Brexit news latest: Prime Minister Theresa May calls special cabinet meeting as divorce deal reached
Theresa May has called a special cabinet meeting tomorrow after a Brexit divorce deal was reached by negotiators in Brussels.
A UK government source confirmed that an agreement had been reached at a "technical level" but the prime minister will need to win the support of her cabinet.
Each cabinet member will be called individually into Downing Street tonight ahead of a full meeting tomorrow where it is hoped the deal will be signed off.
The full cabinet meeting will be held at 2pm.
Downing Street said in a statement: "Cabinet will meet at 2pm tomorrow to consider the draft agreement the negotiating teams have reached in Brussels, and to decide on next steps.
"Cabinet ministers have been invited to read documentation ahead of that meeting."
Theresa May speaks during a media conference at an EU summit in Brussels (AP)
A spokesman for chief EU negotiator Michel Barnier said the latest in the negotiations had been set out earlier by commission vice president Frans Timmermans who said that while the talks were making progress "we are not there yet".
"The UK cabinet will meet tomorrow. We will take stock at the midday presser," the spokesman said.
Irish broadcaster RTE reported that a "stable" text had been agreed on the thorny issue of the Northern Irish border.
Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson and Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab ahead of the Cabinet meeting today (AFP/Getty Images)
Agreeing a backstop - a contingency plan designed to keep an open border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland until the UK and EU settle their future relationship - has been a key obstacle preventing a wider withdrawal deal being reached between the two sides.
RTE said the deal involved one overall backstop in the form of a UK-wide customs arrangement, but with deeper provisions for Northern Ireland on customs and regulations.
Mrs May has been pushing for a UK-wide backstop measure rather than the Northern Ireland-only provision proposed by the EU.
A senior Cabinet minister said earlier today that Britain and the EU were “almost within touching distance” of a Brexit deal.
David Lidington, the de facto deputy premier, had said negotiators in Brussels worked “late into the night” but an agreement was not in the bag.
It comes after a turbulent week for the the prime minister on Brexit.
EU's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier arrives at the EU Commission headquarters in Brussels this week (REUTERS)
Culled from from Evening Standard