Brexit news: No-confidence motions in Jewish Labour MP withdrawn as party issues May second referendum ultimatum

Welcome to The Independent's politics liveblog, where we will be bringing you the latest updates throughout the day.

Theresa May's Brexit deal risks causing a "never-ending nightmare" for British citzens and businesses, two former senior civil servants will warn today. 

Lord Kerslake, former head of the Home Civil Service, and Lord Kerr, who headed up the Diplomatic Service, will say that the prime minister's withdrawal agreement would deliver a "leap in the dark" Brexit.

More here: 

Jeremy Corbyn is battling to calm a growing Labour civil war over his refusal to support a fresh Brexit referendum, as some of his MPs threatened to quit the party in protest.

The Labour leader was forced to justify his intentions after his new offer to help Theresa May deliver Brexit triggered accusations that he had torpedoed his party’s policy of keeping a public vote on the table.

Theresa May has to accept that the only way she will get a Brexit deal through parliament is to back Labour's five demands, shadow chancellor John McDonnell has said.

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme his party's plans are a "traditional British compromise", and said: "We believe a deal like this, put before Parliament again, could secure a majority and what you're seeing here is, yes, parliament asserting control, and the PM has to accept that the only way she'll get something through parliament is a compromise like this."

Interesting point here --- A second referendum is still on the table if Ms May does not approve the suggested deal or parliament cannot reach an agreement, he said.

Mr McDonnell said Labour's deal would command a "secure" majority.

He said: "If Theresa May said 'I'll sign up to Labour's deal' and we went to Parliament, I think we would have a secure parliamentary majority.

"But we're at that stage now where we're saying very clearly to everybody that people have looked over the edge of a no-deal Brexit and it could be catastrophic for our economy."

The shadow chancellor added: "In the national interest we have got to come together to secure a compromise, and then if we can't do that, well yes, we have to go back to the people."

Jeremy Corbyn and Theresa May's Brexit poker game is looking like a grand bluff – but no one has a decent hand, says Indy political commentator Andrew Grice.

Read his take on their Brexit manoeuvring: 

Jacob Rees-Mogg has been challenged to take off his clothes and hold a naked debate on Brexit with a Cambridge academic who proffers the benefits of the European Union in the nude.

Dr Victoria Bateman, an economics fellow at the university, invited the prominent Tory Brexiteer backbencher to discuss the issue as she appeared on BBC Radio 4's Today programme with nothing on.

The academic, who had the words "Brexit leaves Britain naked" written across her body as she was interviewed by presenter John Humphrys, invited Leave supporters to strip off and discuss Britain's withdrawal from the EU.

She said: "I invite Jacob Rees-Mogg to do a naked debate with me and we will get to the roots of this issue.

"Britain faces many, many problems right now from housing to the NHS, and the European Union is not the cause of those problems."

She said she decided to talk about Brexit with nothing on to demonstrate that leaving the EU is the "emperor's new clothes".

She told the programme: "I have myself written thousands of words looking at why Brexit is bad for Britain, but I thought it would be useful to reduce all of those words down, condense all of those words down to one powerful message: Brexit is the emperor's new clothes - that Britain has sold itself a project that cannot possibly deliver on what it promised."

Asked whether she is simply an "exhibitionist", Dr Bateman said: "I am completely comfortable with my own body, I view women's bodies as one of the big battlegrounds that we face today.

"And actually by engaging with society about women's bodies, one of the things it shows is the way in which people are quick to judge women purely based on their bodies.

"For thousands of years men have controlled what women can do with their bodies, and women's bodies have been seen as something purely existing for sex and for babies.

"So what is wrong with a modern day woman taking control of her body and using it to give voice to what is the most depressing political subject in Britain right now?"

Co-presenter Nick Robinson noted at the end of the interview: "I want you to know that my computer screen was strategically placed so I have only been listening to what was being said."

MPs are debating private member's bills in the Commons today - and they had a surprise visitor. Finn, a hero police dog watched in the House of Commons as attempts to give service animals greater protection from attacks were passed.

Theresa May is taking several number of senior officials into her dinner with Leo Varadkar, including Gavin Barwell and Olly Robbins, No10 has said.

The PM's official spokesman said: "She will be building on the discussions that she had in Northern Ireland and Brussels... emphasising what we are seeking, which is legally binding changes to the way that parliament says it needs to improve the deal."