The Prime Minister confirmed that a political declaration on Britain's future relationship with the EU has been agreed after meeting with Jean-Claude Juncker in Brussels on Wednesday.
In a defiant statement on Downing Street, the PM said she was determined to deliver Brexit based on the terms of her deal because “the British people want this to be settled”.
She said the draft political framework, to be rubber stamped by EU leaders at a summit on Sunday, represented the “right deal” for the UK and respects the outcome of the 2016 EU referendum.
"The agreement we've reached is between the UK and the European Commission,” the PM told reporters.
“It is now up to the 27 leaders of the other EU member states to examine this agreement in the days leading up to the special EU council meeting on Sunday.”
Mrs May will now embark on a three-day charm offensive aimed at convincing EU leaders to refrain from using their veto to block the agreement.
The terms of future EU-UK trade relations could still be derailed by Spain, whose government has said it will vote against the deal over concerns about Gibraltar.
In a warning to Spain and Brexiteer rebels in her own party, she said: “That deal is within our grasp and I am determined to deliver it.”
ANNOUNCEMENT: Theresa May will address MPs in the House of Commons (Pic: DS)
Mrs May said she will make a statement in parliament about Brexit negotiations.
She has had to pull out of an interview with ITV's This Morning to make the statement, scheduled to take place at 2:30pm.
The political declaration on the future relationship between the UK and EU has been "agreed at negotiators" level and agreed in principle at political level", European Council president Donald Tusk has said.
The breakthrough cleared the way for a special summit in Brussels on Sunday, at which leaders of the remaining 27 EU states are expected to give their stamp of approval to both the future framework and a separate withdrawal agreement setting out the terms of the UK's departure.
Mrs May briefed members of her cabinet on the new text in a conference call.
Speaking outside Number 10, she said: "This is the right deal for the UK. It delivers on the vote of the referendum, it brings back control of our borders, our money and our laws and it does so while protecting jobs, protecting our security and protecting the integrity of the United Kingdom."
THE RIGHT DEAL: Theresa May said her deal would respect the result of the EU referendum (Pic: SKY NEWS)
A leaked 26-page political declaration, to be approved by EU leaders at a summit on Sunday, outlines the future relationship between Britain and the EU.
The partnership on goods trading will be “as close as possible” but will “respect the result of the 2016 referendum”, bringing an end to freedom of movement between the UK and the EU, according to the document.
Based on the proposals in the withdrawal agreement, London and Brussels will “build and improve on the single customs territory” already negotiated.
An option to consider “facilitative arrangements and technologies” to ensure frictionless trade between Ireland and Northern Ireland is also included in the text.
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“We have made further progress”
Theresa May
The inclusion of an alternative to the backstop, which could keep the UK tied to the EU until 2022, may placate Brexiteers, including Jacob Rees-Mogg.
Downing Street has repeatedly made clear that agreement is needed on the future framework in order to press ahead with the legally-binding withdrawal agreement.
In a tweet, Mr Tusk said: "I have just sent to EU27 a draft Political Declaration on the Future Relationship between EU and UK.
"The Commission President has informed me that it has been agreed at negotiators' level and agreed in principle at political level, subject to the endorsement of the Leaders."</span>
TALKS: Theresa May met with Juncker in Brussels on Wednesday (Pic: GETTY)
Mrs May is set to hold more talks with Juncker on Saturday in a down to the wire bid to try and secure a withdrawal agreement at an emergency EU summit scheduled for Sunday.
In a surprise move after talks with Mr Juncker in Brussels on Wednesday night, Mrs May insisted she would press on to attempt to secure an agreement.
The PM said: "We have made further progress. And, as a result we have given sufficient direction to our negotiators, I hope, for them to be able to resolve the remaining issues.
"And that work will start immediately.
"I now plan to return for further meetings, including with President Juncker on Saturday to discuss how we can bring to a conclusion this process and bring it to a conclusion in the interests of all our people."
AGREEMENT: A political declaration on the future relationship has been agreed (Pic: GETTY)
The move came after reports from Brussels that the Sunday summit could be scrapped.
As the countdown to the scheduled summit intensified, Chancellor Philip Hammond said that if the Brexit deal is rejected by Parliament it would unleash 'political chaos' and could lead to EU withdrawal not happening.
He told ITV's Peston: "It's clear that if the deal is not approved by Parliament we will have a politically chaotic situation.
"And, we don't know what the outcome of that will be."
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