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
With 71 days to Brexit, Jeremy Corbyn has launched his imaginary general election campaign - here is today's sketch from our writer Tom Peck:
Ireland's Foreign Affairs minister said a no-deal Brexit would have to become "an exercise in damage limitation".
Speaking in the Irish parliament, Simon Coveney said:
It would be impossible in a no-deal scenario to maintain the current seamless arrangements between the EU and UK across a full range of sectors, which is currently facilitated by our common EU membership.
The backstop is an essential part of the Withdrawal Agreement.
It acts as an insurance policy, to ensure that there is no hard border on this island following Brexit. It is essential."
Interesting development, as Jeremy Corbyn apparently reaches out to Labour MPs and tells them not to speak to the government until a no-deal Brexit is off the table.
It seems as though Yvette Cooper and Hilary Benn have ignored.
Government calls up British army reservists to help prepare for no-deal.
The ministry of Defence significantly steps up deployment of armed forces as EU withdrawal date edges closer.
he European Union is open to the possibility of a "more ambitious" Brexit deal than the one rejected by the British parliament, the EU's chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, has said.
"If they (Britain) tell us they want a more ambitious relationship, we are open," Barnier told reporters alongside Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa during a visit to Lisbon.
In case you missed it, here is Jeremy Corbyn speaking in Hastings earlier today where he said he is not ruling out a "public vote" on the future of Brexit.
‘We created this mess’: Group of Tory MPs launch push for fresh Brexit referendum
Theresa May will not be attending the Davos summit in Switzerland next week, Downing Street has said.
The Prime Minister was reportedly included on a list of expected participants in the annual World Economic Forum summit.
Downing Street declined to say whether she had been scheduled to take part, but a spokeswoman said: "She will not be going to Davos. She will be focused on matters here."
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