Reality Check

A revised Brexit deal has been agreed by the UK and EU. What is in it?

All sides want to avoid the return of a "hard border" after Brexit between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland - with checks and infrastructure which could be targeted by paramilitary groups.

Coming up with solutions to this - acceptable to all sides - has been very challenging.

The new protocol , externalreplaces the controversial Irish backstop plan in Theresa May's deal. Much of the rest of that deal will remain.

Read a summary of the key new parts here

Image source, Getty Images

The deal is "good for people on both sides, good for the economy on both sides", and respects the Good Friday Agreement, says Ursula von der Leyen - the next president of the European Commission.

She adds that Brexit is "not the end of something, it's a good starting point for a future relationship".

Ms Von der Leyen will replace Jean-Claude Juncker on 1 November.

Referring to UK MPs sitting on Saturday, Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar says: "The best thing we can do as Irish politicians is not intervene or interfere in UK politics.

"It's up to them to decide whether they want a deal - they rejected the last deal on three occasions."

He declines to comment on whether the DUP could scupper the deal.

Laura Kuenssberg
BBC political editor

Jean-Claude Juncker tells me there "must be no prolongation - it has to happen now" - has Boris Johnson persuaded the EU to say it is genuinely this deal - or no deal, no delay?

Let’s see if this is verbiage on the way in or something that will be turned into something real tonight.

The European Commission President says he spoke to Boris Johnson 30 minutes ago about the prospect of an extension.

Jean-Claude Juncker told reporters: "I was ruling out that there would be any kind of prolongation.

"If we have a deal we have a deal and there is no need for prolongation.

"That is the British view and that is my view too."

Asked about whether the Commons would allow it, he said: "I am not in charge of Parliamentary affairs of Britain."

The deal is a "good agreement" that is "very important for businesses and citizens" in the UK and the EU, says Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.

"[It] also creates a unique solution for Northern Ireland recognising the unique history and geography of Northern Ireland, one that ensures no hard border between north and south, one which allows the all-Ireland economy to continue to develop and one which protects the European single market and our place in it," he adds as he arrives at the EU summit.

"So I will be in a position to recommend to the European Council today that the agreement be endorsed."

The deal still faces major hurdles in the UK and EU parliaments, French President Emmanuel Macron says.

He says the deal "allows us to respond to the political and technical concerns that both we and the British share" but adds that "based on past experience we have to be reasonably cautious".

The President of the European Commission rules out granting an extension to the Brexit deadline of 31 October.

Jean-Claude Juncker tells reporters there is no need for an extension now there is a deal on the table.

Further detail from Boris Johnson in the joint press conference in Brussels on what he expects from MPs.

The PM urged MPs to "come together to get Brexit done" and "get this excellent deal over the line".

He said Britain's exit should happen "without any more delay" so the government could turn its attentions to domestic priorities.

Mr Johnson added: "Now is the moment for us to get Brexit done and then together to work on building our future partnership, which I think can be incredibly positive both for the UK and for the EU."

The Brexit deal is a "step forward", Belgian prime minister Charles Michel says.

"I'm also cautious; it's not the first time the Council has agreed [on a withdrawal deal]... it's a positive moment for Europe and relations between the EU and UK," he adds.

"It's important to give the signal that we maintained the integrity of the single market."

Sinn Fein President Mary Lou McDonald says she welcomes the agreement between the EU and the UK government.

She says the deal is "complex and wide-ranging" and "all aspects need to be considered in their entirety".

But she says: "There is no such thing as a good Brexit.

"Brexit is being foisted on the north of Ireland against the democratic wishes of the people.

"As a party, Sinn Fein has worked to defend Irish interests from the worst impacts of Brexit.

"Any deal can only mitigate the worst effects of Brexit; a least worst option."

Image source, Getty Images

Dignitaries are arriving in Brussels to comb through the altered Brexit text as Boris Johnson and Jean-Claude Juncker are photographed with Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay and chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier.

A bit more detail from that joint press conference just now in Brussels

European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker said: "This is a fair, a balanced agreement.

"It is testament to our commitment to finding solutions.

"It provides certainty where Brexit creates uncertainty."

Mr Johnson then said the deal agreed was "reasonable" and "fair".

"I do think this deal represents a very good deal for the EU and the UK.

"I think it is a reasonable, fair outcome and reflected the large amount of work undertaken by both sides."

The prime minister said the agreement allowed all parts of the UK to leave the EU "whole and entire".