Brexit Deal Reached, But Questions About Whether Parliament Will Pass It

Walking papers?

Negotiators from the U.K. and EU reached a draft Brexit deal in 11th-hour talks Thursday, although there are serious doubts that the agreement will be approved by U.K. lawmakers back in Westminster.

Sterling rose on news after the U.K. made concessions over the Irish border, an issue that had proven to be the biggest obstacle to a deal....

The deal calls for allowing Northern Ireland -- a part of the UK, of course, but also entangled in a "no borders" treaty with the Republic of Ireland, which is part of the EU -- to be bound by some EU trade rules. The no-border policy would continue.

This sets up a complicated and difficult day for the U.K. Parliament on Saturday. There are doubts a deal will be approved in Westminster, with opposition parties already criticizing it.

The problem is Northern Ireland. The biggest Northern Ireland party, the DUP, is against any deal that treats it differently than the rest of the UK:

The DUP said in a statement earlier Thursday that it was unhappy with the proposed customs and consent arrangements, which were designed to give Northern Ireland a say over its relationship with the EU post-Brexit. The DUP has repeatedly opposed any plans that would see it treated differently from the U.K. after Brexit.

I guess we'll see.

posted by Ace of Spades at 02:02 PM

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