Theresa May meets opposition leaders to find way forward as Corbyn threatens further votes of no confidence
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Your support makes all the difference.Theresa May is set to meet opposition leaders and eurosceptics within her party as she attempts to find a way forward for Brexit after her plan suffered the biggest Commons defeat in history.
The prime minister called on politicians to “put self-interest aside” and work together after squeaking through a vote of no confidence called in the wake of Monday's defeat by a margin of just 19 votes, thanks to support from the DUP.
Last night Ms May held talks with Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable, SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford and Plaid Cymru's Liz Saville-Roberts, but Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn refused to meet her until she rules out a no-deal Brexit.
Speaking in Hastings, Mr Corbyn repeated his position and confirmed that he would table repeat votes of no confidence to try to trigger a general election.
Labour will also push for a Commons vote on its own Brexit plan – a customs union, “strong” alignment with the single market and protected workers’ and environmental rights – later this month.
This liveblog has now closed, but scroll above to see how the day's events unfolded
The European Union and Britain can adopt contingency measures to help cope with a no-deal Brexit but they would be implemented in a climate of distrust, the EU's Brexit negotiator said.
Britain's parliament resoundingly defeated Theresa May's withdrawal plan that she and the EU had spent two years crafting, increasing the risk that the UK will exit the EU on March 29 without any deal in place.
"If there is no deal there will be contingency measures," the EU's Michel Barnier told a Portuguese parliamentary committee during a visit to Lisbon.
"But that will be very difficult and will not be done in a climate of confidence. The best guarantee is reaching an agreement."
Green Party MP Caroline Lucas said the Prime Minister has refused to rule out the option of a no deal Brexit.
"I repeatedly urged her again and again to take 'no deal' off the table because I think it completely skews the talks because you know that cliff edge is there," she said.
She added that the Prime Minister was resisting the option of extending Article 50.
Michael Gove is in Number 10 for cross-party talks this morning on getting a Parliamentary consensus on Brexit, according to one of his ministerial colleagues.
Food and animal welfare minister David Rutley apologised to MPs for the Environment Secretary being unable to take his place during Environment, Food and Rural Affairs question in the Commons.
The minister faced a number of questions about a no-deal Brexit and attempted to assure Eurosceptic Tory Philip Hollobone (Kettering) his department was ready for such a scenario.
He said Defra was allocated an "additional £310 million to support its work on EU exit preparations" and was hiring an extra 2,7000 officials.
A number of MPs asked Mr Rutley to take no deal off the table, to which he responded: "The best way to avoid a no deal is by agreeing a deal."
He added that officials were now holding "cross-party talks" to try and achieve that, saying: "I'm just disappointed that the Leader of the Opposition didn't turn up."
Andrea Leadsom, the leader of the House of Commons, has announced there will be no return of the Immigration Bill or the Trade Bill for the foreseeable future.
Commons Leader Andrea Leadsom told MPs they will debate the Government's proposed Brexit "next steps" on January 29.
She said: "A statement and a motion on the Government's next steps under section 13 of the EU (Withdrawal) Act will be tabled on Monday (January 21).
"A full day's debate on the motion will take place on Tuesday January 29, subject to the agreement of the House."
Leader of the Opposition Jeremy Corbyn is due to address supporters in Hastings.
Some 40 minutes before his speech was due to start, a queue of Labour Party members and supporters was already snaking down the stairs and out the doors of the sea-front venue.
Several in the room wore red in solidarity with the party while a dozen members sat on the stage as they waited for Mr Corbyn to arrive.
Diane Abbott arrived just after 11am to applause and a standing ovation.
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