Brexit news: Theresa May tells MPs to ‘get on with it’ as she turns up pressure on parliament to force through deal

See how The Independent covered the day's political events

Brexit: Theresa May puts blame for what she has called a national 'crisis' on MPs

Theresa May has risked the anger of MPs after she blamed them for forcing her to ask the EU for a "short delay" to Brexit.

In a letter to European Council president Donald Tusk, the prime minister asked for a three-month extension to Article 50 negotiation process, pushing the scheduled date to leave the EU from 29 March to 30 June.

However Mr Tusk put his foot down, saying he would grant the delay but only if MPs backed Ms May's Brexit deal.

Some hours later Ms May used a televised address to accuse the Commons of having tried everything to avoid making a decision on whether it wanted to leave the block with a deal, crash out without one or not leave at all.

From Downing Street she told voters she was "on your side", adding that she believed "You're tired of the infighting, you're tired of the political games and the arcane procedural rows, tired of MPs talking about nothing else but Brexit when you have real concerns about our children's schools, our National Health Service, knife crime."

"You want this stage of the Brexit process to be over and done with. I agree," she said.

In response the PM was accused of being "toxic" and even of risking her colleagues' safety.

It meant that Ms May must now find a way of putting her deal before parliament for the third time, with no clear evidence that MPs will back it after twice voting it down by crushing margins.

If the deal fails again there is a significant chance she could resign, having told MPs earlier in the day she could not be the leader to impose a lengthy delay to Brexit.

See below how we covered the day's events live

Key Points

• Theresa May asks for Brexit delay until 30 June in letter to European Union
• ...but Donald Tusk says delay would be conditional on MPs backing her deal
• 'I'm on your side,' PM tells voters she says are 'tired of political games'
• Labour secures emergency debate on decision to delay Britain's departure
• Celebrities agree to fund coaches for Final Say referendum march

[20 March 2019 09:02 · Shehab.Khan]

Interesting development as Andrea Leadsom tells LBC that there could potentially be a new meaningful vote next week.

[20 March 2019 09:19 · Lizzy Buchan]

Lots of comment about how David Lidington, the PM's deputy, said a short, one-off extension would be 'downright reckless' and would make a no-deal scenario more likely only last week.

[20 March 2019 09:25 · Lizzy Buchan]

Shadow Brexit Secretary Keir Starmer also picks up the point.

He said: "The prime minister appears to be pursing a course of action that her own deputy last week described as reckless.

"Theresa May is desperate once again to impose a binary choice between her deal and no deal despite parliament clearly ruling out both of those options last week.

"What the government should be doing is showing real leadership, making good on their commitment to break the deadlock and secure an extension with a genuine purpose."

[20 March 2019 09:50 · Lizzy Buchan]

Interesting - there appear to moves afoot from opposition MPs, including Labour's Alison McGovern, to table an SO24 motion for an emergency debate.

One to watch out for. In a nutshell, the Speaker allows a three minute application on floor of the House from an MP, can then grant up to three hour debate on the subject at time of his choosing. It can be immediate.

[20 March 2019 10:05 · Lizzy Buchan]

Looking ahead for a moment, a host of celebrities have agreed to fund coaches to transport protesters to London for a major demonstration in favour of a Final Say referendum.

Delia Smith, the chef and TV presenter, and actors Sir Patrick Stewart and Steve Coogan, and Armando Iannucci, creator of the Thick of It, have stepped in to help marchers attend the “Put it to the People March”.

More here: 

[20 March 2019 10:25 · Lizzy Buchan]

John Bercow's words from the other day have clearly emboldened MPs to seek an opposition day debate. Brexiteers will be furious, as they already feel the Speaker is against them.

[20 March 2019 10:34 · Lizzy Buchan]

But bad news for pro-EU MPs from Labour.

[20 March 2019 10:46 · Lizzy Buchan]

Labour appear to have now made a u-turn on the SO24 debate.

A Labour spokesperson said: "The prime minister should make a statement. If she doesn't we will support all measures to force a debate in parliament on this matter."

[20 March 2019 11:00 · Lizzy Buchan]

Has John Bercow’s controversial Brexit ruling made a no-deal departure from the EU more likely? Indy political commentator Andy Grice takes a hard look at the speaker's decision. 

[20 March 2019 11:11 · Lizzy Buchan]

Three UQs crammed in this morning.