New Brexit deal has been agreed, Boris Johnson says

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced that a new Brexit deal has been agreed upon between the British and European Union negotiating teams. 

The two parties have been working on the legal text of the deal but it will still require the approval of both the UK and European parliaments. 

On Twitter, Johnson described the deal as "great" and one that takes back control. A vote on the deal in the British parliament on Saturday will decide whether it gets through. 

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has said on Twitter that the agreed negotiation brought "a fair and balanced agreement for the EU and the UK" and is a testament to the commission's commitment to find a solution. Juncker recommended the European Council to endorse the deal.

We welcome and support #BrexitDeal where both sides showed even more goodwill and flexibility. Now need for clear way forward, both if @HouseofCommons accepts or turns down this deal -JM

— Joseph Muscat (@JosephMuscat_JM) October 17, 2019

In a press conference, Juncker said that the deal provides certainty and protects the stability of EU and UK citizens. "I am happy about the deal, but sad about Brexit," he said.

Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said that the Maltese government welcomed and supported the deal, "where both sides showed even more goodwill and flexibility. 

"Now need for clear way forward, both if House of Commons accepts or turns down this deal," he wrote on Twitter. 

We’ve got a great new deal that takes back control — now Parliament should get Brexit done on Saturday so we can move on to other priorities like the cost of living, the NHS, violent crime and our environment #GetBrexitDone #TakeBackControl

— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) October 17, 2019

Earlier, the Democratic Unionist Party of Northern Ireland announced that it would not support Johnson's proposed Brexit deal. After the Prime Minister made the announcement, the DUP reiterated that they would not be backing the deal. Our statement "still stands," it said.

Johnson will need the party's support if he hopes to get it approved in Parliament. 

READ MORE: Brexit deal rejected by DUP as Boris Johnson heads to EU summit

In the meantime, the liberal democrats have unequivocally stated that their fight to stop Brexit would not end with the news that an agreement has been reached. 

🇪🇺🤝🇬🇧 Where there is a will, there is a #deal - we have one! It’s a fair and balanced agreement for the EU and the UK and it is testament to our commitment to find solutions. I recommend that #EUCO endorses this deal. pic.twitter.com/7AfKyCZ6k9

— Jean-Claude Juncker (@JunckerEU) October 17, 2019

The Lib Dems leader, Jo Swinson, said that Boris Johnson's deal is bad news. 

"Boris Johnson’s deal would be bad for our economy, bad for our public services, and bad for our environment. The next few days will set the direction of our country for generations, and I am more determined than ever to stop Brexit. When this deal comes to parliament we will use every possible opportunity to give the public a People’s Vote on the Brexit deal that includes the option to remain in the EU," she said.

Discussing @MichelBarnier’s updates on #Brexit at the European 🇪🇺 Council of Ministers pic.twitter.com/zxAXClqMSu

— Edward Zammit-Lewis (@ZammitLewisEdw) October 15, 2019

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said that from what he could glean, the deal Johnson managed to stike with the EU proves worse than the one his predecessor Theresa May had presented to the UK parliament.

"From what we know, it seems the prime minister has negotiated an even worse deal than Theresa May’s, which was overwhelmingly rejected.

"These proposals risk triggering a race to the bottom on rights and protections: putting food safety at risk, cutting environmental standards and workers’ rights, and opening up our NHS to a takeover by US private corporations. This sellout deal won’t bring the country together and should be rejected," Corbyn said. 

He once again called for a public vote on Brexit.

The EU's chief negotiator for Brexit, Michel Barnier, said in a statement in Brussels following the agreement that Northern Ireland will remain aligned to a limited set of EU rules, notably related to goods.

"This means all applicable porocedures on goods will take place at the points of entry into Northern Ireland, and not across the island. For this purpose UK authorities will be in charge of applying the Union's customs code in Northern Ireland," he said, adding that the country also stands to benefit from UK's future trade agreement.

European Parliament President David Sassoli said that the European Parliament was ready to do its part following the final decisions at Westminister and the European Council.

"We are very happy, everybody worked for an agreed withdrawal of the UK. Now we have to examine the texts, there will be a decision by the Council and then by Westminster Parliament. The European Parliament is of course ready to do its part," he said.

Read the Brexit deal text here: