Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

As it happenedended

Brexit news - live: Labour 'moving closer to new EU referendum' amid fresh party splits as ninth MP this week quits

Follow for live updates from Westminster

Lizzy Buchan
Political Correspondent
,Tom Barnes
Friday 22 February 2019 12:12 EST
Comments
Countdown to Brexit: How many days left until Britain leaves the EU?

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

John McDonnell has insisted that Labour is “moving towards” supporting a second referendum as the party seeks to stem the flow of defections over Brexit.

The shadow chancellor spoke out at the end of a dramatic week when 8 Labour MPs and 3 Tories broke away to form the Independent Group, in protest at the leadership of both parties.

Dudley North MP Ian Austin became the ninth MP to quit Labour on Friday over its handling of antisemitism allegations - but he said he had no plans to join the breakaway group.

Meanwhile, Theresa May has been warned she faces a major Tory rebellion unless she takes a no-deal Brexit off the table ahead of another set of key votes on the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union.

See below for live updates

Please allow a moment for the live stream to load

Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events

Jeremy Corbyn has insisted there is no "wide scale" problem of bullying within the Labour Party.

In an interview with Sky News, Mr Corbyn said that "bad behaviour" in the party was dealt with.

"There is no place for harshness, bullying or anything else in the party. I don't believe that it exists on a wide scale. Where there is bad behaviour, we deal with it. Where there is a problem, we deal with it."

Mr Corbyn rejected claims by deputy leader Tom Watson that bullying was an issue in the party.

Ashley Cowburn22 February 2019 18:22
Ashley Cowburn22 February 2019 18:37
Shehab.Khan22 February 2019 19:10

Leave voters backed Brexit because they wanted to "reduce the number of different coloured faces on their street", a Liberal Democrat MSP said.

Alex Cole-Hamilton said a "fury" over immigration was behind many people voting to leave the European Union in the 2016 referendum.

And he said that if the UK did withdraw from the EU, Lib Dems would automatically campaign for the country's re-entry.

Shehab.Khan22 February 2019 19:50

Thank you for following The Independent's coverage of the day's political events. 

Shehab.Khan22 February 2019 20:45

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in