Damian Green resigns - as it happened: Theresa May's deputy quits as MPs vote on Brexit Bill

The Liberal Democrats have tabled an amendment to the EU (Withdrawal) Bill, that would allow people to choose whether to accept a Brexit deal or stay in the EU.

Leader Sir Vince Cable set out a potential timetable for a referendum in December 2018, which would give time for a decision to made before official exit day in March 2019.

He said: “This potential timeline to a public vote shows Brexit is not a done deal - it can be stopped, but only with the approval of the British public.

"Support is growing for a public vote on whatever botched Brexit deal the Conservatives manage to get from the EU.

"It’s time the Conservatives – and the Labour leadership – listened.

"Ultimately, the Liberal Democrats don’t believe the government can negotiate any deal which is better than the one we currently have as a member of the EU.

"That is why we will campaign to remain in the EU in any future referendum."

In the Commons, MPs have begun debate on the EU (Withdrawal) Bill, the flagship Brexit legislation which will copy EU laws onto the domestic statute books.

It is the eighth and final day of line-by-line scrutiny of the Bill - and the Government hopes to avoid another embarrassing defeat after 11 Tory MPs rebelled last week.

PA Parliamentary editor Richard Wheeler has filed this report from the Commons:

Ministers are on course to avoid a second bruising Commons defeat after officially backing amendments designed to ease Tory fears over the Brexit date.

Brexit minister Steve Baker has added his name to proposals tabled by senior MPs including Sir Oliver Letwin and Bernard Jenkin, which emerged last week as a compromise following the Government's first defeat over the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill.

The Government initially tabled an amendment to fix the date of Brexit at March 29, 2019, at 11pm, and to remove the power of ministers to appoint exit day by regulations.

But amendments 399 and 400, which first appeared under the names of the backbench Tory MPs, enable the date to be included in legislation while also giving ministers the flexibility to change it if needed.

Tory MPs who rebelled and helped defeat the Government over allowing Parliament a meaningful vote on any Brexit deal are among those to have backed amendment 400, signalling a second damaging defeat is not on the cards.

They include former attorney general Dominic Grieve, former education secretary Nicky Morgan and former communities minister Bob Neill.

Meanwhile, the PM is up before the Liaison Committee for the first time this year. It is made up of the most senior MPs, who all chair select committees, and is the only committee that can compel the Prime Minister to give evidence.

Earlier today, Theresa May’s spokesman pushed back on the issue of Gibraltar in the post PMQs huddle with journalists, saying that the Prime Minister is negotiating for the whole of the UK and its territories. 

The European Commission is adopting a mandate to cover the second phase of Brexit negotiations, making clear a bilateral agreement is needed between London and Madrid on Gibraltar, if the UK wants it to be covered by transition arrangements and not simply ditched from the single market on Brexit day.

The spokesman said: “As far as we are concerned Gibraltar is covered by the withdrawal and transition agreement.”

Brexit committee chairman Hilary Benn kicks off the questions, asking about what 'full alignment' would mean for goods in Northern Ireland.

The PM bats aways the question and says she is sure the Government can get a trade deal. 

Benn says his committee is preparing to publish most of the so-called secret Brexit studies soon, which have been kept under lock and key. The papers detailing the impact of Brexit on various sectors were only released to senior MPs after a lengthy parliamentary wrangle.

Treasury committee chair Nicky Morgan is up next, asking about whether the City will be included in a trade deal - after the EU's Michel Barnier said it was not possible.

The PM says this issues has been addressed already Mark Carney, Governor of the Bank of England.