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As it happenedended

Brexit news – live: Corbyn called ‘preening narcissist’ by defeated Labour MP as Boris Johnson warned over ‘strange’ statement

Follow all the latest developments as they happened

Adam Forrest,Benjamin Kentish,Chiara Giordano
Tuesday 17 December 2019 18:36 EST
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Former Labour MP Mary Creagh calls Jeremy Corbyn a '‘preening narcissist'

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Boris Johnson has been accused of “reckless and irresponsible behaviour” after he amended his Brexit bill to prevent MPs extending the Brexit transition period beyond the end of 2020 – sending the pound plunging as it puts the possibility of no-deal back on the table.

Mr Johnson is also accused of showing “two fingers to democracy” after announcing Nicky Morgan has been handed a peerage and will carry on as culture secretary, despite standing down as an MP. Baroness Morgan ruled out taking a job in any Johnson cabinet last year.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn told MPs during a Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) meeting that he was "very sorry" for Friday's election defeat. However defeated Labour MP Mary Creagh said Mr Corbyn was guilty of "preening narcissism", after revealing no one from his team had been in touch after she lost her seat.

Earlier in the day, the PM made his ministers chant false campaign claims about nurse and hospital numbers as he assembled his cabinet for the first time since the election. It comes as Angela Rayner is reportedly ready to step aside and support Rebecca Long-Bailey’s bid to become the next Labour leader.

Benjamin Kentish17 December 2019 17:35

Voices: The Tories today are united, strong and look likely to dominate the 2020s, as they did most of the past century, writes Sean O'Grady...

(Getty)

Is David Cameron the most brilliant, the most astute, the most far-sighted politician in Britain? Obviously not, and he has a lot to answer for, but bear with me.

Chiara.Giordano17 December 2019 17:55

Breaking: The Conservative Party has appointed Professor Swaran Singh of Warwick University to lead an independent review into improving party handling of complaints of all forms of discrimination and prejudice, including Islamophobia.

More on this here as we get it:

Chiara.Giordano17 December 2019 18:06

This from The Independent's Jon Stone, who is outside the committee room where Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is currently addressing MPs:

Labour MPs have arrived for their private meeting in parliament. Jeremy Corbyn didn’t say anything to waiting press as he went in.

The party leader is expected to face a barracking from angry MPs, who tend to let rip at him at these meetings at the best of times – let alone after a catastrophic election defeat.

Chiara.Giordano17 December 2019 18:19

We’re 15 minutes into the emerging and from the corridor outside journalists can hear repeated cheers and laughter – could the meeting be a cheerier affair than expected?

Chiara.Giordano17 December 2019 18:20

According to the HuffPost's Paul Waugh, the applause was in response to tributes from PLP chair John Cryer  to defeated MPs Ruth Smeeth and Dennis Skinner.

Chiara.Giordano17 December 2019 18:24

More from Jon Stone who is outside committee room number 14 in the Commons:

One MP leaving the room early: “It’s the same meeting that we’ve had for four years, so you can write that”, suggesting proceedings in the room have been acrimonious.

Chiara.Giordano17 December 2019 18:52

Chiara.Giordano17 December 2019 18:56

Sources say Jeremy Corbyn has tonight told MPs that Labour will vote against the withdrawal bill on Friday:

Chiara.Giordano17 December 2019 19:03

This from PoliticsHome editor Kevin Schofield...

Chiara.Giordano17 December 2019 19:26

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