Brexit - as it happened: Theresa May attempts to heal divisions on whistlestop tour to mark one year countdown
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Theresa May has sought to heal Brexit divisions with a whistlestop tour to mark the one year countdown to Britain's departure from the European Union.
Marking the first anniversary of triggering of Article 50, the prime minister visited all four UK nations, where she said the UK would "thrive as a strong and united country that works for everyone, no matter whether you voted Leave or Remain".
Meanwhile, Tony Blair called on Labour MPs to defy Jeremy Corbyn if he takes the wrong approach to Brexit, while further party splits emerged when shadow Brexit secretary Keir Starmer said Labour could vote down the government's deal - after fellow frontbencher Emily Thornberry suggested they might support it.
Labour was also plunged into a fresh antisemitism row, after its disciplinary chief Christine Shawcroft resigned for questioning the suspension of a council candidate accused of suggesting the Holocaust was a "hoax".
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The Government is "very actively" looking at proposed legislation to criminalise upskirting, a justice minister has said.
Rory Stewart described the offence as "disgusting and horrifying" as he said more needed to be done to educate the police on the ability to prosecute under current laws.
Following calls by Liberal Democrat MP Wera Hobhouse, Mr Stewart said ministers were "looking very actively" at her Private Member's Bill on upskirting.
She asked if the Government would support legislative proposals to include the activity as a crime under the Sexual Offences Act 2003.
Mr Stewart replied: "Upskirting is a disgusting and horrifying offence - there is a great deal more that we can do to educate the police and prosecuting authorities on the ability to prosecute it at the moment under the Outraging Public Decency Act but we are also looking very actively at the Private Member's Bill proposed by (Ms Hobhouse)."
Ms Hobhouse went on to ask: "Why does he believe that the law is currently adequate?"
Mr Stewart said: "The formal answer to that of course, as (Ms Hobhouse) is aware, is that this is a decision made independently by the Crown Prosecution Service, but there are a number of laws under which we can currently secure successful criminal convictions: Outraging Public Decency, the 2015 Act, and, in the case of a child, the Indecent Images Act.
"But there is clearly more that we need to do to think about indecent images in the current age and we're very happy to sit down to continue discussing this Bill."
Campaigners say existing laws for voyeurism, public decency and public order do not provide enough scope for a conviction.
The first official figures obtained on the practice - which often sees perpetrators taking photographs or videos of a victim's groin area from under their clothing - showed complainants as young as 10.
The government is running out of time to deliver its long-standing promise of a “green Brexit”, a coalition of environmental groups has warned.
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Britain will be strongly in favour of staying in the EU in just three years as society changes dramatically, academics warn today – as the clock ticks down to one year until Brexit.
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Breakfast cereal Weetabix could be in for a bump in trade after Brexit, MPs have heard.
International Trade Secretary Liam Fox, asked about the future prospects of the British brand, told the Commons there were "big possibilities" for food exporters post exit day.
Dr Fox was responding during trade questions to Tory MP Philip Hollobone, who said: "Weetabix, the great British breakfast cereal which is made in Burton Latimer in Kettering gets all wheat from farmers within a 50 mile radius.
"It was a famous British brand before we even joined the EU and it will remain a famous British brand after we leave the EU.
"Aren't its prospects for exporting more Weetabix enhanced once we leave?"
Dr Fox responded: "Our exports are determined largely by the growth of markets and the IMF says that 90% of global growth in the next 10 to 15 years will be outside the European continent, that is where the big possibilities for UK exporters are including in food and drink."
Tony Blair has accused Jeremy Corbyn’s inner circle of failing to accept the urgency of Labour’s antisemitism crisis.
Speaking exclusively to The Independent, the former prime minister said the leader’s close advisors do not “really take [the problem] this seriously” and even believe it is part of a plot to oust Mr Corbyn.
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Labour MP David Lammy has reported the Brexit campaign group Leave.EU to the police for offensive tweets.
MPs have spent less than a fifth of their time in the House of Commons over the past 12 months debating Brexit, according to analysis by the Press Association.
Around 187 hours have been devoted to discussing the UK's departure from the EU, PA found using the official record, Hansard.
This works out as 18 per cent of all the time MPs have spent in the Commons since Article 50 was triggered exactly one year ago.
Roughly half of those 187 hours - 91 - have been taken up just debating the EU (Withdrawal) Bill.
By contrast, around 36 hours of debate have taken place on the NHS and social care.
MPs have met in the House of Commons on only 128 days since Article 50 was triggered on March 29 2017 - just over a third (35%) of the year.
The general election campaign and the summer recess meant MPs were away from Parliament for much of May to September.
The Commons is likely to sit for just 175 days over the next 12 months.
And that's it from The Independent's politics liveblog, as Parliament is due to head off for Easter recess shortly. Thanks for following!
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