PM to visit NI ahead of Brexit vote
Prime Minister Theresa May will say her Brexit plans strengthen "every corner'' of the union as she visits Northern Ireland on Tuesday.
As part of her bid to win support for the EU Withdrawal Agreement ahead of a looming crunch Commons vote, Mrs May will say that devolved administrations will have more powers after the UK quits the bloc.
While meeting employers and politicians, the PM will stress that responsibility for more than 150 areas of policy will pass to devolved parliaments and assemblies after Brexit.
The Prime Minister will say: "Having been told by the EU that we would need to split the UK in two, we are leaving as one United Kingdom.
"My deal delivers for every corner of the UK, and I will work hard to strengthen the bonds that unite us as we look ahead to our future outside of the EU.
"Throughout negotiations, I have fought to ensure that powers returning from the EU will be restored to the Northern Ireland Assembly.
"This deal avoids a hard border between Northern Ireland and Ireland. This has been at the forefront of my mind throughout the negotiations.
"It has been especially clear to me when I have visited communities along the border in Northern Ireland and seen first-hand how important it is that the unique circumstances local employers face are recognised in any agreement.
"They need to be able to trade freely across the border with Ireland and have unfettered access to the rest of the United Kingdom's market.
"This deal makes that possible and that's why, across Northern Ireland, employers large and small have been getting behind it.''
In Northern Ireland, the PM will meet with the five main political parties.
Mrs May is also expected to visit Scotland in the coming days.