Brexit: EU leaders take two minutes to agree transition demands - as it happened

Welcome to The Independent's politics liveblog, where we will be bringing you the latest updates throughout the day.

An influential group of peers have warned Theresa May’s flagship Brexit legislation is “constitutionally unacceptable” and will need to be substantially rewritten.

The stark warning comes as peers in the upper chamber gear up to begin the lengthy process of debating the legislation – passed with a seal of approval from the Commons earlier this month.

The "youthquake" that fuelled support for Jeremy Corbyn at the general election was a myth, according to an interesting new study.

Academics from the British Election Study found that turnout among young voters was broadly similar to the 2015 poll and may even have decreased.

Voters under the age of 25 were more likely to vote Labour than ever before but were no more likely to turn out than in previous years.

It said: "The Labour 'youthquake' explanation looks to become an assumed fact about the 2017 election.

"The Oxford English Dictionary even declared 'youthquake' their word of the year. But people have been much too hasty. There was no surge in youth turnout at the 2017 election."

Labour's leader - who was regularly greeted with chants of "Oh Jeremy Corbyn" and often pictured surrounded by young people during the election - was often credited with mobilising previously disengaged voters under 25.

But the study said the claims were "largely based on anecdotes".

A besieged Theresa May will try to calm her party’s civil war at a meeting of her Brexit “war cabinet” today, amid anger over a minister’s attack on “swivel-eyed” fellow Tory MPs.

Claire Perry exposed the true scale of bitter infighting when she also warned hard Brexit supporters were hell-bent on “wrecking the economy”, in a leaked WhatsApp message.

Story here:

Tory minister calls hard Brexit supporting MPs swivel-eyed

Former education secretary Justine Greening has urged Tories to get behind Theresa May for the "almost impossible" task of negotiating Brexit - despite being sacked in Ms May's recent reshuffle.

Ms Greening insisted she remains a "firm supporter" of the Prime Minister and said she was disappointed by the "soundings off" about her leadership.

Increasingly public criticism of Mrs May's leadership from the backbenches has fuelled speculation she will face a leadership challenge.

Ms Greening told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I remain a strong backer of the Prime Minister. I've been very disappointed to see the soundings off.

"I think they need to stop and I think people need to get behind her.

"I think she is doing an important job for our country. We need to support her in that impossible, almost, task that she has negotiating Brexit."

Ms Greening said she would back Mrs May if she wants to lead the Tories into the next general election.

"If she wants to do that she will have my full support," she said. "I think she has been very clear she will take soundings from our party in the run up to that election. I remain a firm supporter of the Prime Minister."

Ms Greening was sacked in the PM's reshuffle earlier in January after refusing to move to the Department of Work and Pensions.

Rape complainants’ sexual history is being unfairly used against them in court, according to MPs and experts campaigning to change the law.

Two former solicitor generals are leading a campaign launched today to insert new protections preventing “prejudicial, irrelevant” evidence being used, citing the Ched Evans as one example.

Angela Merkel has apparently been teasing Theresa May in a secret briefing for journalists at Davos last week.

The German chancellor confided that when she asks Ms May what she wants the shape of the UK's relationship with the EU to be, The Prime Minister May says "make me an offer", according to ITV's political editor Robert Peston.

Ms Merkel responds: "But you're leaving - we don't have to make you an offer. Come on what do you want?"

And Ms May replies, "Make me an offer" - leaving the pair trapped in a recurring back and forth.

Also on the agenda today:

David Davis will appear before the House of Lords European Union Committee at 2.30pm for a grilling by peers. 

The Brexit Secretary is likely to face tough questions after a Lords committee said the the Government's flagship legislation is "constitutionally unacceptable".

Record numbers of peers are also gearing up for fierce debates on the EU (Withdrawal) Bill, which moves onto the Lords this week for a two-day second reading.