Brexit news: Government accused of 'staggering from one week to the next' as MPs' break cancelled due to crisis

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Theresa May has been accused of "staggering from one week to the next" after ministers opted to cancel parliamentary recess in an attempt to solve the Brexit crisis.

Valerie Vaz, the shadow Commons leader, mocked the decision to cancel the MP's break, as the parliamentary schedule failed to include any debates on Britain leaving the European Union.

The decision came as foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt was slapped down by the prime minister for warning that Brexit could be delayed as the government needs "extra time" to pass key legislation.

Ms May was also considering a bid to win Labour MPs' support for her Brexit deal with a cash injection for areas that voted Leave at the 2016 referendum.

See our live coverage to follow how the day unfolded

Key Points

• Jeremy Hunt warns the government may need 'extra time' to pass Brexit legislation
• Parliamentary recess cancelled to solve Brexit chaos
• Downing Street slaps down Hunt for suggesting Brexit will be delayed
• Theresa May accused of making 'stupid mistake' in EU talks 

[31 January 2019 07:25 · Shehab.Khan]

Welcome to The Independent's coverage of the day's political events.

[31 January 2019 07:52 · Shehab.Khan]

Austria's foreign minister, Karin Kneissl, is on BBC Radio 4's Today programme and has said that Britain leaving with no-deal was "likely. 

According to the Article 50 procedures, the deadline is March 29th, so there is a time pressure because what couldn't be reached by negotiation over the last years, it's very difficult to imagine that there can be a tremendous breakthrough - a magic solution - in the next few days in order also to have this ratified in due time for the remaining EU members."

[31 January 2019 07:54 · Shehab.Khan]

Our Political Editor, Joe Watts has written about the Tory truce crumbling as the prime minister is accused of making a "stupid mistake". 

 

[31 January 2019 08:11 · Shehab.Khan]

Sir Martin Donnelly, former permanent secretary of the Department for International Trade, warned there could be a "serious paralysis" of parts of the British economy in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

"There is so much just-in-time trade, there is millions of lorries and containers crossing the border, particularly in the Dover choke point every year, it's just not possible to put in extra controls and expect that system to continue working," he told Today.

"Sooner or later, probably in a matter of weeks, there would be serious paralysis of significant parts of the UK economy."

[31 January 2019 08:35 · Shehab.Khan]

Jeremy Hunt has just said that Article 50 may need to be extended to get legislation through the Commons.

"If we are able to make progress sooner then that might not be necessary. We can't know at this stage exactly which of those scenarios would happen," he told Today.

[31 January 2019 08:54 · Shehab.Khan]

Lizzy Buchan, our Political Correspondent, re-iterates the previous point!

[31 January 2019 09:02 · Shehab.Khan]

Mr Hunt said it was "difficult to know" if negotiations would run to the end of March, but added:

Whereas a week ago none of us really knew whether this was going to be possible, we are now in a situation where it clearly is possible.

There are lots and lots of hurdles, no-one is saying this isn't going to be very challenging, but we do now have a consensus in Parliament.

We can use that consensus, providing we can meet these concerns, very reasonable concerns from our friends in Ireland about not having a hard border, concerns in the EU about access to the single market.

Providing we can do that, which I think we can, then I think there is a way through."

[31 January 2019 09:12 · Shehab.Khan]

Here is the full story on what Jeremy Hunt said this morning about the government needing "extra time". 

[31 January 2019 09:16 · Shehab.Khan]

Business Secretary Greg Clark has urged Theresa May to reach out across the political divide to secure a Brexit deal that can command a "substantial" Commons majority.

Mr Clark - who strongly opposes a no-deal break - suggested ministers should be prepared to a listen to calls for a customs union with the EU, even though it runs counter to Government policy.

[31 January 2019 09:17 · Shehab.Khan]

Speaking on ITV's Peston Programme, Mr Clark said: 

Not only do I think it is necessary for people to come together across partisan lines, if we are properly to move forward I don't think we should aim for this deal to pass by a majority of one or two. I would like to a substantial majority for a deal

I think it is reasonable going into discussions to listen to people's views and to see where the majority is in the House of Commons - and for a substantial majority.

I would want to see what proposals are there. I have always thought when you have a 52-48 result in the referendum you have to have a deal that respects the fact that it was close, tries to bring the country together."