Brexit today – as it happened: EU leaders give Theresa May the go ahead to move to second phase of talks

Welcome to The Independent's Brexit liveblog, where we will be following the developments in Brussels throughout the day.

European leaders are holding key talks on the second day of the European Council summit and Brexit is top of the agenda.

Theresa May received a round of applause from senior EU politicians at a dinner last night where she accepted EU plans to postpone trade talks until March.

But she will be praying she has done enough to move the Brexit talks onto the next phase.

The PM's appearance at the summit came shortly after Tory rebels inflicted an embarrassing defeat on the Government on its flagship Brexit legislation.

The EU (Withdrawal) Bill, which is going through line-by-line scrutiny in the Commons, will transfer EU law onto the domestic statute books after Brexit.

But unlikely rebel Dominic Grieve - a former attorney general - masterminded a push to ensure MPs had a meaningful vote on the final Brexit deal.

Some of the Brexit 'mutineers' told The Independent's political editor Joe Watts why they put country before party.

Students may be pleased to know that the UK will continue to participate in the EU Erasmus programme until at least the end of 2020.

The Prime Minister confirmed that the popular student exchange programme would endure, telling EU leaders that the 30-year-old programme had provided invaluable experiences for students and staff.

Participation in the scheme beyond that date is a matter for negotiation as part of upcoming talks on the post-Brexit UK/EU relationship, and it is thought possible Britain may try to maintain its involvement.

Speaking at the summit, Ms May said: "I welcome the opportunity to provide clarity to young people and the education sector and reaffirm our commitment to the deep and special relationship we want to build with the EU."

The Government defeat reveals the majority in the House of Commons for a soft Brexit, according to political commentator John Rentoul.

He reckons the scare stories have stopped working and MPs supporting a soft exit from the EU are increasingly looking at delaying the Brexit date.

Here is his take on the Commons defeat:

European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker has spoken to journalists as he arrived for the second day of the summit.

He was muted about the next phase of talks, saying: "The second phase is considerably harder than the first, and the first was very hard."

Mr Juncker said that EU leaders gave the PM a round of applause "because some of us thought, including me, that she did make a big effort and this has to be recognised".

He said that the Withdrawal Agreement now needed to be formalised and placed before the European Parliament, adding: "Then, we will start negotiations on future relations as soon as possible."

He added: "It is a difficult process and I'm still sad that our British friends are leaving the European Union."

Asked whether he thought the UK may reverse its decision to leave, Mr Juncker said: "That depends on the British Parliament and the British people. It's not up to us to decide what the British people want."

Interesting detail from The Sun's political editor on PM's dinner in Brussels last night.

During the dinner, leaders were served roasted langoustines followed by a main course of capon and a dessert of festive log "with a twist" - whatever that means...

Meanwhile back on this side of the Channel, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is getting into a row with the Scottish Daily Mail for mixing up its Christmas films in today's splash.

Ms Sturgeon has been mocked up as the Grinch by the paper, which is critical of SNP plans to raise taxes in the latest Scottish Government budget.

The Dr Seuss character does not feature in Tim Burton's 'The Nightmare Before Christmas'.