Brexit - as it happened: Government publishes tranche of documents on no-deal 'risks', including roaming charges and driving licences

Theresa May's MEPs were isolated among their conservative peers on the continent when they voted to support Viktor Orban's far-right government in Hungary, our Europe Correspondent Jon Stone reports.

The Tories were the only governing conservative party to back the leader, with only one MEP dissenting.

Nonetheless, the European Parliament voted by a two-thirds majority, 448–197, to begin Article 7 proceedings against Hungary meaning sanctions may eventually be placed on Mr Orban's government.

The government has rejected calls for buffer zones to be introduced outside abortion clinics across the country.

Introducing protest-free areas outside clinics to prevent harassment of patients "would not be a proportionate response", home secretary Sajid Javid said in a written parliamentary statement. 

While a Home Office review, launched by the former home secretary, Amber Rudd, found examples of harassment and damaging behaviour, these activities were not the norm, Mr Javid added.

He said: "Having considered the evidence of the review, I have therefore reached the conclusion that introducing national buffer zones would not be a proportionate response, considering the experiences of the majority of hospitals and clinics, and considering that the majority of activities are more passive in nature."

Labour MP and abortion buffer zone campaigner Rupa Huq was "disappointed" in the government's rejection of a national buffer zone plan.

The Ealing Central and Acton MP told the Commons: "The conclusions are a bit disappointing... It seems to be saying there has to be a disproportionate number of women affected before any action takes place."

Bank of England governor Mark Carney was present for part of the Cabinet meeting called to discuss a no-deal scenario on Thursday, Downing Street said.

A spokeswoman for the PM told a Westminster briefing: "He attended a very short section of the meeting at the top to outline the preparatory work the bank is doing around 'no deal'."

In response to Gordon Brown's intervention, the prime minister's spokesman said:  "Since 2008 we have built one of the most robust regulatory systems in the world designed specifically to ensure financial stability and protect taxpayers.

"We have, obviously, reformed regulation to put in place one of the toughest systems in the world and we have made it easier to deal with any issues that emerge on the banking front.

"In recent years we have reformed regulation of the City and put in place an incredibly robust system, one of the most robust in the world, at the same time making sure it's globally competitive.

"Bank shareholders are now first in line to pay for the losses from any bank failures. They have to hold 10 times more capital than they did before the crisis, meaning that they have larger buffers.

"Certainly, we have taken significant steps to safeguard our economy."