Brexit deal: Theresa May calls ministers in to win backing after UK negotiators reach agreement with EU

Theresa May is holding intense one-on-one talks with her most senior ministers after EU and UK negotiators finally reached a settlement in Brussels.

Downing Street confirmed that a breakthrough had been made as they called in cabinet members to discuss the draft withdrawal agreement text produced by the British and European negotiating teams.

The text settled upon after months of painstaking discussions in Brussels will then be discussed at a crunch full meeting of the cabinet on Wednesday, at which Ms May will attempt to lock in the support of even her most eurosceptic ministers.

If they approve the draft it will mean a special European Council summit may be arranged to sign it off before the end of November, giving the UK’s parliament a chance to vote on it before Christmas.

A Number 10 spokesman said: “Cabinet will meet at 2pm [on Wednesday] 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.”

Ministers have been seen entering and leaving Downing Street on Tuesday, with health secretary Matt Hancock first to arrive following confirmation that a deal had been reached, followed by chief whip Julian Smith and transport secretary Chris Grayling.

Scottish Secretary David Mundell said the potential agreement was “encouraging” but suggested the details could yet stymie agreement.

“Obviously members of the cabinet are going to have the opportunity to to look at that in detail this evening and there will be a special cabinet meeting tomorrow to reflect on what’s in that documentation,” he said.

“I’m encouraged but we need to reflect on that detail and see what’s there and hopefully be in a position to take forward a deal.

“That’s what the government has been working for all this time, to get a deal, and negotiators have worked incredibly hard to get us to this point but we have to reflect on the detail and consider at cabinet tomorrow.”

Irish broadcaster RTE reported that a “stable” text had been agreed on the thorny issue of the Northern Irish border, which has blocked a deal for months.

The broadcaster said the agreement involved one overall “backstop” in the form of a UK-wide customs arrangement – as sought by Ms May – but with deeper provisions for Northern Ireland on customs and regulations.

A review mechanism is understood to be part of the text, but it is unclear whether that would meet the demands of Tory Brexiteers – including some in the Cabinet – who want the UK to be able to unilaterally walk away from the deal to prevent it becoming a permanent settlement.