BREAKING: DUP Leader Arlene Foster is on route to London as of this morning, as it currently stands, DUP are refusing to back draft new text which they says threatens the long term relationship of the UK Union with NI.
They say it is unacceptable EU have jurisdiction on their trade deals, that the UK will effectively be handcuffed to the EU and EU will hold the keys. This is not reflecting on the democratic result of the British people and we will refuse to back this on any vote in parliament.
May is in trouble already and it's barely 9 AM !!!
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BREAKING: LEAKED DETAILS OF THE DRAFT TEXT SO FAR:
What's in the text of the draft agreement?
Only the prime minister, EU officials and cabinet ministers are supposed to have seen the text of the draft Brexit agreement so far.
However, leaked details reveal:
- There is no longer a Northern Ireland-only backstop arrangement aimed at avoiding a hard Irish border, say Number 10 sources
- However, according to the Daily Telegraph, Northern Ireland will be in a "different regulatory regime" and "subject to EU law and institutions" under a UK-wide backstop arrangement
- The Times says the PM has agreed to "level playing field" measures tying the UK to EU rules in areas such as state aid and environmental and workers' rights protections under the backstop
- The Financial Times says the UK will not be able to leave a UK-EU customs union under the backstop arrangement without the EU being satisfied other arrangements are in place to avoid a hard Irish border
- The same newspaper reports a clause in the draft agreement allows the UK to potentially extend the Brexit transition period beyond December 2020, while a declaration on the future EU-UK relationship remains incomplete
- A leaked diplomatic note seen by The Times reveals how the EU intends to use a UK-EU customs union and "level playing field" commitment under the backstop as the basis for the UK's future relationship with the bloc