Theresa May chaired a cabinet meeting on 14 November 2018 to discuss a draft copy of the proposed Withdrawal Agreement and proposed Outline Political Declaration (agreed at negotiator level), following negotiations between teams from the UK and the EU.
Following a lengthy meeting lasting more than 5 hours, the Prime Minister made the following statement outside Number 10.
With the comment
…collective decision of Cabinet was that the Government should agree the draft Withdrawal Agreement and the Outline Political Declaration
The statement in full:
The Cabinet has just had a long, detailed and impassioned debate on the draft Withdrawal Agreement and the Outline Political Declaration on our future relationship with the European Union.
These documents were the result of thousands of hours of hard negotiation by UK officials, and many, many meetings, which I and other ministers held with our EU counterparts.
I firmly believe that the draft Withdrawal Agreement was the best that could be negotiated, and it was for the Cabinet to decide whether to move on in the talks.
The choices before us were difficult, particularly in relation to the Northern Ireland backstop.
But the collective decision of Cabinet was that the Government should agree the draft Withdrawal Agreement and the Outline Political Declaration – this is a decisive step which enables us to move on and finalise the deal in the days ahead.
These decisions were not taken lightly – but I believe it is a decision that is firmly in the national interest.
When you strip away the detail, the choice before us is clear. This deal which delivers on the vote of the referendum, which brings back control of our money, laws and borders; ends free movement; protects jobs, security and our union; or leave with no deal; or no Brexit at all.
I know that there will be difficult days ahead. This is a decision which will come under intense scrutiny and that is entirely as it should be and entirely understandable.
But the choice was this deal, which enables us to take back control and to build a brighter future for our country, or going back to square one with more division, more uncertainty and a failure to deliver on the referendum.
It is my job as Prime Minister to explain the decisions that the Government has taken and I stand ready to do that beginning tomorrow with a statement in Parliament.
If I may end by just saying this. I believe that what I owe to this country is to take decisions that are in the national interest, and I firmly believe with my head and my heart that this is a decision which is in the best interests of our entire United Kingdom.
Following the meeting/statement, the UK government published copies of the Draft Withdrawal Agreement, Joint Statement and outline of the Political Declaration on the future relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union
The Withdrawal Agreement sets out the terms of the UK’s divorce from the EU, over 585 pages. The joint political declaration on the future relationship, sets out broad areas for future co-operation.
Progress on the UK’s exit from, and future relationship with, the EU
The draft Withdrawal Agreement sets out the terms of the UK’s smooth and orderly exit from the European Union, including a Protocol on Northern Ireland. It reflects agreement in principle between the UK and EU negotiating teams on the full legal text. Ahead of signature, this draft will be subject to a further review by UK and EU lawyers to ensure consistency as it is translated into all EU Member State languages. This may mean that legal terminology and article numbers will change. The Government intends to lay a final version of the agreement before Parliament once it is finalised.
The outline of the Political Declaration on the future relationship sets out progress on the scope of the framework for the future relationship. Negotiations are ongoing to finalise the Political Declaration.
Draft Agreement on the Withdrawal of the UK from the EU and the European Atomic Energy Community (PDF 585 pages)
14NovDraftWithdrawalAgreement (local)
Outline Political Declaration on the Future Relationship (PDF 7 pages)
Joint Statement (PDF 2 pages)
Additional information is available
Explainer for the agreement on the withdrawal of the UK from the EU (PDF 56 pages)
Technical explanatory note: Articles 6-8 on the Northern Ireland Protocol (PDF 2 pages)
