Brexit news - live: Donald Tusk tells MEPs long extension ensures 'all options on table', as Change UK officially becomes political party
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Your support makes all the difference.Donald Tusk has told MEPs a long extension to the Brexit process allows for “all options” to remain on the table, including the possibility of a second referendum.
In reference to claims from Brexiteers such as Jacob Rees-Mogg in recent weeks, Mr Tusk added: “I know that some have expressed fear that the UK might want to disrupt the EU‘s functioning during this time.
“But the EU did not give in to such scaremongering... in fact, since the very beginning of the Brexit process the UK has been a constructive and responsible EU member state. So we have no reason to believe that this should change.”
The European council president also warned those opposed to Brexit not to "give in to fatalism" by accepting the UK's departure from the bloc, as he said both Europe and Britain needed "dreams and dreamers".
“During the European Council one of the leaders warned us not to be dreamers and that we shouldn’t think that Brexit can be reversed,” Mr Tusk told MEPs in Strasbourg.
His remarks came as Jean-Claude Juncker, the European Commission president, said the EU had "nothing to gain" from the disruption a no-deal Brexit would bring to the UK.
He said he had adopted the "necessary contingency measures", but said only those who seek to undermine the global legal order would benefit from such an exit. "We have adopted the necessary contingency measures and we are ready for a no-deal Brexit," he told MEPs.
"But our union has nothing to gain from great disruption in the United Kingdom. The only ones who would benefit are those who resent multilateralism and seek to undermine the global legal order."
Mr Juncker made the comments as he addressed the European Parliament in Strasbourg on last week's European Council summit at which Theresa May was offered a six-month Brexit delay.
Elsewhere, it also emerged that more than 3,000 people had applied to stand as candidates for Change UK during the European Parliament elections on 23 May, as it was officially registered as a political party by the Electoral Commission.
This liveblog has now closed, but you can see Tuesday's updates below
Cabinet minister Amber Rudd - one of the key Remain voices at Theresa May's top table - has been asked about her leadership hopes on BBC Radio 5 Live.
It's fair to say she's not exactly throwing her hat in the ring, but she doesn't want to "rule it out" either. "I don't have a plan for it - I am choosing my words carefully... I'm not particularly working on it."
"I've kept the door slightly ajar."
Jeremy Corbyn has reacted the fire that engulfed Notre Dame on Monday, saying it was "very, very said", and also warned about a "huge" fire risk at Westminster due to the poor state of the historic building.
He said: "I've been in Notre Dame cathedral several times. It's absolutely stunning and beautiful and you can see the whole history of France before you there.
"You can see the majesty and beauty of that building and to see it destroyed is devastating, I think for everybody in Paris and indeed around the world, because you see beautiful buildings like that and think of the beautiful buildings we've got in this country. If any of those were destroyed in fire how would we feel about it?
"Well done on the firefighters on at least managing to contain it in the end, but sadly the spires have gone and I note that President Macron wants to rebuild the whole cathedral. I hope that happens."
He said: "The state of the building is very poor in Westminster and a fire risk is obviously huge with a building that has so much wood within it."
Change UK - the group of 11 independent MPs who broke away from both Labour and Tories earlier this year - has been approved and registered as a political party by the Electoral Commission.
The new party has also confirmed it had 3,700 applications from people from across the UK wanting to stand as MEP candidates for the European elections next month.
Heidi Allen, the former Conservative MP and interim leader, said: “This is a fight for Britain’s voice in Europe – and we have been overwhelmed by the thousands of people wanting to roll up their sleeves and join our campaign from every walk of life and every corner of the country.
“Change UK – The Independent Group have a clear message in the European elections: we demand a People’s Vote and, if it is held, all our MPs will campaign to remain in and reform the European Union."
Several Ukip MEPs have defected to join Nigel Farage's new Brexit Party. Jill Seymour and Jane Collins announced their resignations on Monday, and it is understood Margot Parker has also quit the party.
US House of Representatives speaker Nancy Pelosi has said there "would be no chance whatsoever" of a US trade deal if the Good Friday Agreement is undermined by Brexit.
Ms Pelosi has arrived in Dublin for her two-day visit to the Republic of Ireland.
The US House of Representatives speaker is part of a delegation of high-ranking US politicians on a fact-finding mission to the country.
She was met by Ireland's foreign affairs minister Simon Coveney for her first official engagement.
The congressional group will later meet with Irish premier Leo Varadkar at Government Buildings.
Donald Tusk is right, Britain needs more time for Brexit so it can hold a Final Say referendum, John Rentoul argues
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