Politics today - as it happened: May refuses to criticise Poland’s slide into authoritarianism as Damian Green sacked over 'misleading statements'

All the latest updates from Westminster on Thursday - as they happened

Damian Green sacked as First Secretary of State amid computer porn allegations

Theresa May travelled to Poland after sacking her closest political ally, Damian Green, who was found to have made "misleading" comments about pornography found on his parliamentary computer.

In a blow to the Prime Minister, a Whitehall inquiry revealed that the First Secretary of State had breached the ministerial code, as he had known that explicit material was found by police in 2008 - despite claiming publicly that he did not know.

On a visit to Warsaw - which came on the final day before the MPs head off for Christmas recess - Ms May failed to condemn Poland for its slide towards authoritarianism and said there should be an investigation into police leaks about Mr Green.

Meanwhile, Conservative minister Mark Garnier, who admitted asking his secretary to buy sex toys, was also cleared after a Cabinet Office investigation and will keep his job, Downing Street confirmed.

And Brexit Secretary David Davis was mocked when long-awaited documents detailing the economic impact of Brexit were published - which campaigners and MPs described as a "shoddy mess".

Key Points

• Internation Trade minister Mark Garnier cleared of breach of ministerial code over sex toy remarks
• May fails to condemn Poland after EU censures regime for slide into authoritarianism
• Police officers who leaked information about Damian Green could face prosecution
• British-Iranian woman Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has been made eligible for early release, her husband says
• 'Secret' Brexit studies finally made public

[21 December 2017 08:40 · Lizzy Buchan]

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

The top story is the resignation of the Prime Minister's closest political ally Damian Green, who was forced to quit the Cabinet after a Whitehall inquiry found he had made "misleading" comments about pornography found on his parliamentary computer.

Here is the full story:

[21 December 2017 08:40 · Lizzy Buchan]

[21 December 2017 08:46 · Lizzy Buchan]

Independent political correspondent Ashley Cowburn has written this helpful profile of Damian Green - the PM's closest political ally.

[21 December 2017 08:56 · Lizzy Buchan]

Read Damian Green's resignation letter in full, which was sent out last night at 8.40pm.

[21 December 2017 09:11 · Lizzy Buchan]

  ↵Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the ruthless sacking of her close ally Damian Green will convince people she he is the right person “to lead the country”.

Full story here:

[21 December 2017 09:17 · Lizzy Buchan]

Today is the last day before the Christmas parliamentary recess - traditionally a day for the Government to sneak out bad news by publishing a tranche of written statements.

However PA parliamentary reporter Jon Vale notes there are only eight due out today.

[21 December 2017 09:41 · Lizzy Buchan]

Theresa May has flown to Poland this morning for talks with the country's new prime minister, only a day after the EU took an unprecedented first step towards sanctioning the eastern European nation over its drift towards authoritarianism.

Yesterday the European Commission triggered proceedings against Poland which could lead to sanctions over a contentious overhaul of its justice system.

Ahead of the trip, the PM's official spokesman said Ms May would "raise her concerns" over the changes with Polish counterpart Mateusz Morawiecki, who has been in office for less than a fortnight.

She will be joined by Boris Johnson, who will later fly to Moscow to his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov. His visit is the first by a British foreign secretary for more than five years and is set to see a series of frosty exchanges over issues including Ukraine, Syria and allegations of Russian interference in Western democracy.

Here's the full story on Poland:

[21 December 2017 09:55 · Lizzy Buchan]

Culture, Media and Sport questions have begun in the Commons. Shadow culture secretary Tom Watson praises the fact that Birmingham has been named as host city for Commonwealth Games 2022.

Here is the developing story:

[21 December 2017 10:04 · Lizzy Buchan]

[21 December 2017 10:15 · Lizzy Buchan]

Speculation about whether Damian Green will be replaced in the New Year. Reporters travelling with the PM to Poland likely to grill her on the trip.