Brexit news: No-confidence motions in Jewish Labour MP withdrawn as party issues May second referendum ultimatum
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Your support makes all the difference.No confidence motions in Labour MP Luciana Berger have been withdrawn after activists in her local constituency backed down following widespread condemnation of their move.
Ms Berger, who has suffered anti-Jewish abuse and been a vocal critic of Jeremy Corbyn's handling of antisemitism, is the subject of two motions of no confidence tabled by party members in Liverpool Wavertree.
Their actions received widespread criticism and deputy leader Tom Watson, described the behaviour of the activists as "intolerable".
John McDonnell sparked fury by suggesting that Ms Berger needed to confirm her loyalty to the party but did say it would be "completely wrong" if the motions were a reponse to Ms Berger standing up to antisemitism.
The shadow chancellor also said Labour would support a fresh referendum on Brexit if Theresa May is unable to get a compromise exit deal through parliament.
The prime minister is due to hold critical talks with Irish prime minister Leo Varadkar tonight, as she scrambles to achieve a breakthrough on her Brexit deal.
Ms May flew to Dublin to meet Mr Varadkar, after a series of challenging meetings in Belfast and Brussels over the divisive issue of the Irish backstop, which MPs have ordered her to remove from her deal.
Here's how we covered developments live:
Theresa May is returning to Westminster facing ministerial resignations after she left talks with EU leaders over her Brexit deal empty-handed.
With another vote in the Commons due next week, a minister said colleagues on Ms May’s own front bench are ready to quit if there is no breakthrough in talks with Brussels.
Read this take from our Europe correspondent Jon Stone:
Scottish Tory Ross Thomson has denied allegations of "sexual touching" after an incident in the House of Commons bar.
The Aberdeen South MP released a statement, saying he had referred himself to the party's internal disciplinary panel. This means he could face an investigation into his conduct.
Jeremy Corbyn hardens his policy of backing Brexit – and increases the chances of a split in the Labour Party, says Independent commentator John Rentoul.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has arrived in south Belfast ahead of scheduled meetings with Stormont's five main parties.
He's holding meetings with Northern Irish politicians as Belfast, Dublin and London try to find a way through the Brexit impasse over the Irish backstop.
Mr Varadkar is meeting Theresa May and officials later tonight.
Jacob Rees-Mogg has been challenged to a naked Brexit debate by an academic who believes leaving the European Union is akin to the story of the “emperor’s new clothes”.
The UK has “sold itself a project that cannot possibly deliver on what it promised”, according to Dr Victoria Bateman, who invited the Tory backbencher to “get to the roots of this issue” in a nude face-off.
More here:
Over lunch, read Tom Peck's hilarious sketch on Theresa May's press conference in Brussels, where he says: "In seventy short seconds, Theresa May confirmed she has lost all grip on reality."
Expensive European Union mobile roaming charges could return overnight for British tourists in the event of a no-deal Brexit, the government has admitted.
Culture secretary Jeremy Wright formally announced the government had rejected a proposal to maintain a ban on roaming fees if it fails to reach a deal with Brussels.
Labour will support a fresh referendum on Brexit if Theresa May is unable to get a compromise exit deal through parliament, John McDonnell has said.
The shadow chancellor admitted it would be necessary "to go back to the people" if the prime minister rebuffs Jeremy Corbyn's proposal for a softer Brexit.
The Labour leader wrote to Ms May on Wednesday offering Labour's support for a potential deal if five conditions were met, including a customs union with the EU and guarantees on workers' rights.
EU Brexit chief Michel Barnier says he is keen to meet Steve Barclay on Monday but is very clear that the EU "will not reopen" the Brexit deal. Reminder - this is exactly what the UK wants.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has insisted his dinner with the prime minister will not involve any negotiation on the terms of the Brexit deal.
"It's an opportunity for us to meet again to share perspectives on Brexit but, of course, not to engage in negotiations, as they can only be between the European Union and the United Kingdom," he said.
Mr Varadkar was speaking in Belfast ahead of meetings with the five Stormont parties. He will later travel back to Dublin to host Ms May at Farmleigh House.
"Today is not a day for negotiations, today is a day for us to share our perspectives and for us to listen to each other," he said.
"Negotiations on Brexit only happen between the European Union and the United Kingdom, Ireland being part of the European Union negotiating team of course.
"I think everybody wants to avoid no deal, everybody wants to avoid a hard border and everybody wants to continue to have a very close political and economic relationship between Britain and Ireland no matter want happens.
"There is much more that unites us than divides us and time is running short and we need to get to an agreement really as soon as possible, and I'll be working very hard and redoubling my efforts, along with government, to do that."
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