Brexit news - live: Furious Tory MPs demand Theresa May resign over 'abject surrender' as she faces Commons onslaught over latest delay to EU departure
Live updates as prime minister prepares to address parliament after agreeing extension of Britain's EU membership
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Your support makes all the difference.Theresa May faced the wrath of Tory Brexiteers as she addressed parliament after sealing a six-month extension of the UK's EU membership.
The prime minister insisted she would not resign after European leaders agreed to delay Brexit until 31 October in late-night talks in Brussels.
The second delay to the Brexit process - initially intended to conclude on 29 March - averted a no-deal withdrawal on Friday with less than 48 hours to go.
However, it infuriated anti-EU Conservative MPs, who insisted the UK should have instead left the EU without a deal.
As she updated MPs in the Commons, Ms May faced calls from veteran Tory Sir Bill Cash to step down. He accused her of an “abject surrender” and asked if she would resign. Ms May replied: “I think you know the answer to that”.
Another Brexiteer, Peter Bone, asked the prime minister if she planned to “honour” her vow not to delay Brexit beyond 30 June.
But the prime minister insisted she could still get a Brexit deal through parliament and said cross-party talks with Labour must “press on at pace”.
It came after a marathon European Council meeting to discuss the UK's request to delay Brexit until 30 June. Most EU leaders had wanted a much longer extension but settled on the date of 31 October after strong opposition to a lengthy delay from French president Emmanuel Macron.
Afterwards, Council president Donald Tusk admitted it was his “quiet dream” that the UK would remain in the EU.
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Ms May, who will deliver a statement in the Commons on Thursday, told MPs weeks ago that she was “not prepared to delay Brexit any further than 30 June” as prime minister and would resign once this stage of talks was complete.
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Former international development secretary Priti Patel has just tweeted this not-so-cryptic criticism of Theresa May and her top team...
Derby North MP Chris Williamson, who was suspended by the Labour Party earlier this year amid accusations relating to antisemitism, has called the arrest of Julian Assange "disgusting" and expressed "solidarity" with the Wikileaks founder.
Theresa May clashed with the DUP's Sammy Wilson in the Commons earlier this afternoon - here's the full clip:
NEW: Following talks between Jeremy Corbyn and Theresa May this afternoon, a Labour spokesperson says:
"Jeremy Corbyn and Theresa May had a short meeting in parliament this afternoon, following earlier discussions between officials.
Both sides agreed to continue talks in an effort to make substantive progress towards finding a compromise plan."
Nicola Sturgeon has promised to set out her plans for another Scottish independence referendum in the next few weeks.
The Scottish first minister told Bauer Radio she would make an announcement after the Easter break.
She said:
"I'll set out my thinking on that after the Easter recess, but I understand the impatience of people who, like me, believe absolutely that the best future for Scotland is to be independent.
"Last night those countries that were deciding the UK's future, with the UK out of the room, included a dozen countries that have populations smaller than or similar in size to Scotland, and yet Scotland is completely sidelined by Westminster in this whole process.
"Ironically Brexit, which was all about taking back control for Westminster, has actually highlighted how much power small countries have within the European Union, so the case for independence is stronger than it has ever been."
International Monetary Fund managing director Christine Lagarde says the six-month Brexit delay avoids the “terrible outcome” of a no-deal Brexit that would further pressure a slowing global economy.
But Ms Lagarde, speaking at a news conference at the IMF and World Bank spring meetings in Washington, said the arrangement would prolong uncertainty and would not resolve the issues between Britain and the European Union.
“At least the UK is not leaving on 12 April without a deal,” she said. “It gives time for continued discussions between the various parties involved in the UK.
“It probably gives time for economic agents to better prepare for all options, particularly industrialists and workers, in order to try to secure their future.”
Sky News is reporting civil servants have been told to stand down preparations for a no-deal Brexit. The UK had of course been due to leave the EU tomorrow without a deal until European leaders agree to extend Article 50 until the end of October last night.
Operation Brock, the traffic management system in Kent devised for use in the event of a no-deal Brexit, has been stood down, Kent County Council's highways department has confirmed, as the government seemingly winds down its preparations for the UK crashing out of the EU without an agreement in place.
That's it for The Independent's live coverage of Brexit on another busy day. Please check back tomorrow for more reporting live from Westminster.
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