Damian Green resigns - as it happened: Theresa May's deputy quits as MPs vote on Brexit Bill
All the updates from Westminster on Wednesday - as they happened
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Your support makes all the difference.Damian Green has resigned as the First Secretary of State after admitting he made “misleading” statements about pornography found on his Commons computer.
Mr Green described allegations that he downloaded or viewed pornography on his parliamentary computer as "unfounded and deeply hurtful", but admitted he had not been clear in his past statements on the issue.
Meanwhile, Theresa May has been accused of trying to wriggle out of giving MPs a "meaningful vote" on the terms of the Brexit deal, after she repeatedly dodged calls to guarantee it by senior MPs.
Ms May underwent a 90-minute grilling by the Liaison Committee - the only Commons committee able to compel the Prime Minister to give evidence - where Brexit, social care and sexual harassment featured heavily on the agenda.
She also faced Jeremy Corbyn for the last Prime Minister's Questions clash of the year, where Ms May struggled on homelessness figures before admitting that Brexit could be delayed in "exceptional circumstances".
Rounding off the day, MPs are debating the eighth - and final - day of the EU (Withdrawal) Bill's committee stage, where efforts to amend the bill by Tory rebels appear to have been thwarted by the Government.
For all the latest updates, see below:
In his response to the Prime Minister, Mr Green said: "I am grateful that the Cabinet Secretary has concluded that my conduct as a Minister has generally been both professional and proper."
He said he "deeply regrets" the distressed caused to journalist Kate Maltby, who claimed the MP had touched her knee under the table during a dinner, but added: "I do not recognise the events she described in her article, but I clearly made her feel uncomfortable and for this I apologise."
The Cabinet Office investigation concluded that Ms Maltby's account of her encounter with Mr Green was "plausible", but said it was "not possible to reach a definitive conclusion on the appropriateness of Mr Green's behaviour".
An interesting sidenote to Mr Green's resignation: his ally, Brexit Secretary David Davis, had reportedly threatened to quit the Cabinet if Mr Green was sacked. Theresa May's letter makes quite clear that she asked her deputy to resign; to most people, that would constitute a sacking...
Read Damian Green's resignation letter, and Theresa May's response, in full here:
Reports suggest David Davis will NOT resign in support of his colleague. It had been claimed the Brexit Secretary had threatened to quit if Mr Green was sacked.
MPs are currently voting on a cross-party amendment that would force the Government to commission an independent assessment of the impact of Brexit on health and social care.
The new clause has the backing of Labour, the SNP, the Liberal Democrats, Plaid Cymru and the Green Party.
That amendment was voted down: MPs decided not to demand an independent assessment of the impact of Brexit on the NHS.
Next up, another cross-party amendment. This one would enshrine in law a transition period lasting at least two years.
Chief Political Commentator John Rentoul says Theresa May is a survivor and will manage without her trusted deputy. Read his full piece here:
The parents of Kate Maltby, who accused Damian Green of touching her knee under a table and sending her suggestive text messages, have released a statement following his resignation.
They said:
"We are pleased that the Cabinet Office has concluded its enquiry into the conduct of Damian Green. We are not surprised to find that the inquiry found Mr Green to have been untruthful as a minister, nor that they found our daughter to be a plausible witness.
"We have received many supportive messages from people near and far who appreciate Kate's courage and the importance of speaking out about the abuse of authority.
"We join with them in admiring her fortitude and serenity throughout the length of the investigation and despite the attempted campaign in certain sections of the media to denigrate and intimidate her and other witnesses. We are proud of her."
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