Brexit news: Prospect of UK staying in EU 'greater than at any point since referendum', Sturgeon says

Chancellor Philip Hammond is now opening the third day of debates on Theresa May's Brexit deal. He says the deal offers a sensible compromise that protects the economy, but also delivers on the result of the referendum? "This is the right way to go," he says. 

Hammond says at the beginning of the process there were those inside the EU who wanted to hand down a "punishment deal" for the UK. 

"This deal is the best deal for leaving the EU that is available or going to be available.

"The alternatives to this deal are no deal or no Brexit," he says - echoing the prime minister's warning of the risk of voting down the deal next week.

The chancellor also dismisses the idea that the Brexit deal can be renegotiated as "delusional".

He adds that the "backstop remains as ultimate default", but says the option remains on the table of extending the implementation period.

This is from my colleague Rob Merrick, who was at this morning's Downing Street briefing for journalists:

The prime minister’s spokeswoman provoked confusion about the extent of the new offer the PM is willing to make to MPs, ahead of Tuesday’s vote.

Earlier, Ms May confirmed she was exploring how to bolster “the role of parliament” in deciding, in June 2020, whether the UK should extend the post-Brexit transition – beyond December 2020 - or enter the Irish “backstop”.

However, the spokeswoman said this did not stretch to seeking to reopen the withdrawal agreement, which the EU has also insisted is sealed and final.

“We have been clear that the withdrawal agreement is final and agreed,” she said.

It appears unlikely that many Brexiteers will be swayed by a stronger say in the 2020 decision, unless the agreement itself can be changed.

Crucially, it says the decision will be taken jointly by a committee of the UK and the EU – despite the prime minister calling it “a choice” for Britain.

Furthermore, as Philip Hammond, the chancellor, confirmed moments later, it will be the “default” to enter the backstop, at the end of the planned 21-month transition.

It also appears that, even if the transition is extended, the UK would automatically enter the backstop no later than the end of 2022 – the limit for any extension.

Asked about any new offer on the backstop, the spokeswoman said: “The prime minister is aware of the strength of feeling about this issue and is speaking to her colleagues to explain how parliament can have a greater say.”

It is understood the government is also exploring other possible concessions, to try to head off a devastating defeat next Tuesday.

This is from my colleague Ben Kentish on hints from the prime minister this morning that she intends to hand MPs that crucial decision to enter the "backstop" - a contentious part of the exit treaty that acts as the insurance policy against a hard border in Northern Ireland. But as he points out, there is a pretty big problem with that...

Tory MP Nicholas Soames - the great grandson of Winston Churchill, who voted to Remain - says the result of the referendum must be honoured. 

He leaps praise on the PM for the achieving the deal and her resilience. "If this deal is voted down, no other deal will miraculously appear," he says. 

"It's not a perfect deal and it was never going to be," he adds. 

Boris Johnson weighs in on PM's comments around possibly allowing MPs to decide between the backstop and extending the transition period.

The chances of stopping Brexit and keeping the UK in the EU are the greatest they have been since the referendum, Nicola Sturgeon has claimed.

The first minister spoke out the day after Holyrood overwhelmingly voted against both the PM's deal and the prospect of a no-deal Brexit.

Ms Sturgeon said: "I do oppose all and every kind of Brexit, I don't want Brexit to happen, I want Scotland and the whole of the UK to stay within the EU."

She added: "I do think there is a greater prospect of achieving that aim now than there has appeared to be at any time over the last two and a half years, which is why the SNP will do everything we can to bring that about."

NEW: The Liberal Democrat MP Stephen Lloyd has resigned from his party's whip, citing "irreconcilable differences” with the party's position Brexit. This means the Lib Dems now have 11 MPs, instead of 12, in the Commons.

A Liberal Democrat spokesperson said: “We respect what we know was a difficult decision for Stephen ahead of next week’s vote and are sorry to see him go.

"Liberal Democrats are clear that we will be voting against Theresa May’s deal. The Liberal Democrats have campaigned for an exit from Brexit and a People’s Vote where people can choose to remain in the European Union since the referendum was held. We will continue to fight for this in Parliament.”

Cabinet ministers have been seen going into No10, including Amber Rudd, Philip Hammond, Liam Fox, Michael Gove, and David Lidington. No word from Downing Street about the details of the meeting so far.