Renditions urgent question - as it happened: Government faces angry backlash over 'abhorrent and shameful' failure to object to death penalty

Follow for the latest updates from Westminster, as they happened

What is still needed to complete a deal with the EU?

The government is facing an angry backlash over the "abhorrent and shameful" decision to drop its blanket opposition to the death penalty in the case of two Isis fighters.

In a significant shift, Sajid Javid, the home secretary, told the US attorney general Jeff Sessions that he would not seek "death penalty assurance" for Alexanda Kotey and El Shafee Elsheikh, two British members of the brutal "Beatles" set of executioners.

The move prompted an outcry from senior Tories and opposition MPs, with shadow home secretary Diane Abbott describing the decision as "abhorrent and shameful".

Elsewhere, Theresa May insisted responses to her new Brexit vision have been "constructive" as she took part in a rare town hall-style session with workers in Newcastle.

The prime minister took the whole cabinet to Gateshead on Monday, as part of efforts to bolster support for her Chequers proposals at home and abroad.

In a slightly awkward exchange, Ms May also revealed that she likes walking, cooking and watching the American procedural TV show, NCIS, when pressed by the audience on how she liked to unwind.

See below for live updates

Key Points

• Government faces backlash over 'abhorrent' decision to drop death penalty opposition for two Isis fighters
• Foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt says there is a 'real risk' of Brexit no-deal 'by accident'
• No-deal Brexit could spark 'civil unrest', warns UK head of Amazon
• Brexit: EU citizens in UK at risk of 'devastating consequences' on housing and jobs, MPs warn
• Labour MP accuses party of 'veiled attempt' to silence her over antisemitism

[23 July 2018 10:40 · Lizzy Buchan]

At the start of a week in which more than 100,000 Ryanair passengers have seen their flights cancelled by a series of strikes, the airline is warning of more to come, writes Transport Correspondent Simon Calder.

Story here:

[23 July 2018 10:56 · Lizzy Buchan]

Today is the penultimate day of the parliamentary term, with exhausted MPs gearing up for recess on Wednesday.

We may have some urgent questions too, which would come after Housing questions at 2.30pm.

[23 July 2018 11:11 · Lizzy Buchan]

Police are set to probe 'vile' abuse sent to Brexit-backing MP Andrea Jenkyns.

The Morley and Outwood MP tweeted a picture of an expletive filled letter, calling her a "c***-faced lying charlatan" and a "treasonous Tory s*******".

She said: "Thank you to Tim who sent me this vile email last night. (Apologies tweets for this appalling language). We will not let these people beat us down.

"Going to keep fighting for Brexit."

[23 July 2018 11:30 · Lizzy Buchan]

Lots of statements due to be published today, as ministers 'take out the trash' ahead of recess. 

[23 July 2018 11:45 · Lizzy Buchan]

[23 July 2018 12:06 · Lizzy Buchan]

Jeremy Hunt, the foreign secretary, has told EU ministers that there was a risk of no-deal Brexit if EU negotiators waited too long for Britain to "blink".

On his first foreign trip since being appointed, Mr Hunt said "when it comes to Brexit there is a very real risk of a Brexit no-deal by accident" as he appeared at a news conference alongside his German counterpart Heiko Maas.

"I think that many people in the EU are thinking that they just have to wait long enough and Britain will blink," Mr Hunt said.

"My real concern is that [a chaotic Brexit] would change British public attitudes to Europe for a generation and would lead to a fissure in relations that would be highly damaging."

Mr Maas said Germany did not want a disorderly Brexit, adding: "We want an agreement. And we also know that for that we have to make steps toward each other."

[23 July 2018 12:20 · Lizzy Buchan]

Political editor Joe Watts has sent this message after the daily lobby briefing with the PM's official spokesman.

Downing Street appeared to distance itself from the decision not to oppose the death penalty for Alexanda Kotey and El Shafee Elsheikh.

The pair are said to have been members of the brutal four-man “Beatles” cell of Isis executioners in Syria and Iraq.

Under questioning, Ms May’s spokesman said that the prime minister was aware of the letter, but that the decision had been taken by home secretary Sajid Javid, in conjunction with the-then foreign secretary Boris Johnson.

Asked repeatedly if the PM was consulted, or supported the decision, the spokeswoman would only say that everybody “supports the point that these men need to face justice through a criminal prosecution.”

She added that the UK’s position that it opposes the death penalty in all circumstances has not changed, but refused to engage in a conversation about the inherent contradiction in that position with Mr Javid’s letter.

The Independent understands that the pair won’t necessarily face the death penalty, depending on which state they are sent to.

[23 July 2018 12:40 · Lizzy Buchan]

Here we go - two UQs lined up on Sajid Javid's decision not to oppose the death penalty for two Isis fighters and also the pairing row from last week.  

[23 July 2018 12:52 · Lizzy Buchan]

Here is the background on the pairing row, which is subject to an urgent question later. Julian Smith, the chief whip, has come under fire after it emerged that Tory chairman Brandon Lewis broke a voting pact with an MP on maternity leave.

[23 July 2018 13:09 · Kristin Hugo]