’s money to the European Union and we will trade with the EU in the same way we already trade with other countries across the world."

  16. May meets Wales' First Ministerpublished at 15:17 Greenwich Mean Time 21 November 2018

    Carwyn JonesImage source, EPA

    Theresa May has met the First Minister of Wales, Carwyn Jones, in London to discuss the Brexit withdrawal agreement and ongoing negotiations over the political declaration.

    After the meeting, a Downing Street spokesman said: "They agreed that the priority remained to finalise a deal that will provide certainty and stability for people and businesses across the whole of the UK, including Wales."

    He added that Mrs May set out the deal, including the need for close co-operation after leaving.

    He added: "The prime minister was clear that the negotiated deal will deliver on the result of the referendum, and protect the integrity of our United Kingdom."

    Before the meeting, Mr Jones accused the government of "moving slowly" to a deal laid out by Welsh Labour two years ago, and the pressure is on for her to sort it out by Sunday.

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  17. Will the UK and EU reach a Brexit deal on fishing?published at 15:17 Greenwich Mean Time 21 November 2018

    Fishing boatsImage source, Getty Images

    The EU 27 are concerned that "taking back control" of the UK's waters might mean fewer fishing opportunities for their fleets.

    A diplomatic note - seen by the BBC - raised concerns about access and environmental commitments.

    So will a deal be done?

    Read more from BBC Scotland's environment correspondent here.

  18. No 10: No deal still possiblepublished at 14:48 Greenwich Mean Time 21 November 2018

    Nick Eardley
    BBC political correspondent

    A No 10 spokesman says the prime minister is still determined that the UK leaves the European Union on 29 March.

    However, despite one of her ministers saying there were too many MPs willing to stop a no deal scenario, the spokesman said it was still a possibility.

    But Mrs May remains determined to get a deal and is confident of achieving it.

  19. PMQs: The key bits and the verdictpublished at 14:47 Greenwich Mean Time 21 November 2018

    Jeremy Corbyn and Theresa May

    Theresa May got a taste of what is to come if she manages to return from Brussels with a Brexit deal at today's Prime Minister's Questions.

    She came under fire from every Brexit faction in the Commons - and faced calls from Jeremy Corbyn to stand aside and let Labour have a go.

    Read our round-up of what happened here.

  20. How did Michael Gove warm up for Prime Minister's Questions?published at 14:39 Greenwich Mean Time 21 November 2018

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    One of the latest tweets from Michael Gove isn't about Brexit, the cabinet or his environment brief.

    Instead, the minister has tweeted a Game of Thrones quiz he took, with the results showing him as most like Tyrion Lannister.

    Let us know if you spot any dragons flying around Westminster...