Boris Johnson news: Tories on brink of losing majority as top Brexiteer attacks Farage for splitting by-election vote

What does a no-deal Brexit mean?

Boris Johnson has suffered a blow to his authority after the Liberal Democrats overturned the Tory majority in Brecon and Radnorshire by-election, powered by a "Remain alliance".

Jo Swinson, the new Lib Dem leader, suggested future electoral pacts between pro-EU parties after Plaid Cymru and the Greens threw their weight behind her party for the ballot, which reduced the Tory majority to only one.

"It is still eminently possible to stop Brexit," she said, at an event at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

"Delivering a People's Vote is still an option - the way in which in March we took control of the order paper - that is something which could be done again.

"We are going to explore different strategies."

She added: "What happened in March was that a motion was used to take control of the order paper, so that it was not only the Prime Minister or the leader of the House on a given day that was able to initiate what the business would be.

"So there are ways around it. And then you get into - is that better achieved by a vote of no confidence to bring the government down, or is it about bringing forward a Bill to secure a People's Vote."

Ms Swinson's comments come as a leaked Whitehall document laid bare widespread fears of consumer panic, rising crime and economic chaos in the aftermath a no-deal Brexit.

Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour leader, said the party's fourth place position in the by-election was "disappointing".

If you would like to see how events in Westminster unfolded, please see what was our live coverage below:

[2 August 2019 22:04 · Zamira Rahim]

Boris Johnson has been warned over the fragility of his leadership after his working majority was reduced to just one by the Tories' loss in the Brecon and Radnorshire by-election.

The new prime minister was told he may face defections or resignations from Conservative MPs who are in opposition to his hardline Brexit approach.

Meanwhile, Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson predicted further electoral alliances after Plaid Cymru and the Green Party stood aside in the mid-Wales constituency to boost the chances of a pro-EU MP succeeding.

Tory former justice minister Dr Philip Lee said he and colleagues were considering their next moves if the Government pushed for a no-deal departure.

The MP told The Guardian: "I have things to think about over the summer, but it is not just me.

"There are a number of colleagues who are spending the summer reflecting on what is the right way for them to confront this no-deal scenario.

"Of course, it is difficult for all of us because we joined the Conservative party, but it has morphed into something a lot different to what I joined in 1992."

[2 August 2019 22:39 · Zamira Rahim]

Boris Johnson's visit to Whaley Bridge went down well with some police officers working at the scene.

[2 August 2019 23:02 · Zamira Rahim]

Nigel Farage has described Donald Trump's "go back" comments aimed at four congresswomen of colour as "genius".

The US president's remarks were widely condemned as racist after he told the four Democrats known as the Squad to return to the "broken and crime infested places from which they came".

But the Brexit Party leader praised Mr Trump's words as being politically shrewd.

"He's remarkably good at what he does," Mr Farage said, in an interview with The Times.

"He does things his way. But he is a remarkably effective operator."

The Brexit Party leader has also faced accusations of racism in a controversial political career.

In May 2014 he was accused of a “racial slur” against Romanians after he suggested he would be concerned living next to a house of them.