Brexit news: Ken Clarke prepared to be caretaker PM as senior Tory rebels join Swinson in rejecting Corbyn

Buckle up. Despite Dominic Grieve’s dismissal of Jeremy Corbyn’s plan to lead a caretaker government, the shenanigans over a unity government is only just beginning, says Andrew Grice.

Home secretary Priti Patel has responded to news a police officer was killed while responding to a burglary near to the A4 between Reading and Newbury last night.

Carrie Symonds is expected to make her first public speech since boyfriend Boris Johnson became PM at an environmental event today.

Britain’s “first girlfriend” will appear on a Question Time-style panel alongside guests including Chris Packham.

Sam Russel has the details.

The Brexit Party has been unveiling more interesting general election candidates this week.

Nigel Farage’s party named Mark Nash as a candidate for the Moray constituency, according to The National – before the newspaper revealed he had written a series of blogs under a pseudonym describing Islam as a “cancer”.

He is no longer a candidate for Moray. The party has claimed Nash had failed the vetting process and had only been added to a press release “in error”.

Jeremy Corbyn has said it is “not up to Jo Swinson to decide who the next prime minister is going to be” after she refused to back his plans to lead a unity government.

The Labour leader said: “It’s not up to Jo Swinson to choose candidates, it's not up to Jo Swinson to decide who the next prime minister is going to be.

“Surely she must recognise she is a leader of one of the opposition parties who are apparently opposed to this government, and apparently prepared to support a motion of no confidence. I look forward to joining her in the lobbies to vote this government down.”

Boris Johnson has said he is “deeply shocked and appalled” by the death of an on-duty officer in Berkshire, the latest in a series of attacks on police.

The PM offered his condolences following the death of PC Andrew Harper in a “serious incident” while attending a reported burglary.

Ten males aged between 13 and 30 were arrested on suspicion of murder in relation to the attack on PC Harper near the village of Sulhamstead. The incident came in the same fortnight as a police officer being attacked with a machete in Leyton, east London, and another being run over in Birmingham in an alleged attempted murder.

Johnson has repeatedly highlighted the risks police face in recent weeks while announcing he would recruit an extra 20,000 officers to restore numbers to the level they were at before Tory cuts.

“I am deeply shocked and appalled by the death of a brave officer on duty in Thames Valley last night. My thoughts are with PC Harper’s family, friends and colleagues at this terrible time. They have my absolute support.”

Jeremy Corbyn, speaking during a visit to Wales, said: “I’m totally shocked at Andrew Harper’s death, and my immediate thoughts are condolences to his family and to his colleagues, who must be going through some awful moments at the present time.”

One of Labour’s biggest trade union allies has accused the party leadership of “trading” female MPs seats to allow them to be filled by “favourite sons”.

Benjamin Kentish has the details on Dave Prentis’ letter to Jeremy Corbyn.

More on Dominic Grieve’s decision to reject Jeremy Corbyn’s offer to lead a caretaker government after ousting Boris Johnson in a vote of no-confidence.

Grieve has said he is willing to talk to the Labour leader to explore ways to stop a no-deal Brexit, but does not want “deeply divisive figure” as an interim PM.

“As I believe a no-deal Brexit would be catastrophic, not just economically but also threatening the future of the United Kingdom, I’m working with like-minded parliamentarians to prevent it happening,” he said, according to The Guardian.

“In that context, I’m prepared to speak to any parliamentarian who shares that view, including the leader of the opposition. 

“If he is against no deal, I’m happy to talk. That is very different to thinking he is an appropriate figure to lead a government.

“Jeremy Corbyn is unfortunately a deeply divisive figure and in trying to stop a no-deal Brexit it is not my purpose to help him into Downing Street.”

If you missed Mark Steel’s latest piece, here he is taking apart the Lib Dems’ position on the Jeremy Corbyn offer.

Jeremy Corbyn has said more about Jo Swinson and a no-deal Brexit. He said the Lib Dem leader should respect the “normal precedent” to allow the leader of the opposition to form an administration after a successful vote of no confidence in the government.

He also told politicians who were “making noise in the media” (a reference to Dominic Grieve, perhaps?) to consider supporting him in order to prevent a “damaging” no-deal Brexit.

Corbyn also told the Press Association: “It’s not up to Jo Swinson to choose candidates, it’s not up to Jo Swinson to decide who the next prime minister is going to be.

“Surely she must recognise she is a leader of one of the opposition parties who are apparently opposed to this Government, and apparently prepared to support a motion of no confidence.”