As it happenedended

Brexit: Ex-minister outlines plan for MPs to seize control of EU withdrawal as Brussels issues warning over Irish border

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Ashley Cowburn

Political Correspondent

,Lizzy Buchan

Tuesday 22 January 2019 14:40 EST

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MPs are drawing the battle lines for a potential extension to the Article 50 process and “indicative votes” on a fresh EU referendum, as they table rival Brexit plans ahead of a Commons clash next week.

It comes after Theresa May was warned that up to 40 government ministers could resign if she refuses to allow them to vote for a plan that would prevent a no-deal scenario on 29 March.

Speaking on Monday, Ms May vowed again to seek changes to the Irish border backstop – leading to Jeremy Corbyn to compare her statement to “Groundhog Day”, adding it was like last week’s crushing defeat on her Brexit deal “never happened”.

For events as they happened, see our live coverage below

MPs and business leaders protest May's identical ‘plan B’ for BrexitTheresa 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 borderbackstop – 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.In the Commons, Jeremy Corbyn attacked “groundhog day”, while senior Tories warned it was “like last week’s vote never happened” and that the UK was being turned “into a laughing stock”.

Ashley Cowburn22 January 2019 08:13

40 government ministers could resign unless they can vote against no-deal Brexit, Theresa May warnedAmber Rudd leads calls for Tory MPs to be given free vote on key backbench motion to extend Article 50 if no agreement in place next month

Ashley Cowburn22 January 2019 08:13

EU president Donald Tusk says he told David Cameron to 'get real' over his 'stupid' Brexit referendumThe president of the European Council has revealed that he told David Cameron to “get real” over plans for the referendum that would see Britain vote to leave the EU and plunge the UK into political chaos.In an interview for a new BBC documentary Donald Tusk said he told the then prime minister that there was “no appetite” among other countries for changes to the EU just because the UK was going to hold a “stupid referendum”.He also revealed that Mr Cameron thought he could ultimately get away with not actually holding the plebiscite on EU membership because it would be blocked by his then coalition partners the Liberal Democrats.Recounting events, Mr Tusk said: “I told him bluntly come on David, get real. I know that all prime ministers are promising to help you, but believe me the truth is that no-one has an appetite for revolution in Europe only because of your stupid referendum.

Ashley Cowburn22 January 2019 08:14

Ahead of today's cabinet meeting, Stephen Barclay, the Brexit secretary, has suggested that the EU 27 might not all support an extension to Article 50 should the UK request one (all of them have to agree unanimously to prolong the negotiations).

He told BBC's Radio 4 Today: "It is not in the unilateral gift of the UK to extend. There are practical issues.

"I think that (support for an extension) is an over-simplification because there are many in the European Parliament and elsewhere that are concerned about an extension in terms of the impact."

He added: "There are many in Brussels that are concerned about the prospect of an extension in terms of the interplay with the European parliamentary elections, because you couldn't pass the legislation in the UK for a referendum ... in the time before the end of May."

"But also from the EU point of view, they have been very clear that they don't want an extension with no purpose and so we come back to the issue as to what it is MPs are for and just what they are against."

Ashley Cowburn22 January 2019 09:02

Opinion: Theresa May is moving through the five stages of Brexit grief – they are all denialThe prime minister told the House of Commons her approach ‘had to change’, which means, of course that nothing has writes The Independent's political sketch writer Tom Peck

Ashley Cowburn22 January 2019 09:15

Freight trade across the Channel could fall up to 87 per cent under no-deal Brexit, leaked document reveals.Freight trade across the Channel could fall by up to 87 per cent in the event of a no-deal Brexit, a leaked Border Force document has revealed.

In the event that Britain is unable to secure a deal with the European Union, the decline of freight trade could last up to six months, estimates in contingency plans drawn up for the government say.

Ashley Cowburn22 January 2019 09:39

This is from the BBC's Norman Smith.

Ashley Cowburn22 January 2019 09:52

Labour moves closer to backing second Brexit referendumLabour has moved a step closer to backing another Brexit referendum after it demanded MPs be allowed to vote on whether to give the public the final say.The party has tabled a Commons motion that would give parliament the chance to debate and vote on alternatives to Theresa May's deal.It said these should include a softer Brexit and a public vote on whatever option parliament decides to pursue.

Ashley Cowburn22 January 2019 10:02

Ashley Cowburn22 January 2019 10:15

What is Yvette Cooper’s amendment to extend Article 50 and prevent a no-deal Brexit?Analysis: MPs are now seeking to assert control after Theresa May’s historic defeat.

Ashley Cowburn22 January 2019 10:35

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