WHAT HAPPENS BREXT?
Theresa May faces more weeks of Brexit uncertainty despite striking a deal with the EU
THERESA May revealed tonight that she has struck a Brexit deal with the EU - after 18 months of talks in Brussels.
The PM has summoned Cabinet ministers to No10 in a bid to convince them they should back the deal.
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Boris Johnson says he will vote against the proposed deal as UK and EU officials have agreed the draft text of a Brexit agreement
But the drama doesn't end this week - Mrs May faces a string of showdowns with other EU leaders, MPs and the European Parliament before the agreement can be finally signed off.
TONIGHT: Theresa May invites key ministers into No10 one by one to let them examine the details of the deal
TOMORROW: Cabinet meeting takes place at 2pm where the PM will ask her key allies to approve the agreement
NEXT FEW DAYS: EU diplomats study the text of the deal and flag up any problems
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LATE NOVEMBER OR EARLY DECEMBER: EU leaders attend an emergency summit in Brussels where all 27 heads of government will sign off on the treaty
BEFORE CHRISTMAS: Parliament votes on the withdrawal agreement - PM faces moment of truth as she attempts to head off Brexiteer rebellion
FEBRUARY 2019: The European Parliament holds its own vote on the deal
MARCH 29, 2019: The UK officially leaves the EU - but nothing will change if the withdrawal agreement has been arranged, because it will include a 21-month transition period
EARLY 2019: Talks begin in earnest on the final trade deal which will govern the future relationship between Britain and the EU
DECEMBER 31, 2020: The transition period ends, and Britain leaves the European single market and customs union
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Jacob Rees-Moggs declares there are 'white flags over Whitehall' on after Brexit draft text is agreed in talks
If the deal falls at any of those hurdles, it will be back to the drawing board as Britain and the EU try to find an alternative agreement.
But because we are so close to the moment when the UK is scheduled to leave, Mrs May would also have to activate No Deal contingency planning - so that Britain is prepared for the future no matter what.
That would lead to a number of consequences as the Government rolls out the plans
Ferries
This week was supposed to be the deadline for ministers to place an order for ships to bring in necessary supplies – and to put plans in place to stockpile medicines – in case of a chaotic No Deal.
Ministers are poised to spend £75million securing ten cross channel ferries to thwart any Brexit chaos - as first revealed by The Sun.
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They could then go to Dutch or Belgian ports instead of Calais, with officials choosing which trucks sailed on them.
A decision on whether to green light the plans is expected later this week.
Stockpiling
Ministers drew up secret plans to stockpile processed food earlier this year - if EU talks collapsed.
Emergency measures were begun to keep Britain’s massive food and drinks industry afloat - including stockpiling ahead of exit day on 29 March next year.
Similar stockpiles are also being prepared for medical supplies amid fears of chaos at British ports next year.
If Britain starts actively planning for No Deal, these plans will need to be ramped up.
Army
Britain's armed forces are on stand by to help with a No Deal, it was confirmed yesterday.
Sir Nick Carter said the forces would be on hand and "ready to help" if needed in the case we leave the EU without a deal.
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But he refused to confirm reports that the army were helping to stockpile food and medicine - as had been feared.
Earlier this year it was reported that ministers had considered using the army to deliver food and medical supplies if needed.
Borders and IT systems
Ministers need to authorise No Deal projects for new IT systems and projects to protect Britain’s borders.
The Government faces a race against time to replace critical systems, boost Border Force staffing levels and build new infrastructure to track goods in time for our departure next March.
But the Government's official watchdog has already said there's not enough time to adequately prepare.
This will leave the UK powerless to enforce new customs rules at the border from day one.
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No Deal Plus plan?
Brexit champion Jacob Rees Mogg this week backed a “No Deal Plus” compromise first revealed in the Sun on Saturday.
Under the plan Britain would leave the EU without a deal on March 29 – but pay £20 billion to keep ties with the bloc as they are until December 2020 to either plan for a No Deal or buy more time to negotiate a new trading relationship.
Mr Rees Mogg said: “It would cost us money, but it would finally dispel the ‘crash out’ Project Fear nightmare scenarios.”
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