The UK and the EU have been negotiating a withdrawal agreement for several years since the UK voted to leave the EU back in 2016. In October 2019, a new version of the withdrawal agreement was reached between the UK and the EU.

The withdrawal agreement outlines the terms of the UK`s exit from the EU, including the transition period and the rights of citizens. It also covers financial commitments, such as the UK`s financial obligations to the EU.

One of the significant changes in the October 2019 withdrawal agreement was the backstop arrangement for the Irish border. The backstop is an insurance policy that aims to prevent a hard border between Northern Ireland (part of the UK) and the Republic of Ireland (an EU member state). This arrangement became one of the contentious issues during negotiations and was among the reasons why the previous withdrawal agreement was rejected by the UK parliament.

Under the new withdrawal agreement, the backstop has been replaced by a different protocol. This protocol allows Northern Ireland to remain aligned with some EU regulations, creating a regulatory border in the Irish Sea.

The October 2019 withdrawal agreement was approved by the EU. However, it faced another acrimonious debate in the UK parliament, with several MPs expressing opposition due to the backstop provision. The opposition led to the agreement being rejected by the UK parliament three times.

Eventually, the UK left the EU on 31 January 2020, with a transition period until 31 December 2020. During the transition period, the UK and the EU negotiated their future relationship, which includes trade, security, and other areas of cooperation.

In summary, the October 2019 withdrawal agreement between the UK and the EU was a crucial step in the Brexit process, but it faced significant opposition in the UK parliament. The agreement addressed some of the contentious issues, including the backstop arrangement, but the debate surrounding the withdrawal agreement persisted until the UK`s exit from the EU.