Brexit news: May sacks defence secretary Williamson over ‘unprecedented’ Huawei leak as MPs vote on climate change

Follow live updates from Westminster, as they happened

Countdown to Brexit: How many days left until Britain leaves the EU?

Theresa May has endured a day of intense scrutiny over her Brexit strategy ahead of an anticipated mauling in the local elections over delays to the UK's departure from the EU.

Ms May and Jeremy Corbyn held their last prime minister's questions clash ahead of Thursday's poll, as the Labour leader accused Ms May of failing to tackle the "burning injustices" she pledged to combat during her first day in office.

Amid mounting speculation that the prime minister could cave in to opposition demands, Ms May told senior backbenchers she hopes "a deal can be done" with Labour to find a consensus which can command a majority in parliament.

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

Key Points

• Gavin Williamson sacked as defence secretary over Huawei leak
• Brexit ferry fiasco costs taxpayers another £50m as Grayling axes no-deal contract
• PM admits she could cave in to Labour demands to pass Brexit deal
• More than 800 Tory councillors will lose seats in local elections, analyst predicts
• Jeremy Corbyn crushes attempt to commit party to second Brexit referendum

[1 May 2019 19:53 · Peter Stubley]

The Independent's main story on the sacking, from deputy political editor Rob Merrick.

[1 May 2019 19:54 · Peter Stubley]

Foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt says "there was no alternative" to the dismissal of Gavin Williamson.

Speaking in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, he said: "On a personal level I'm very sorry about what happened for Gavin's sake but given the gravity of the situation there was no other alternative outcome."

[1 May 2019 19:57 · Peter Stubley]

Change UK MP Sarah Wollaston also backs calls for a criminal investigation.

[1 May 2019 20:14 · Peter Stubley]

Following the non-binding vote by MPs to declare a climate emergency, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said in a statement: "This can set off a wave of action from parliaments and governments around the globe.

"We pledge to work as closely as possible with countries that are serious about ending the climate catastrophe and make clear to US President Donald Trump that he cannot ignore international agreements and action on the climate crisis."

Environment secretary Michael Gove has not officially declared an emergency but told the Commons that legislation on the issue is due "shortly".

[1 May 2019 20:29 · Peter Stubley]

New defence secretary Penny Mordaunt, who has previously served as minister of state for the armed forces, makes no mention of her predecessor in her statement.

"I'm delighted to be back at the Ministry of Defence," she says. "It is an honour and privilege to work with the best armed forces and defence civilians in the world."

[1 May 2019 20:37 · Peter Stubley]

What's the evidence against Gavin Williamson? The Independent's defence editor Kim Sengupta reports that the former defence minister had a phone conversation with the journalist who reported the Huawei leak.

[1 May 2019 21:08 · Tom Barnes]

That's all from The Independent on a day that's seen Gavin Williamson lose his job as defence secretary over the Huawei leak scandal. 

Check back tomorrow for the latest on that story and all the other news from Westminster.

[1 May 2019 21:09 · Peter Stubley]

The search for the Huawei leaker was "not so much a whodunnit, as a when-will-it-be-confirmed-Gavin-dunnit?", writes The Independent's political sketch writer Tom Peck.