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As it happenedended

Brexit news: Theresa May says longer transition period could be 'solution' to Irish border row amid Tory backlash

All the updates from Brussels and Westminster

Lizzy Buchan
Political Correspondent
Thursday 18 October 2018 11:04 EDT
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Theresa May 'losing confidence of colleagues' after Brexit U-turn, says Conservative MP Nick Boles

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Theresa May has faced fury from Tory MPs after she opened the door to extending the Brexit transition period by a year, keeping Britain tied to the EU up to the end of 2021.

Former minister Nick Boles, who voted Remain, said the plan was a "desperate last move" and the prime minister was losing the confidence of colleagues from all sides.

The backlash came as Ms May and European leaders gave press conferences, after a key EU summit broke up without a Brexit deal.

If you want to follow the events as they happened, see our live coverage below

Andrea Leadsom, the Commons leader, will deliver a statement on upcoming parliamentary business later. It could be interesting following the growing row over Theresa May's possible u-turn on the meaningful vote on Brexit.

Lizzy Buchan18 October 2018 10:48

Lizzy Buchan18 October 2018 11:03

Jeremy Corbyn has condemned government cuts to LGBT+ sexual health services, claiming they could endanger any future roll-out of the HIV prevention treatment currently being trialled by the NHS.

Highlighting figures compiled by the party through government data, the Labour leader said Conservative cuts to clinics means those in need "won't be able to easily access the vital drug", Truvada. 

More here:

Lizzy Buchan18 October 2018 11:11

Commons leader Andrea Leadsom announces that a postponed debate on the offensive weapons bill will return to parliament on Monday. 

The government came under fire for postponing the debate on Monday evening, apparently due to lack of time because of a series of government statements. However Labour whips claimed it was because the government was worried it would lose a vote on a Tory amendment to the bill.

Lizzy Buchan18 October 2018 11:21

Valerie Vaz, shadow Commons leader, presses her on the so-called meaningful vote and demands Ms Leadsom does her "constitutional duty" by saying parliament should have its say.

She says it is the "most outrageous power grab" even seen by the government.

Ms Leadsom replied that it will be "in the hands of the House itself, which has the power to amend, approve or reject such a motion". 

She added: "It is also important to recognise the need for the House to consider the question that will in reality be before the United Kingdom, and that is whether or not to accept the deal that the government has negotiated with the European Union."

Lizzy Buchan18 October 2018 11:26

International development secretary Penny Mordaunt has been confronted by a protester as she addressed a conference on sexual abuse in the aid sector.

Alexia Pepper de Caires - a former whistleblower from Save the Children - got onto the platform at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre in London where Ms Mordaunt was speaking to complain those fighting against abuse were not properly represented.

"This platform is not for you today. It is for the people doing this," she said.

Ms Mordaunt said she had not been aware of the situation and offered to give up her second speaking slot at the end of conference to her and her colleagues.

Following her brief intervention Ms Pepper de Caires - who founded the group NGO Safe Space - was led away by officials.

Lizzy Buchan18 October 2018 11:42

Andrea Leadsom has said parliament's February recess will go ahead "subject to the progress of business".

The comment follows reports that No.10 was considering dropping the break in order to push through Brexit legislation.

Ms Leadsom told MPs the House of Commons would rise on February 14 and return on February 25.

Lizzy Buchan18 October 2018 11:56

  ↵

Hundreds of people have gathered at Southwark Cathedral to pay tribute to Baroness Tessa Jowell. The Labour former cabinet minister was instrumental in securing the London 2012 Olympics and was a popular figure in parliament.

She died in May after being diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour. After her diagnosis, she campaigned hard for better cancer treatment, receiving a rare standing ovation in the House of Lords for an emotional speech about the need for changes to NHS treatments.

Read our obituary here:

Lizzy Buchan18 October 2018 12:12

Prominent Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg has waded into the transition row, describing the proposed extension as "a poorly thought-through idea".

Mr Rees-Mogg told Sky News: "It takes us into the next Multiannual Financial Framework (EU Budget) and that raises the issue of there being very substantial costs, because the next framework will be determined without our veto and therefore it is unlikely we would retain our rebate. It could be very expensive to do.

"It is unknown as to whether this had approval from the cabinet when it met earlier this week.

"But it also doesn't solve the problem of the backstop, because the backstop would remain, as far as one can tell, at the end of this additional transition.

"It seems to me to be a rather poor attempt at kicking the can down the road."

Lizzy Buchan18 October 2018 12:30

Asked if he would support an extension to the transition period, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said: "The prime minister has got herself into this mess by failing to reach any meaningful agreements with the EU, which is going to bring something back to Parliament.

"We will decide what to do when we hear what it is she brings back to parliament."

Answering questions on whether or not supporting her would be in the national interest, Mr Corbyn said the "division in her own party" is what "she spends all her time dealing with".

He added: "She should be negotiating a customs union with the European Union and she should recognise the six tests we put down is how we will decide to vote in parliament."

Lizzy Buchan18 October 2018 12:52

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