Brexit - as it happened: Eurosceptic issues leadership challenge to Theresa May's cabinet as no-confidence vote intrigue grows

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Theresa May faces another tough day as she battles to cling onto her job after a flurry of ministerial resignations and a growing campaign to unseat her by Conservative MPs unhappy about her Brexit deal.

As No 10 gears up for a potential vote of no confidence, government whips were recalled to Westminster from their constituencies.

Ms May began the morning with a 30-minute phone-in on LBC, where she insisted she would carry on as prime minister and defended the Brexit deal that has infuriated many of her MPs. She was speaking minutes after former culture secretary John Whittingdale became the latest to announce he had submitted a letter of no-confidence in her.

Having lost senior cabinet ministers Dominic Raab and Esther McVey, pressure on Ms May was heightened after leading Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg submitted his letter calling for a vote of no-confidence on Thursday afternoon.

A number of other Tory backbenchers publicly followed suit. If the number of letters hits 48 (15 per cent of the parliamentary party) Sir Graham Brady, who chairs the 1922 Committee of Tory backbenchers, will automatically trigger a confidence vote in Ms May.

There is growing speculation of further cabinet resignations, with Michael Gove considering whether he should step down after apparently refusing to take the Brexit secretary job.

Mr Gove is believed to have demanded that Ms May’s draft agreement is renegotiated and for the 25 November summit with the EU to be cancelled.

Penny Mordaunt, the international development secretary, is also thought to be still considering quitting and met with Ms May yesterday to discuss.

This is how Europe's newspapers reacted to Britain's 'Brexit bedlam'Europe’s press has watched on in horror as once-stable Britain was plunged into yet another political crisis over its relationship with the EU on Thursday.The Irish Independent warned in a headline that “Brexit bedlam” had engulfed Theresa May, with “bruising attacks” against her from her own party over her deal.The newspaper reports that “the British Prime Minister is battling to save her career” as “a string of her ministers jumped ship” in “a rapidly unfolding crisis”. Plans for a no-deal are continuing “unabated” in Dublin, it says.

Ashley Cowburn16 November 2018 11:56

Ashley Cowburn16 November 2018 12:16

Theresa May's de facto deputy David Lidington has said she will win a no confidence vote "handsomely".

Asked what he would say to those submitting letters of no confidence by Bauer Radio Scotland, he said: "Withdraw them, because I don't think you're doing the country any good by attacking the Prime Minister in this way.

"I've seen no plausible alternative plan from any of those criticising her or wanting to challenge her position.

"I believe if it does comes to a challenge the Prime Minister will win handsomely and she will deserve to do so."

Ashley Cowburn16 November 2018 12:33

UN condemns 'callous' UK government in damning poverty reportA United Nations report has condemned the British government's "punitive, mean-spirited and often callous" treatment of the country's poorest and most vulnerable, in a damning report .  The UN's special rapporteur said policies and drastic cuts to social support were entrenching high levels of poverty and inflicting unnecessary misery in one of the richest countries in the world, adding that Brexit was exacerbating the problem.

Ashley Cowburn16 November 2018 13:01

Interesting update - the government's chief whip, Julian Lewis, has cancelled a meeting with Conservative MPs. He was due to provide a briefing on the UK-EU Brexit agreement.

Ashley Cowburn16 November 2018 13:08

Another Conservative MP has handed in a vote of no confidence

Ashley Cowburn16 November 2018 13:20

Liam Fox, the international trade secretary, has backed Theresa May and insisted "a deal is better than no deal".

That appears to directly contradict what the prime minister has been saying for months, which is that "no deal is better than a bad deal".

Speaking this afternoon, Dr Fox said he hoped MPs would take a "rational and reasonable view" of the draft withdrawal agreement, adding that have been elected "to do what is in the national interest. "

He said:

"I hope that across Parliament we will recognise that a deal is better than no deal. Businesses do require certainty, confidence as they go forward for their planning. There are those around the world who are waiting to get certainty also with their trade agreements."

Benjamin Kentish16 November 2018 13:49

Liam Fox admits 'a deal is better than no deal' as he backs Theresa May's Brexit planCabinet minister Liam Fox has sought to defend the prime minister’s Brexit proposals by claiming that “a deal is better than no deal”.  The international development secretary’s comments mark a change in stance from the previous “no deal is better than a bad deal” line, taken by Theresa May since early 2017.

Ashley Cowburn16 November 2018 14:14

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Brexiteers who refuse to quit Theresa May's cabinet will not be seen as Tory leadership candidates, Eurosceptic former minister saysBrexiteers who remain in the Cabinet rather than resigning in protest at Theresa May's Brexit deal will not be considered as Tory leadership candidates, a leading Eurosceptic has warned.In a move that will come as a blow to the likes of Penny Mordaunt and Michael Gove, Steve Baker said ministers who chose to hold onto their jobs would not be "plausible" leadership contenders.Mr Baker, a former Brexit minister, is an influential figure in the European Research Group (ERG) of anti-EU Tories. On Thursday he was among backbenchers who demanded a vote of no confidence in Ms May, and called on others to do the same.

Ashley Cowburn16 November 2018 14:58

Theresa May says her insulin comes from EU so she recognises 'importance' of Brexit dealPrime minister reveals issue of stockpiling medicine ‘affects her personally’

Ashley Cowburn16 November 2018 15:37

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