The Manx Chief Minister has spoken with the Parliamentary Undersecretary of State for Exiting the EU about the Prime Minister’s Withdrawal Agreement.

Howard Quayle spoke with MP Robin Walker to discuss the deal, and political declaration, negotiated by Theresa May in Brussels on Sunday.

He says: “The UK Government has been able to confirm that our interests have been protected, and that we have been included within the Withdrawal Agreement and Implementation Period, to the limited extent of our current Protocol 3 relationship.

“We now await the result of the parliamentary debate and vote in the UK with great interest.

“The UK has also committed to ensuring that they will negotiate on our behalf in discussions with the EU on the future relationship, and that these discussions will respect our constitutional position, as well as taking account of our existing relationship with the EU.

“There is still some way to go, and we will continue to work closely with the UK to ensure we can achieve a new relationship which is proportionate, and balances our rights against our responsibilities.

“For now this work includes continuing to prepare for the possibility that there is no deal, and that the UK leaves without any arrangements in place in March next year.