The House of Commons will be recalled next week to debate and vote on the details of the new Brexit deal, before it comes into effect at 11pm on 31 December.
After nine months of talks it appears that negotiators have finally resolved the remaining issues, including fishing quotas, that could have seen 2021 start with a no-deal Brexit.
Sources on both sides said the negotiations were in a final phase, with one EU official saying: “I expect to see some white smoke tonight.”
The British government said an agreement might come as soon as Wednesday night, but it was not guaranteed.
