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This raises the prospect of Britain keeping up with the March 29 deadline
The British Cabinet is set to have a crucial meeting on Wednesday, after U.K. and EU negotiators agreed on the text of a draft withdrawal agreement in Brussels on Tuesday. A Downing Street spokesperson confirmed that a Cabinet meeting is due to take place to decide the next steps, following discussions in Brussels.
“Cabinet Ministers have been invited to read documentation ahead of that meeting,” the spokesperson said in a statement on Tuesday. The development will put the spotlight firmly on the internal battles within the U.K. government over the terms under which Britain will leave the EU.
A Cabinet divided
Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit strategy has provoked much division within her own government. Among the biggest obstacles in reaching agreement has been the length of time over which the Irish backstop — to prevent the development of a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland — would apply.
While some are eager for a near and definite end to the backstop, others have been concerned about the risk that inadequate back-up mechanisms could have on peace on the island. Tuesday’s development is a significant one and raises the prospect of a summit of EU leaders in November to further discuss the terms on which Britain will exit, heightening chances of other steps — including a parliamentary approval process — proceeding in time for March 29 when Britain is set to leave the EU formally. However, many obstacles remain: there are questions around whether the terms in the document will be agreed on by individual EU member states and by a majority within the U.K. Parliament.
