Brexit news: Theresa May mocked over 'Groundhog Day' as she unveils plan B almost identical to original plan

Theresa May has been warned that up to 40 government ministers could resign if she refuses to allow them to vote for a plan that would block a no-deal Brexit in March.

Amber Rudd, the work and pensions secretary, has told No10 it faces an exodus of members of the government unless ministers are allowed to support a backbench amendment that would extend Article 50 if a Brexit deal is not in place within weeks. 

The prime minister is expected to table a 'neutral motion' on her Brexit deal this evening, after she gave a lengthy statement in the Commons. A neutral motion means it will say something anodyne such as 'This House has considered Brexit'.

The important thing is MPs will be able to table amendments to this motion, which could allow parliament to seize control of the Brexit process.

The most eye-catching amendments are expected are from Labour's Yvette Cooper and Tory MP Dominic Grieve.

Grieve amendment - This would suspend parliament's standing orders which allow the government to control the business in the House of Commons. Instead, priority would be given to a motion that was backed by at least 300 MPs from at least five parties. It does not specify what such a motion would need to say. Effectively it gives MPs the chance to seize control of the Brexit process.

Cooper amendment - This also suspends parliament's standing orders but instead gives priority to a bill that would extend article 50 to the end of the year unless a deal is reached by February 26. Ms Cooper will table the bill this evening but as a backbench bill, it would be unlikely to receive parliamentary time. The amendment boosts it up the agenda. The aim is to avoid a no-deal Brexit in March.

We are also expecting an amendment from Frank Field, the veteran independent MP, that would demand a series of indicative votes to test parliamentary backing for different scenarios. However his amendment does not change the way parliamentary time is decided.

Theresa May has tabled the neutral motion, which MPs will be able to amend. It is pretty neutral, as you can see below:

The Prime Minister-

That this House, in accordance with the provisions of section 13(6)(a) and 13(11)(b)(i) and 13(13)(b) of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, has considered the Written Statement titled “Statement under Section 13(4) of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018” and made on 21 January 2019, and the Written Statement titled “Statement under Section 13(11)(a) of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018”and made on [date on or before 24 January].

An equivalent motion will be tabled in the House of Lords.

Labour has tabled an amendment that would instruct the government to rule out a No Deal and allow parliament to consider and vote on options to break the impasse.

AA no-deal Brexit would result in a fall of Channel freight traffic of 75 to 87 per cent, according to this Border Force contingency presentation slide obtained by Sky News:

Diane Abbott has rejected the BBC's response to accusations she was mistreated during last week's episode of Question Time.

Labour has demanded an apology from the broadcaster over what it called "unacceptable" treatment of the shadow home secretary, who said she had endured a "horrible experience" on the flagship show.

Theresa May faced protests from MPs of all parties and from business leaders after unveiling a ‘plan B’ Brexit plan virtually identical to the one that crashed to a record defeat last week.

The prime minister was accused of refusing to accept the reality of the crushing rejection of her plan, after vowing to again seek changes to the Irish border backstop – despite the EU repeatedly insisting it will not budge.

Business leaders also warned the statement was “another bleak day”, as it took the UK one step closer to the disaster of crashing out of the EU with no agreement on 29 March.

Brexit has presented a strategic opportunity to end Irish partition that must be seized, Sinn Fein's Michelle O'Neill has said.

The party vice-president called for the transition to unification to begin during an address in Londonderry to mark the centenary of the first sitting of the Dail parliament at the outbreak of Ireland's War of Independence.