Theresa May's Brexit deal: everything you need to know

The Guardian ^ | Nov 15 2018 | Jon Henley

[iowamark]

Two and a half years after Britain voted to leave the EU, the UK cabinet on Wednesday night backed the text of the draft withdrawal agreement drawn up by British and European negotiators – but with a series of ministerial resignations already on Thursday, the fallout has already begun.

Here is a non-exhaustive guide to what the agreement broadly says, which parts of it are proving controversial (and why), how likely the prime minister now is to get it through parliament, and what could happen next.

What is the withdrawal agreement?

Think of it as the separation agreement between the UK and the EU. Running to 585 pages, it covers three main areas:

Britain’s financial settlement with the EU to meet agreed commitments.

The post-Brexit rights of EU citizens in the UK and British citizens on the continent.

A mechanism to prevent a “hard border” on the island of Ireland.

The agreement also includes a much sketchier (and non-binding) seven-page political declaration outlining the two sides’ ambitions for their desired future trading relationship, on which negotiations have yet formally to start...

The EU has confirmed an emergency EU summit can be called for 25 November to seal the deal, although events in the UK may intervene. Complicating the question, some EU member states feel the deal makes too many concessions to the UK.

In principle, the deal then has to pass through parliament early in December.

Many think it could fall at this hurdle, resulting either in a challenge to May’s leadership, a general election or even a second referendum (with staying in the EU still theoretically an option, although that would mean extending article 50, which set the deadline for the UK to leave as 29 March 2019)...

[dp0622]

some EU member states feel the deal makes too many concessions to the UK...

What they MEANT to say was some European states but MOSTLY us weenies in the press think it makes too many concessions to the UK

The Guardian

Might as well quote the ny times :)

[Gay State Conservative]

The Guardian wants Brexit to fail completely.They're the ones leading the chant “People's Vote”.As if the one in 2016 only included rodents.They have the same thinking that our Rat Party has...vote,vote and vote again until the unwashed get it right.

[libertylover]

Britain’s financial settlement with the EU to meet agreed commitments.

I'd suggest a number that most people can understand: zero.

[butlerweave]

May bent over as far as she could without falling on her face but she fell in a ditch instead

[KyCats]

I blame Farage for the UK’s miserable deal. He was instrumental in the success of the referendum and then as soon as the votes were counted he retired to a cushy little radio show and a reserved seat in the pub.

[Cronos]

It is not that simple

Here's a non-biased poll which shows how close it is

Of those who voted for Brexit in 2016:

• For some it was a protest vote against the conservativeS
• For Some they wanted completely out of EU
• For some it was a protest vote against Brussels but they didn't really want to get out

Leave was astounded they won.

How many want a hard Brexit? Much less than a winning vote. Most of the Leave want some kind of deal that still keeps them in the EU.

But the options are pitiful -- the Norway option seems really silly to me -- pay and follow the rules but have no vote. Or leave completely and restart all trade deals with everyone (btw the USA isn't offering a quick deal but a hard nosed one)