Katie Gleeson looks at what to look out for over the next fortnight.
All eyes remain on the Brexit negotiations this week, as the crucial European Council summit to decide the UK’s fate approaches. After the Democratic Unionist Party’s refusal to accept concessions on the Irish border meant the UK failed to strike a deal on Monday, the pressure is on for the British negotiating team to come forward with an improved deal on Northern Ireland, the divorce settlement and citizens’ rights by the end of this week - an essential condition for the European Commission to deem progress “sufficient” next Thursday, and for discussions to move on to trade.
Whether this episode will have repercussions for the relationship between the DUP and Conservative Party going forward remains to be seen. DUP leader Arlene Foster’s intervention at the 11th hour isn’t likely to go down well with the Prime Minister, who set up a confidence and supply agreement with the party after the Conservatives fell short of a majority in the election earlier this year.
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones and Mayor of London Sadiq Khan have also taken issue with the status of the negotiations, namely the initial intention to allow Northern Ireland to operate under different rules and remain in the single market and customs union "in all but name". It will be interesting to see how this dynamic evolves in the coming weeks, and if the negotiations result in a conclusion that keeps all parties happy.
Elsewhere, next week sees debates taking place on topics including data protection and pensions for women, as well as the latest day of Committee for the EU Withdrawal Bill.
