Brexit Divorce Deal Front Pages Range From Jubilant Celebration To Intense Despair

It's was an emotional day for Fleet Street.

The papers have digested Friday’s Brexit divorce deal news and Saturday’s front pages deliver their verdicts.

HuffPost UK has ranked them on a scale of ‘jubilant celebration’ to ‘intense despair’.

While the side each backed in the EU referendum is a clear predictor of their stance, their reactions span an incredibly wide spectrum of emotions and there’s no prizes for guessing which end of the spectrum the Daily Mail is on.

JUBILIANT CELEBRATION

‘REJOICE!’ may look like it was supposed to be part of the wine offer but slipped down in an unfortunate editing error.

What the actual.... #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/5ZCzly4y50

— Ian Fraser (@Ian_Fraser) December 8, 2017

According to the pro-Brexit paper, the deal marks “a huge step toward regaining control of its borders, laws and money”.

Hallo, @DailyMailUK . How does an open Irish border give UK control over ‘our borders’? How does ‘aligning regulation’ give us control over ‘our laws’? How does committing to unquantified payments give us control over ‘our money’? #BrexitShambles

— RogerJarman (@pedanteric5) December 8, 2017

🤔 🤔 🤔

HEAD IN THE SAND

Saturday's Express: "Huge Brexit boost at last" (via @hendopolis) #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/DjTHu85JFx

— BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) December 8, 2017

The pro-Brexit Express front page is remarkable considering just four days ago it called concessions on the Irish border and the European Court of Justice “a stitch up” in this headline.

Huh, make your mind up pic.twitter.com/rvupIFMtlI

— S🐼mmy ✌️ (@samstyles147) December 8, 2017

HEAD IN THE BUBBLES

The pro-Brexit Sun relegates the news to a tiny section of the front page which lauds the “Champagne Brexfast” and describes how Theresa May has “won”.

Saturday's Sun: "Glass attack on TV Kat" (via @hendopolis) #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/jzP6tjY65d

— BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) December 8, 2017

“Full story on pages 6 & 7.”

Good to see that there is such important front page news.

— Phil Wray #FBPE (@Phil_w_wray) December 8, 2017

HEAD-ING OUT TO SEA

All aboard for the pro-EU i which declares the UK has “set course” for a soft Brexit.

I: Britain sets course for soft Brexit #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/Xq4ZoSDpuM

— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) December 8, 2017

But that’s not why this guy will be buying it tomorrow.

Never mind that - Star Wars trading cards !

— Andy Kitchingman (@andykitchi) December 8, 2017

HEAD IN A 99 - FLAKE OPTIONAL

The pro-EU Daily Mirror takes the opportunity to highlight the concessions the UK has had to make in order to come to a deal.

DAILY MIRROR: Mrs Softee #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/JjruP2cctn

— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) December 8, 2017

HEADS DOWN AND LOOK SERIOUS

It's all very sombre from the pro-EU Guardian.

GUARDIAN: Deal is done but EU warns of more delays #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/eLggiCCMVt

— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) December 8, 2017

HEAD ON A CHOPPING BLOCK

The pro-Brexit Telegraph has a sombre and reflective take on the deal, which it calls “the price of freedom”.

Saturday's Telegraph: "The price of freedom" (via @hendopolis) #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/GsSsEFqwtF

— BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) December 8, 2017

Many concessions but hey, freedom comes at a price when it comes to Brexit. And Braveheart.

INTENSE DESPAIR

The pro-EU Independent’s digital front page is a bit of a Star Wars-inspired design masterclass.

Saturday's Independent: "So, 18 months after the Brexit vote...." (via @hendopolis) #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/UOZoy4Gii7

— BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) December 8, 2017

The Independent’s gloom was shared by Nigel Farage - a man the paper rarely sees eye to eye with.

But he was unhappy for very different reasons.

This is not a deal, it's a capitulation. UK Government has put too much on the table for absolutely nothing guaranteed in return. pic.twitter.com/19fxXn41E0

— Nigel Farage (@Nigel_Farage) December 8, 2017

K E Y P O I N T S O F T H E D E A L

  • A deal has been reached between the European Union and the United Kingdom on phase one of the Brexit talks.

  • The European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker revealed early on Friday morning that “sufficient progress” has now been made.

  • This opens the way for negotiations on the future trade relationship between the UK and EU to begin.

  • Theresa May said the deal makes sure there will be “no hard border” between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

  • The prime minister said the rights of EU citizens living in the UK and British citizens living in the EU will be protected

  • A financial settlement will be paid by the UK to the EU which is “fair to the British taxpayer”, May said.

  • DUP leader Arlene Foster said she was now satisfied there would now be “no red line down the Irish Sea” separating Northern Ireland from Great Britain.

  • May will personally guarantee to the people of Ulster six promises, including leaving the EU customs union and single market and upholding the Good Friday Agreement peace deal

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