Brexit news: Theresa May scrambles to save EU deal ahead of third vote after Brexiteer lawyers reject attempts to break impasse

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Theresa May is scrambling to resuscitate her Brexit deal ahead of a third "meaningful vote" next week after a dramatic night in the Commons when MPs ordered her to seek a delay to the UK's departure from the EU.

Europe's leaders are considering whether to accept calls for Brexit to be delayed beyond March 29, with European Council president Donald Tusk due to meet Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte in The Hague on Friday before talks with Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron on Monday.

But Ms May's hopes of persuading Eurosceptics and the DUP were dealt a hammer blow after the so-called star chamber of Brexiteer lawyers rejected attorney general Geoffrey Cox's latest assessment.

Led by veteran Tory Sir Bill Cash, the group said his idea that the UK could use the Vienna Convention - the international agreement that lays down the rules about treaties - to unilaterally pull out of the backstop was "badly misconceived".

Meanwhile, chancellor Philip Hammond led government talks with the DUP in Whitehall, prompting speculation that there could be a financial reward for their support.

To follow events as they unfolded, see our live coverage below

Key Points

• Philip Hammond brings Treasury's financial might to crunch Brexit talks with DUP
• Theresa May demands all news companies remove video of mosque shootings in New Zealand
• Top Tory plays down cabinet splits as ministers refuse to back PM's plan to delay Brexit
• Labour frontbenchers resign after defying Corbyn's orders in second referendum vote
• EU says the UK government's no-deal tariff plan is 'illegal'

[15 March 2019 11:29 · Lizzy Buchan]

Theresa May’s deputy has played down talk of a cabinet split, despite seven of the prime minister’s top team voting against her in a key Brexit vote.

David Lidington insisted the “entire cabinet” had accepted that Britain would seek to delay Brexit, despite seven cabinet ministers voting against the proposal last night.

More here: 

[15 March 2019 12:00 · Lizzy Buchan]

MPs have gathered in the House of Commons for a minute's silence in memory of those killed in the New Zealand terror attack.

Speaker John Bercow led tributes to the victims of the Christchurch mosque shootings, telling the chamber the pause in proceedings at 11am was in "solidarity" with the people of New Zealand and Muslims around the world.

He said: "This barbarity, this evil, this depravity will not prevail.

"We will stand up to it and it will be defeated."

Security minister Ben Wallace confirmed the UK was offering whatever assistance New Zealand required in the wake of the "repugnant" attack, adding both he and Home Secretary Sajid Javid were meeting police and security services to look at ways to protect British mosques.

He also said: "The UK stands shoulder to shoulder with New Zealand against terrorism and we will not falter in our commitment to uphold the values of tolerance, religious freedom and democracy that we both hold so dear."

[15 March 2019 12:15 · Lizzy Buchan]

A Downing Street spokeswoman said Prime Minister Theresa May has sent a direct message to the New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. 

[15 March 2019 12:29 · Lizzy Buchan]

Downing Street has demanded UK news and media companies remove from their websites terrifying footage of the far-right terror rampage against Muslims in New Zealand.

Number 10 intervened after the film made by the main gunman was posted on social media, with a number of major news organisations then choosing to carry it on their websites.

More here: 

[15 March 2019 12:41 · Lizzy Buchan]

Interesting...

[15 March 2019 12:57 · Lizzy Buchan]

The Indy's Andrew Grice think EU leaders would no longer trust May to deliver a letter, let alone a promise. But they are unwittingly helping her deliver her own strategy

Read his column here:

[15 March 2019 13:15 · Lizzy Buchan]

[15 March 2019 13:33 · Lizzy Buchan]

Former cabinet minister - and staunch Brexiteer - Esther McVey has hinted to the BBC that she might support Theresa May's deal. 

[15 March 2019 13:50 · Lizzy Buchan]

Away from Brexit, ailing outsourcer Interserve, a major contractor to the government, has failed to secure investor backing for a rescue plan and is instead set to fall into administration.

Shareholders in the firm voted 59 per cent against a package that would have slashed its debts but handed control of the company to its lenders.

More on this story here: 

[15 March 2019 14:10 · Lizzy Buchan]

Important bit of news here. Philip Hammond is leading government talks with the Northern Irish DUP in a bid to win their support for Theresa May’s Brexit deal.

With the Conservative party’s confidence and supply deal with the DUP coming up for review, the chancellor’s involvement indicates there could be a financial incentive to back the plan.