Prime Minister's EU withdrawal bill approved by Cabinet - what next?

Prime Minister Theresa May has warned there are "difficult days ahead'' as the Cabinet approved a draft withdrawal agreement on Britain's exit from the European Union.

Mrs May announced she will outline the deal to MPs in the House of Commons on Thursday, but what will happen next?

Statements

Alongside Mrs May's address to the Commons, the EU's chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, and European Council president, Donald Tusk, are also expected to make a joint press statement in Brussels on Thursday. It is likely they will confirm the date for the next European Council summit as November 25.

Before the November summit date, an agreement will also have to be reached on the political declaration, published on Wednesday, on future relations - which is currently an outline and due to become a full future framework.

Brussels summit

With the Cabinet giving the green light to Britain's Brexit blueprint, it clears the way for the special Brexit summit in Brussels for EU leaders to approve the deal later this month.

Leaders of the remaining 27 EU states will be asked to put their stamp on the document, and the agreement will then be sent for ratification to both the Westminster Parliament and the European Parliament.

Parliament

The British Government would hope to stage a vote in the House of Commons before Christmas, and if every obstacle is cleared, the deal would come into effect in time for the UK's departure on March 29 2019.

It is expected the debate will stretch over several days and will end in a meaningful vote, possibly in early December, before the next scheduled European Council summit on December 13.

Transition

Following Brexit on March 29 next year, there will be a transition period in place until December 31 2020 to allow time to form a deal on the UK's future relationship with the EU.

If this is not possible by the end of that date, the UK and EU could jointly agree to extend the transition period, but Mr Barnier said on Wednesday they "haven't fleshed out'' how that could be done.

Alternatively, a temporary backstop arrangement could also be put in place from January 2021, establishing a single EU-UK customs territory until a new trade deal is implemented - covering all goods except fishery and aquaculture products.