Brexit news: 'Blindingly obvious' - John Bercow vows to stop Tory front-runner suspending parliament to force through no deal

Tory leadership hopeful Rory Stewart makes his debut, saying the world faces a "climate cataclysm" and says he would like to double the money the Department for International Development spends on climate and the environment.

Labour's Dan Carden praises him for standing out among Tory leadership candidates amid "populists, potty mouths and parliamentary proroguers".

Stewart jokes his endorsement is the 'nail in the coffin' of his leadership bid.

Our political commentator John Rentoul has published this updated chart of MP endorsements for the top leadership candidates. 

Tory MP Mel Stride is standing in as Commons leader after Andrea Leadsom resigned in protest at Ms May's plans to offer MPs a vote on whether to have a second referendum.

He sets out next week's business, and - spoiler alert - it's pretty thin. Parliament has effectively ground to a halt due to the Brexit deadlock and the resignation of Theresa May.

Nigel Farage, the Brexit Party leader, is joining campaigners in Peterborough today as the party makes its final drive for a sensational by-election breakthrough which could deliver its first MP.

Sources close to Mr Farage were seeking to play down expectations of a runaway victory, describing bookmakers’ odds as tight as 1/7 on the Brexit Party as “nuts”.

But figures showing the Eurosceptic party scooped 16,196 votes in the city in the European elections – more than twice the tally of runners-up Labour – have fuelled anticipation of a dramatic upset in a seat that has for decades been a fiercely-contested Labour/Conservative marginal.

Read our preview here:

Labour will be unable to win a majority in a general election unless it changes its stance on a second referendum, new analysis of polling suggests.

Jeremy Corbyn’s party stands to lose more than 40 per cent of voters who backed Labour in 2017, with support overwhelmingly switching to Remain-backing parties.

The figures come as one of Labour’s shadow Brexit ministers, Jenny Chapman, swung behind a Final Say referendum, having previously been a staunch opponent.

MPs could lose the chance to hold a confidence vote in a new Tory prime minister, as a new PM might not be in place by summer recess.

Acting Commons leader Mel Stride was asked if a new prime minister would be in place to face parliament before the break by Tory MP Peter Bone.

He replied: "The answer to that question is an interplay between when the contest in the Conservative party for the new leader is due to conclude and of course when the recess itself is announced.

"And as we don’t know the answer to the latter, and I’m not sure that we entirely know the answer to the former, I think the answer unfortunately is, no, not necessarily."

MPs could be sent home for their summer break before they have been given the chance to approve the new prime minister, a cabinet minister has suggested.

Mel Stride, the leader of the House of Commons, told MPs he could not rule out the summer recess beginning before the end of the Tory leadership contest, meaning the new prime minister would have almost two months in office before having to face a confidence vote.

Labour has said it will force such a vote as soon as the new leader is in place, but the summer recess could deny them the chance to do so until September. 

John Bercow has weighed into the debate over possibly suspending parliament, saying "That's simply not going to happen. It's just so blindingly obvious."

The PM will continue "trying to deliver for the people of this country", Downing Street said on Theresa May's last full day as Conservative Party leader.

Ms May will continue as Prime Minister until a new Tory leader is elected, at which point she will tell the Queen she is stepping aside for a successor who can command the confidence of the House of Commons.

Under the timetable set out by the Tory Party, Mrs May will formally resign as leader on Friday, with her successor elected in the week beginning July 22.

The prime minister's official spokesman said: "You have heard the PM talk passionately about some of the domestic policy issues which she cares about.

"She will continue to focus on trying to deliver for the people of this country.

"In relation to Brexit, the PM said it wouldn't be for her to take this process forward, that will be for her successor."

The backlash has already begun on the idea that the new PM would not be face the Commons until after recess.

Addressing acting Commons leader Mel Stride, Labour former minister Chris Bryant said: "I think your answers on prorogation and on whether a new PM will address the House swiftly after being elected have been wholly inadequate so far.

"It must surely be on a Venezuelan scale of outrage if we were to prorogue parliament simply so as to force through a no-deal Brexit against the will of parliament."