No confidence vote result: Theresa May survives but is snubbed by Jeremy Corbyn over cross-party Brexit talks

Liz Truss, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, told Peston:

"I think it's completely ridiculous of the Labour Party to say we want to talk about a deal but you've got to take the alternative off the table before we're even prepared to discuss that.

"The way that the Labour Party are going to avoid no deal is by supporting the deal that Theresa May has worked so hard to come up with over the last few years."

Asked about if it comes down to a choice between no deal and a referendum, she said:

"I think a referendum would be incredibly dangerous. This was a major moment for our country on voting to leave the European Union."

John McDonnell has been speaking on Peston on ITV. The Shadow chancellor said:

"I think what will happen  now is the Labour Party, along with the other opposition parties, and with other  members of Parliament, will take the lead in this now because the Government  significantly failed to come up with anything they can get through their own  party." 

Mr McDonnell reiterated Mr Corbyn's position on urging Mrs May to rule out the option of a no deal.

"What happened is she stood up in Parliament and said she'd invite party leaders in. Jeremy responded saying 'We can have positive discussions if you take no deal off the table'.

"We've got to get rid of that off the table because it is catastrophic for our economy. It will cost us jobs. And I honestly believe there is an overwhelming majority in Parliament against a no-deal Brexit.

"And, again, I think the Prime Minister now seems to be working more to satisfy some elements, extreme elements, within her own party than looking after the country's interest."

Labour's David Lammy, a supporter of the Best for Britain campaign, said: "The Prime Minister is like a broken record.

"After two and a half years of damaging the country's economy and international standing while failing to get consensus in Parliament, her refusal to change tack is a historic mistake.

"If the Prime Minister really cares about the national interest, she would give the public the final say over this Brexit mess, with the option to stay in the EU."

Speaking in Downing Street, Theresa May said: "This evening the Government has won the confidence of Parliament.

"Overwhelmingly, the British people want us to get on with delivering Brexit.

"I believe it is my duty to deliver on the British people's instruction to leave the European Union and I intend to do so."

She also attempted to put pressure on Mr Corbyn, adding that she had held "constructive" meetings with  Sir Vince, Mr Blackford and Ms Saville-Roberts and would meet MPs including the DUP on Thursday.

She added: "I am disappointed that the leader of the Labour Party has not so far chosen to take part, but our door remains open."

Philip Hammond told business leaders that the “threat” of a no-deal Brexit could be taken “off the table” within days and potentially lead to Article 50 “rescinded”, a leaked recording of a conference call reveals.

The Chancellor set out how a backbench Bill could effectively be used to stop any prospect of no deal. He suggested that ministers may even back the plan when asked for an “assurance” by the head of Tesco that the Government would not oppose the motion.

• Read the full transcript of the conference call

He claimed next week’s Bill, which could force the Government to extend Article 50, was likely to win support and act as the “ultimate backstop” against a no-deal Brexit, as a “large majority in the Commons is opposed to no deal under any circumstances”.

A recording of the call, passed to The Daily Telegraph, recounts how the Chancellor, Greg Clark, the Business Secretary, and Stephen Barclay, the Brexit Secretary, spent nearly an hour talking to the leaders of 330 leading firms.

They included the heads of Siemens, Amazon, Scottish Power, Tesco and BP, all of whom warned against no deal.

The disclosure reveals the close nature of the relationship between the Treasury and some of Britain’s biggest businesses, and how they appear to be working in tandem to block a hard Brexit. It will also add to suspicions that Mr Hammond has been orchestrating attempts to soften Brexit.

Read more here

The SNP's Westminster leader has said another EU referendum must be on the table for cross-party Brexittalks to take place with the Prime Minister.

Ian Blackford called on Theresa May to make concessions on her withdrawal deal, after she survived a confidence vote in Parliament on Wednesday.

He also urged Jeremy Corbyn to back a so-called People's Vote.

Mr Blackford said: "The SNP is committed to working constructively with the Prime Minister, however the option of ruling out a No Deal, extending Article 50 and holding a People's Vote must now be on the table.

"I have written to Jeremy Corbyn along with other opposition leaders calling on him to support a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal.

"Last night's historic vote, which saw the UK Government humiliated, was a clear indication of the strength of opposition to the Prime Minister's deal from across the House. We must see concessions from the Prime Minister, as well as Jeremy Corbyn, to break the Brexit impasse."

Mrs May invited party leaders to discuss how to progress with the Brexit deal, after winning the confidence vote by 325 to 306.

But the SNP also wants guarantees that ruling out a No Deal and extending Article 50 will be possible options.

Ahead of any talks, the SNP wrote a cross-party letter with the Liberal Democrats, Plaid Cymru and the Greens to the Labour leader.

It argues that "now that the Government and the Official Opposition's options have been tested before the House, we believe the only way now which presents a real chance of breaking the Brexit deadlock is to put the decision to the people by backing a People's Vote."

The lectern is due to be placed outside of No.10 , with Mrs May due to give a short statement setting out her next steps on Brexit.

Tory MPs have started to attack Mr Corbyn for refusing to enter into substantive talks with Mrs May to resolve the Brexit crisis.

James Heappey MP said on Twitter: “Jeremy Corbyn has sat down with terrorists around the world apparently in pursuit of peace and always without preconditions.

“But will he sit down with the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom to tackle biggest constitutional challenge of our time without preconditions? Err, no.”

Surviving the confidence vote does not alter the fact Theresa May’s days in Downing Street are numbered. How does she compare with previous Prime Ministers who ran out of road while in office?  

Political Correspondent Anna Mikhailova writes...

The last time a confidence vote toppled a British government was in 1979. Jim Callaghan lost by just one vote, prompting him to dissolve Parliament and call a general election, paving the way for Margaret Thatcher.

The Labour leader’s time in office was overshadowed by the Winter of Discontent, and he struggled to maintain control of Parliament with his minority government.

In the run up to the 2015 general election, David Cameron said if the Tories won, he would serve as leader for five years then step down to make way for someone new.

The following year, Mr Cameron announced he was resigning after the UK voted to leave the European Union. He officially stepped down as leader in July 2016 and resigned as an MP two months later.

Neville Chamberlain became inextricably associated with appeasement, and clung on until May 10 1940 even after it was clear the policy had failed.

Repealing the Corn Laws overshadowed Sir Robert Peel’s second time in office, split the Conservative party and brought about his downfall. Despite eventually succeeding in June 1846, Sir Robert was defeated on another bill and resigned after a vote of no confidence in his government.

Today, an “unintended consequence” of the Fixed-term Parliaments Act is that it has become more difficult to replace a Prime Minister.

Professor Richard Toye, head of history at the University of Exeter said: “It is incredibly difficult for an opposition to force a general election.

“We saw last month that there is no mechanism for the Conservative party getting rid of Theresa May for nearly another year- and now we have seen there is no mechanism for the Labour party to do so either.

“The outcome of the confidence vote will be to sustain Theresa May in office but not in power. We are in the rearranging-the-deckchairs-on- the-deck-of-the-Titanic phase.”

Jeremy Corbyn's spokesman repeated Mr Corbyn's demand that no deal be ruled out before any talks started.

He said: "There can't be meaningful talks about how to find a deal that reflects the majority in Parliament and that can command a majority in Parliament while the threat of no deal, which would be disastrous for the country... is still on the table.

"That must come off the table.

"It's effectively a blackmail and makes meaningful talks on a real solution that can command a majority in Parliament impossible."

Theresa May's official spokesman said that the Westminster leaders of Labour, the Liberal Democrats, the SNP and Plaid Cymru had been invited to meet Mrs May later tonight.

However, a no-deal Brexit will not be taken off the table, despite Mr Corbyn's insistence it was a prerequisite for talks, he added.

The spokesman said: "The Prime Minister has been very clear that the British public voted to leave the European Union.

"We want to leave with a deal but she is determined to deliver on the verdict of the British public and that is to leave the EU on March 29 this year."

Asked by a reporter if he was "taking no-deal off the table in response to the opposition leader", he replied: "I am not."

 

 

Michael Deacon writes:

Little more than a month ago, no fewer than 117 of Mrs May’s own Tory MPs voted for her to lose her job. 

This evening, however, every single one of them voted for her to keep her job.

What had changed? Had the Prime Minister won her backbench critics round with the dazzling display of leadership to which she’s treated them in the intervening weeks, climaxing in the greatest Commons defeat for any government in modern history?

No, of course not.  Her critics think she’s as useless now as they did then. The only difference is that this time, it wasn’t they who had called the vote of no confidence. It was the leader of the Labour party. 

And if he won the vote, it wouldn’t just be Mrs May who stood to lose her job. They might lose theirs, too.

Read the full article.

Without the support of the 10 DUP MPs, the Prime Minister would have lost tonight's vote by one.

"The result of the motion of no confidence tonight illustrates the importance of the confidence and supply arrangement that is currently in place," said Nigel Dodds, deputy leader of the DUP,.

"But I say however that the confidence and supply arrangement of course is built upon delivering Brexit on the basis of our shared priorities and for us that is the union ... let us work in the coming days to achieve that objective." 

The Labour leader said immediate;y after the vote was announced that the Government must ensure there is not a no deal Brexit.

"Last night the House rejected the Government's deal emphatically," he said.

"A week ago the House voted to condemn the idea of a no-deal Brexit.

"Before there can be any positive discussions about the way forward, the Government must remove clearly once and for all the prospect of the catastrophe of a no-deal Brexit from the EU and all the chaos that would come as a result of that."

The Prime Minister has said she is grateful that the House has backed the Government - but is now prepared to work with any MP to try and find a way forward over Brexit.

"I stand ready to work with any member of this House to deliver on Brexit," she said.

She said: "I do not take this responsibility lightly and my Government will continue its work to increase our prosperity, guarantee our security and to strengthen our union.

"We will also continue to work to deliver on the solemn promise we made to the people of this country to deliver on the result of the referendum and leave the European Union."

The Prime Minister has won the motion of no-confidence in her government by 325 votes to 306.

The Environment Secretary concludes the debate by savaging the leadership qualities of the leaders of the three main opposition parties. 

The SNP's Ian Blackford, he said, had complained about Brexit and the withdrawal agreement but had failed to once mention fisheries, a key issue in Scotland's coastal towns and ports. 

Meanwhile, Sir Vince Cable, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, had complained that he regretted the referendum but it was in fact his party that first campaigned for one to be held. 

To laughter, Mr Gove said that the Lib Dem's Brexit policy was less the work of "Gladstone" but rather that of "Vicky Pollard - yeah but, no but". 

However, he saved his fiercest criticism for Mr Corbyn, who he said had failed to tackle anti-semitism in his party, failed to protect female MPs who had been threatened by hard-left supporters, and who has called for NATO and the nuclear deterrent to be disbanded. 

He added that it was Mr Corbyn, not Mrs May, who could not command the confidence of the Commons and the country, before ending his statement to cries of "More!" from the Tory backbenches.

Labour's deputy leader says MPs are ready to take control over "what has been a failed negotiation process from start to finish".

Concluding the debate, he urges the Commons to back the confidence motion this evening to ensure that Mrs May is not allowed to return to Brussels and "fail again" in trying to secure better terms for her Brexit deal. 

He says attempts by backbench MPs to limit the Government's authority is not a "coup" but rather Parliament demonstrating its sovereignty. 

And whilst he feels sorry for Mrs May, he said that "she cannot expect pity" to save her. 

In an appeal to Tory MPs, he said that whilst many of them felt a sense of "loyalty" towards Mrs May, they know that she "is not capable of getting a deal through...which is why we must act."

DUP Leader Arlene Foster said she and the party's Westminster leader Nigel Dodds had a "useful discussion" with Theresa May on Wednesday.

In a statement released by the party, Mrs Foster said: "We have had a useful discussion with the Prime Minister.

"These are critical times for the United Kingdom and we have indicated that first and foremost we will act in the national interest.

"Lessons will need to be learned from the vote in Parliament. The issue of the backstop needs to be dealt and we will continue to work to that end.

"In keeping with our commitments in the Confidence and Supply agreement, which has benefitted every sector of society in Northern Ireland, the DUP is supporting the Government this evening so that we can concentrate on the real challenges ahead of us.

"We will have further engagements in the coming days."

The crushing Commons defeat of Theresa May's Withdrawal Agreement was the result of a series of "strategic errors" throughout the negotiation process by Downing Street, former Brexit secretary David Davis has said.

Mr Davis told the Commons European Scrutiny Committee that the Prime Minister had produced a "Remainers' Brexit", in part because of a habitual preference for the EU among the civil servants advising her.

He told MPs that he had "railed" as Brexit Secretary against the "supplicant approach" which civil servants took towards the European Commission in negotiations.

And he said that Downing Street's tendency was to rely on the "risk-averse" guidance from senior civil servants, rather than the "more political and strategic negotiating advice" he was offering.

Mr Davis declined to place personal blame on his initial permanent secretary at the Department for Exiting the EU, Olly Robbins, who later moved to Number 10 as Mrs May's chief Brexit negotiator.

But he said: "He had two masters, one of which was the Prime Minister, so you can guess who won the arguments."

Mr Davis said it was "a disgrace" that the civil service had not produced a "worked-up plan" for delivering Brexit ahead of the 2016 referendum, but said this was the fault of politicians who ordered them not to do so in order to avoid embarrassment.

He blamed Number 10 for the decision to accept the European Union's demand to deal with withdrawal issues before moving on to future trade arrangements, something which he had promised would be "the fight of the summer" in 2017.

Tulip Siddiq, who delayed a Caesarean operation to attend last night's vote in a wheelchair, said she had received "personal assurances" from the Prime Minister and would be "nodded through" in tonight's confidence vote.

The convention allows an MP to be counted as having voted without passing through the division lobby, though they must be present on the parliamentary estate.

She tweeted: "In light of the PM's personal assurances to me yesterday, I will be 'nodded through' for tonight's vote of no confidence. I went through the division lobby in a wheelchair last night because pairing is broken, there is no proxy voting, and I wanted my vote recorded.

She added: "Nodding through is not ideal, I will still have to travel to Parliament & wait for whips to check I am present even though I am giving birth tomorrow. The UK is in chaos and, clearly, much greater issues face the country, but Parliament needs dragging into the 21st century ASAP."

MPs should be given an opportunity to delay Brexit if Parliament cannot reach agreement on a way forward, a cross-party Commons committee has said.

Following defeat of Theresa May's Brexit deal on Tuesday, the Exiting the EU Committee said it was "vital" the House was given the chance to identify a plan that could command a majority.

It called for a series of "indicative votes" on the various options, something Downing Street has so far rejected, to establish where a majority could be found.

It said the Government should consider giving MPs a free vote to allow for the "reflection of the view of the House as a whole".

With less than 10 weeks to Brexit day on March 29, the committee said the Commons should be able to vote on extending the Article 50 withdrawal process if an agreement cannot be reached in time.

"The most important question to be considered by the House in generations cannot be determined simply by the running down of the clock," it said.

"This would lead either to a default exit with no deal, or to the House being offered a Hobson's choice of the deal currently on offer or no deal.

"If Parliament cannot reach a view in time, then the House should be able to express its opinion on extending Article 50."

The 21-member committee includes both Leave and Remain supporters.

The deputy leader of the DUP, speaking during the debate on the motion of no confidence, says that while his party is unable to support Theresa May's Brexit deal, it will support her Government. 

He says: "We believe it is in the national interest to support the Government at this time so the aims and objectives of the confidence and supply agreement we entered into can be achieved, much work remains to be done on those matters. 

"I don't think the people in this country would rejoice at the prospect tonight if a general election were to be called. 

"I am not convinced a general election would significantly change the composition of the House. 

"And of course it doesn't change, whatever the outcome, the choices that lie before us all."

The Liberal Democrat leader accuses Theresa May of "arrogance" as he suggests that the Prime Minister has treated Brexit as if it is just an issue for the Conservative Party. 

Sir Vince says the nation is divided and the main reason is the Brexit campaign which saw promises made which could never be delivered upon. 

"There are lots of very, very angry, frustrated people out there and whether we have Brexit or no Brexit, whether we have a referendum or no referendum, they are going to remain very angry," he says.

But he says the "mature and British way of dealing with this" would be to put the Government's deal to a referendum. 

He then attacks ministers for spending billions of pounds on no-deal Brexit planning - an outcome he claims will never be allowed to happen. He says that no-deal spending is a "complete, utter waste of money".

The former Brexit secretary said that there would be "quite visible anger" among the public if the UK has not left the EU or begun a transition process to withdrawal by April.

"I think we will see quite visible anger from the public at large, and not just those who might be counted as Leavers," Mr Davis told the Commons European Scrutiny Committee.

"I have met quite a lot of erstwhile Remainers who have said to me 'I have changed my mind and next time I will vote Leave' or 'why is this proving such a difficult process?'

"If they don't see a delivery on the vote of 2016, it will be really serious indeed."

Mike Russell has called on the UK Government to rule out a no-deal exit from the European Union "now and forever".

He said there were a number of steps that must be taken in the wake of the Commons defeat of Theresa May's Withdrawal Agreement - adding that "the first part of the plan must be to rule out no deal".

Until that happens he said it was "regrettable" that the Scottish Government would have to "go on with and intensify our work to prepare for that eventuality".

Mr Russell said: "All of this activity has become a significant focus of our resources and efforts, as it has to be for a responsible government. However it remains something the UK could and should choose to remove as a risk today."

The Prime Minister tells Mr Corbyn that it is about time he set out Labour's Brexit plans in full. 

"For more than two years the Leader of the Opposition has been either unable or unwilling to share anything other than vague aspirations, empty slogans and ideas with no grounding in reality," she said. 

Mrs May claimed Mr Corbyn "faces both ways" on the issue of free movement of people as she also criticised him for refusing to answer which way Labour would campaign on Brexit in an early general election. 

She said: "The Government has no doubt about its position. Under this Government the United Kingdom will leave the European and we will respect the decision of the people."

The Prime Minister is responding to Jeremy Corbyn's motion of no confidence. 

Mrs May told MPs that now is the wrong time for a general election.  

She said: "Should the next step be a general election? I believe that is the worst thing we could do. It would deepen division when we need unity. It would bring chaos when we need certainty. And it would bring delay when we need to move forward. 

"I believe this House should reject this motion. At this crucial moment in our nation's history, a general election is simply not in the national interest."  

She told the House of Commons it is "incumbent" on the current Parliament to deliver on the EU referendum result and Mr Corbyn's call for an early general election is "not going to help to resolve the issue". 

She said that if she wins the confidence vote her first priority will be to hold meetings with MPs to hear their views on Brexit. 

Stewart McDonald, the SNP MP, intervened and asked the Prime Minister which of her red lines she is willing to drop to make her Brexit deal palatable to a majority in the House of Commons. 

Mrs May does not address the question and repeats that MPs must deliver Brexit. Mr McDonald accuses her of "pure robotic fantasy".

The Labour leader said the Prime Minister should do "the right thing" and resign after losing both "confidence and supply" in Parliament.

Mr Corbyn opened the debate on his motion of no confidence in the Government by attacking Mrs May for presiding over "the largest defeat in the history of our democracy".

Mr Corbyn said: "Last week they lost a vote on the Finance bill, that's what called supply. Yesterday they lost by the biggest margin ever, that's what's regarded as confidence.

"By any convention of this House, by any precedence, loss of both confidence and supply should mean they do the right thing and resign."

Mr Corbyn warned that the longer Mrs May's Government remains in office the more uncertainty will grow. 

He also accused the Prime Minister of not truly reaching out to other parties on Brexit after she promised to meet with senior parliamentarians to hammer out a way forward. 

Mr Corbyn's speech is not just focused on Brexit as he also takes aim at the Government's record in domestic policy areas.

He tells MPs: "Mr Speaker, if the House backs this motion today then I welcome the wide-ranging debates we will have about the future of our country and the future of our relationship with the European Union. 

"As I said before, a Prime Minister confident of what she describes as 'a good deal' and committed to tackling burning injustices should have nothing to fear from such an election.

"But Mr Speaker, if the House does not back this motion today then it is incumbent on all of us to keep all options on the table that rule out a disastrous ‘No Deal’, and to offer a better solution than the Prime Minister’s deal which was so roundly defeated yesterday."

A German MEP has called on Brussels to "stop shooting" at Britain and instead re-open the Brexit talks to find a solution that suits Theresa May's red lines. 

Speaking in the European Parliament, Hans-Olaf Henkel said: "Let us stop verbally shooting at the British with excessive morality and misunderstanding of facts."

"Let us not just reflect on how bad a Brexit would be, let us just grab it and reach out to the British to keep this important country in the Union. On fair terms."

Mr Henkel, a former head of the German industry body BDI, added:"It is not time to pour hate on Theresa May and the British Government. It is time for a fair deal that reconciles British needs and EU rules. I would like to save the British from a hard Brexit, but rather I want to spare ourselves a Europe without the British."

The MEP is one of only a few dissenting voices in Germany who believe the EU should compromise on some of its key principles, such as free movement, to allow Britain to maintain an extremely close trading relationship or rejoin the bloc with special perks.

Ken Clarke, the Tory former chancellor, tells the Prime Minister that he believes there is a majority of MPs in favour of extending Article 50.

He asks the PM to accept that and "modify her red lines" accordingly. 

Mrs May says it is precisely because of the different views on Brexit in the House that she wants to meet with MPs to hammer out a way forward. 

She then appears to leave the door open to extending Article 50 (which is not the same thing as revoking Article 50 which she earlier ruled out). 

She continues: "He talks about the possible extension of Article 50. Of course Article 50 cannot be extended by the UK. It has to be extended in consultation, in agreement, with the European Union. 

"The Government's policy is that we are leaving the European Union on the 29th of March. 

"But the EU would only extend Article 50 if actually it was clear there was a plan that was moving towards an agreed deal. 

"That is the crucial element of ensuring we deliver on Brexit is being able to get the agreement of this House to the deal that will deliver on the referendum result, leave the European Union and recognise what lay behind that vote when people voted to Leave."

More from Christopher Hope, the Telegraph's chief political correspondent, who is in the press gallery for PMQs: 

The exchanges between Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn felt like the sort of pre-election ding dong we had in 2017 before PMQs.

No wonder - because although it is unlikely - there could be an election next month if the Government loses its no confidence motion tonight.

And Mr Corbyn is due on a campaigning visit to Amber Rudd's Hastings and Rye tomorrow.

More from Christopher Hope, the Telegraph's chief political correspondent, who is in the press gallery for PMQs: 

Sitting in the press gallery the atmosphere in PMQs feels so flat.

MPs can barely raise a cheer for either leader. Tory MPs can hardly be bothered to support the PM.

There is a perpetual burble of chatter as MPs look absent-mindedly at their phones.

You would not know there was a major constitutional crisis. What an abject shower our MPs have become.

The former prime minister has been doorstepped by a TV crew as he set off for a run. 

Mr Cameron said he did not regret calling the referendum but did regret the "difficulties" experienced by the Government in implementing the result. 

He said: "I hope she wins her vote tonight, I am sure she will, and as I have said, I hope then that Parliament can come together and find an alternative partnership agreement with the European Union. 

"That's the right way forward, that's what her deal was about last night and she has my support as she does this. 

Asked directly if he regretted calling the EU referendum in 2016, Mr Cameron replied: "I don't regret calling the referendum. It was a promise I made two years before the 2015 General Election. 

"It was included in a manifesto, it was legislated for in Parliament. I think six out of seven Members of Parliament of all parties voted for that referendum. 

"Obviously I regret that we lost that referendum. I deeply regret that. I was leading the campaign to stay in the European Union and obviously I regret the difficulties and the problems that we have been having trying to implement the result of that referendum. 

"But I don't think it is going to be helped by me giving a running commentary. I support the Prime Minister. I support her aim to get a partnership deal with Europe. That's what needs to be put in place. That's what Parliament needs to try and deliver now and she has my support as she tries to do that." 

PMQs is underway in the House of Commons. 

Jeremy Corbyn asks the Prime Minister if reports last night were accurate that Downing Street had ruled out a customs union with the EU after Brexit. 

Mrs May responds by saying that her Government is committed to delivering Brexit in a way that respects the wishes of Leave voters. 

She does not address the customs union issue and Mr Corbyn hits back and accuses Mrs May of being in "denial". 

Christopher Hope, the Telegraph's chief political correspondent, is in the Commons chamber and he reports there was barely a cheer from her own MPs as she rose to her feet with the PM looking "ashen-faced, exhausted".  

He also highlights the fact that Government chief whip Julian Smith is not in his usual place on the Government front bench for PMQs - no doubt he is occupied trying to ensure Mrs May wins her no confidence vote tonight.

Mr Corbyn goes on to ask Mrs May if she will rule out a no-deal Brexit. The Prime Minister says there are two ways to prevent no-deal: To agree a deal or to revoke Article 50. 

Mrs May says revoking Article 50 is something the Government "will not do". 

It is perhaps worth pointing out that revoking Article 50 is not the same as seeking an extension of the two year period. 

James Rothwell, the Telegraph's Brexit correspondent, reports: 

Simon Coveney, Ireland's deputy prime minister, has privately admitted that checks would be carried out on goods between the UK and Ireland in a 'no deal' Brexit scenario.

In a conversation caught by a stray microphone, Mr Coveney told allies that they should not reveal where in Ireland the checks would take place amid fears his ruling Fine Gael party would blamed for a hard border.

"We can't get into where they'll be at this stage," Mr Coveney told transport minister Shane Ross after the pair left a press briefing and did not realise their microphones were switched on.

"But once you start talking about checks anywhere near the border, people will start delving into that and all of a sudden we'll be the Government that reintroduced a physical border on the island of Ireland," he said. 

Mr Coveney added that the border checks "could be at sea" rather than on the 310-mile land crossing. 

The remarks directly contradict Mr Coveney's reassurances that Dublin would not put up a border with Northern Ireland if the EU was unable to strike a deal with the UK.

"We are not planning to put checks on the Border," he previously told the Irish Independent. 

The private exchange appears to pour cold water on claims by Brexiteer MPs such as Boris Johnson that fears of a hard border re-emerging after Brexit are overblown.

Customs checks on goods moving from Ireland to the UK could have a catastrophic impact on the former's economy. Half of Ireland's beef exports are sent to the UK.

Theresa May won’t be coming to Brussels today, the EU Commission has said.

Jean-Claude Juncker is in Brussels on Thursday and Friday if she wants to come then, a Commission spokesman has said.

The Justice Secretary was just on Sky News and he was asked about the Government's efforts to engage with opposition MPs to find a way forward on Brexit. 

Told that the Government's deal and its position on not wanting to be in a customs union with the EU after Brexit had been rejected by MPs, Mr Gauke said it was a "starting point".

He then said: "At this stage I don’t think it’s about boxing ourselves in, we need to work out where the balance of opinion is.”

His comments are likely to be interpreted as the Government potentially being willing to change tack on the customs union issue. 

A key thing to remember: The price of Labour support for a deal is likely to be the UK being in a permanent customs union with the EU after Brexit. 

The DUP leader claimed there had never been a hard border in Ireland.

She said: "For those of us who lived on the border and who were attacked by the IRA, we know that the IRA escaped across that border, so it was not a hard border, nobody wants to go back to that.

"It takes the will to look for solutions and the regrettable thing is the Republic of Ireland has not been in the solution-finding mode.

"I hope that they are now, I hope that our Prime Minister uses that vote last night to go to Europe and to look for a better deal."

Pedro Sanchez has been speaking in the European Parliament this morning and he expressed regret at MPs rejecting Theresa May's Brexit deal. 

Mr Sanchez said it was now up to the UK to come forward with proposals as he described Brexit as a "disaster". 

He said: "It therefore falls to the British Government to adopt the decisions appropriate regarding the further steps to be taken.

"We as Member States and EU institutions will do our job. Both the Member States and Commission will adopt the measures we need to minimise the impact of any possible no deal Brexit. 

"I've always expressed my view that Brexit is a disaster for the British people and for the whole Union. No-one's going to win from this, we will all lose. Particularly the British and in particular those who need support from their government, the most vulnerable.

"But it's a sovereign decision that we cannot fail to respect, which is why I hope that the UK will choose to maintain the closest possible relations with the EU."

The Scottish First Minister is in Westminster to meet with SNP MPs and she has stepped up her call for an extension of Article 50.

Following a telephone call with Mrs May on Tuesday, Ms Sturgeon said: "It seemed to me as if she has no idea really of what to do next."

The 71 Labour MPs and 13 MEPs who have declared their support for a second Brexit referendum have issued the following statement, outlining the reasoning behind their decision: 

"This is an unprecedented and perilous moment in our history. 

"With this Tory Government in chaos and with the jobs and security of our constituents on the line - we strongly support the Labour decision to reject Theresa May’s 'deal'. 

"We were appalled at her anti-democratic moves to prevent Parliament having a vote, and to run down the clock by delaying it until mid-January. This was an utterly irresponsible decision, and gambling with the jobs and livelihoods of our constituents.

"The Tory Government approach has been disastrous since day one. Their plans would lead to more austerity, fewer jobs and less money for our public services. This is not what anyone voted for in 2016.

"We represent hugely diverse constituencies from the North to the South, from Wales to Scotland. Many of our constituencies voted to Leave in 2016. We must listen to and respond to the reasons why people did so.

"But we now face a moment of national crisis, where the facts and the views of many people have changed - and are continuing to change.

"It is now clear renegotiation is not a realistic prospect. No deal would be a catastrophe which we must resolutely oppose. The Government should seek an extension to Article 50 to provide time for Parliament to find a way forward. Theresa May has failed to bring this country back together.

"Labour’s conference adopted a clear policy for this situation. 

"We must try and remove this Government from office as soon as possible. But the removal of the Government and pushing for a General Election may prove impossible, so we must join Trade Unions, our members and a majority of our constituents by then unequivocally backing the only logical option to help our country move forward: putting the decision back to the people for a final say, in a public vote, with the option to stay and keep the deal that we have.

"Defeat of the Tory deal in a public vote would give us all a chance to campaign for the anti-austerity policies and a Labour government that deals with the true causes of the Brexit vote, and a reformed Europe that works for all people."

The German Chancellor said on Wednesday morning that "we still have time to negotiate" after the Brexit deal was rejected by MPs. 

"We still have time to negotiate but we're now waiting on what the prime minister proposes," she said. 

A group of some 71 Labour MPs has this morning been unveiled as formally backing the People's Vote campaign for a second referendum. 

More than a dozen Labour MEPs have also backed the move. 

The aim of the public declaration will be to put pressure on Jeremy Corbyn to adopt a second referendum as party policy. 

The 71 figure represents just 28 per cent of the Parliamentary Labour Party's 256 MPs and campaigners are likely to have been hoping for a stronger showing. 

However, the actual level of support for a second referendum within the party is likely to be higher with frontbenchers currently not included. 

More comments from the EU's chief Brexit negotiator as he addressed the European Parliament this morning. There was prolonged applause for Mr Barnier when he finished. 

"The compromise reached after 18 months, together with the UK Government, is the best possible compromise. 

"It is the result of constructive work during the negotiations. It is also the result of a constructive attitude which we will maintain until the end: Calm, unity, dialogue, transparency. 

"It is now for the UK Government to clarify how it wishes to proceed to organise the orderly withdrawal, that the UK Government asked for and how it wants to build with us a new ambitious and long-term partnership."

The former Ukip leader told ITV1's Good Morning Britain: "If the Prime Minister had any sense of honour she would resign this morning having led us to this debacle, but of course she won't."

Describing Mrs May's Withdrawal Agreement as being like "a surrender document of a nation that had been beaten in war", Mr Farage added: "Brexit is not the problem, this Prime Minister is, she needs to go."

He said he now expected the two-year Article 50 process leading to Brexit to be extended beyond March 29.

The pound has held firm on hopes over a Plan B for Brexit. 

Sterling had already clawed back initial heavy losses overnight after Tuesday's crushing Brexit deal defeat in Parliament, but strengthened further on Wednesday as markets assessed what the vote means for the UK's withdrawal from the EU.

The pound held at just under 1.29 US dollars and stood at nearly 1.13 euros.

Sterling had slipped as low as 1.2669 against the dollar immediately after the Brexit vote, but soon bounced back.

The Labour leader left his home in Islington, north London, at around 8.30am.

He refused to answer questions from reporters on whether the vote of no confidence is a distraction or if he will win it, and simply wished everyone a good morning.

The Commons Leader suggested Mrs May has no intention of speaking to Jeremy Corbyn about what should happen next on Brexit. The PM said on Tuesday night she would consult senior parliamentarians. 

She said: "Jeremy Corbyn had the opportunity yesterday to put to the House exactly what his alternative proposals were. He clearly has none and instead what he wants to do is to seek to disrupt government and disrupt the nation at a crucial time by seeking a general election.

"I don't think she has written him off at all but he needs to come to the the table and tell us what he wants to do. He had the opportunity plentifully yesterday in the chamber."  

Mrs Leadsom also said the PM's deal would likely form the basis of any future deal. 

She said: "What the Prime Minister has said she is going to do is to speak with senior parliamentarians across the House and seek to find a way that does meet with a majority and that is absolutely key here because the prime minister's deal is a good one, it delivers on the will of the people as expressed in the referendum while at the same time giving us a continued close collaboration with the EU that protects jobs and our economy in this country. 

"What we need to do is find a way that that deal or some part of it or an alternative deal that is negotiable can then be put to the European Union so that we can get this Brexit through by March 29 which is what we have committed to doing." 

Finally, Mrs Leadsom ruled out extending Article 50. 

She told the BBC: "Parliamentarians right across Europe and the UK have very strong and passionately held views on this subject. 

"We are clear we won't be delaying Article 50. We won't be revoking it. And we are determined to deliver on Brexit on March 29 which is what a vast majority of Parliamentarians voted for in triggering Article 50." 

Following the defeat of Theresa May's Brexit plan in the Commons, the former Conservative minister said the PM now needed to be more flexible in the negotiations.

"She put down right at the beginning of this process what she called red lines," he told the BBC.

"This is not a terrain in which you can have things you will definitely never do. You have to sit down and talk and come up with a consensus. That means being much more flexible than we have been so far."

Sir Oliver, one of the architects of a plan to give MPs a greater say, said that any agreement needed to be able to command the support of a Commons majority - at least 326 MPs.

"That can only be found, I think, under these circumstances by having talks between the many people - I think probably more like 400 MPs - who agree that we shouldn't have a no-deal, that we don't want to go back and have another referendum and start all over again. What we actually want to do is find a solution," he said.

He said that any new plan also needed to win the support of the EU.

"There is no point in us discussing unicorns which are items that live in fanciful forests. We have to discuss real objects," he said.

A few days after the June 2017 general election, Theresa May addressed her MPs at Westminster, still as Prime Minister but no longer with a parliamentary majority. She had contemplated resignation, but an overwhelming sense of duty possessed her, writes Philip Johnston. 

“I’m the one who got us into this mess and I’m the one who will get us out of it,” she told them. After last night’s debacle in the Commons, they are entitled to ask: so how did that go?

Her defeat is the greatest humiliation ever inflicted on a prime minister and should make her continuation in office untenable.

For goodness sake, in 1940 Neville Chamberlain won by 80 votes, yet felt obliged to stand down because so many in his own party had opposed him. Yet even as she surveyed the wreckage of her Brexit policy in the Commons last night, Mrs May was intent on carrying on, apparently without humility, despite having lost by an astonishing 230 votes.

Read the full article.

In the end, not even the Russia investigation could keep Brexit out of the US headlines, writes Ben Riley-Smith.

Throughout Tuesday the cable news channels had been live-streaming the grilling attorney general nominee William Barr was getting at the hands of senators – would he sack special counsel Robert Mueller if confirmed? Would he try to protect Donald Trump? 

But around 2.40pm Washington DC time, one by one, the stations turned away to a drama that was far more captivating. Westminster. A historic humiliation. And, for once, someone else’s mess. 

Read the full story.