Brexit news: No-confidence motions in Jewish Labour MP withdrawn as party issues May second referendum ultimatum
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No confidence motions in Labour MP Luciana Berger have been withdrawn after activists in her local constituency backed down following widespread condemnation of their move.
Ms Berger, who has suffered anti-Jewish abuse and been a vocal critic of Jeremy Corbyn's handling of antisemitism, is the subject of two motions of no confidence tabled by party members in Liverpool Wavertree.
Their actions received widespread criticism and deputy leader Tom Watson, described the behaviour of the activists as "intolerable".
John McDonnell sparked fury by suggesting that Ms Berger needed to confirm her loyalty to the party but did say it would be "completely wrong" if the motions were a reponse to Ms Berger standing up to antisemitism.
The shadow chancellor also said Labour would support a fresh referendum on Brexit if Theresa May is unable to get a compromise exit deal through parliament.
The prime minister is due to hold critical talks with Irish prime minister Leo Varadkar tonight, as she scrambles to achieve a breakthrough on her Brexit deal.
Ms May flew to Dublin to meet Mr Varadkar, after a series of challenging meetings in Belfast and Brussels over the divisive issue of the Irish backstop, which MPs have ordered her to remove from her deal.
Here's how we covered developments live:
More from Leo Varadkar, who told journalists that the backstop was not up for renegotiation.
"But we can talk about the joint political declaration and what changes might be made to that and what assurances may be given that would assist this agreement being ratified," he added.
On the prospect of a no deal, the Irish premier said: "The EU and Ireland, we are not threatening no deal, we never have.
"The deadline set on March 29 is one set by the British government in Britain and it is one that is open to them if they choose to revoke Article 50 or seek an extension to it. Nobody in the EU, nobody in Ireland is threatening a no deal."
Mr Varadkar said Labour's proposal for Brexit is "very interesting" but he would deal with Theresa May rather than the opposition.
He also appeared to defend Donald Tusk when asked about the European Council president's s controversial remarks about a "place in hell being reserved for Brexiteers who advocated leaving the EU without a plan to safely deliver it.
"I don't think people should forget about some of the political rhetoric that has been directed at the EU," he said
"It was only a few months ago that people in the UK Government were comparing the European Union to communism and bear in mind President Tusk - Donald Tusk - spent much of his life fighting to over throw communism.
"So I think there has been a lot of rhetoric coming from a lot of different quarters and I think the best thing to do is just to rise above it."
Labour former minister Chris Leslie has said his "patience is wearing pretty thin" with his party's Brexit policy.
He told BBC Radio 4's World At One: "I have to be honest, my patience is wearing pretty thin with the Labour policy on Brexit.
"This is the big issue of the moment and it's going to affect not just trading relationships but percolate right through to the revenues that we have for our public services.
"If I want to avoid another decade of austerity I can't help but focus on what is happening on Brexit, and what is the Labour Party's policy on Brexit, and that is why ... I've got some serious worries about where the leadership are going having basically dropped all of that Labour Party conference policy commitment from September and apparently trying to airbrush the concept of a public vote, letting the public have the final say on this, from where we stand."
Conservative MP Sir Christopher Chope – the politician widely condemned for objecting to a bill to outlaw upskirting – has blocked legislation designed to protect children from female genital mutilation (FGM).
The 71 year-old MP for Christchurch was heavily criticised for obstructing the legislation in parliament, and was called an “embarrassment to your party and humanity” by leading anti-FGM campaigner Nimco Ali.
More here:
Several senior Tory MPs have expressed their opposition to Sir Christopher Chope, who objected to a bill to prevent young girls being subjected to female genital mutilation.
DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds said he believed a Westminster majority for a Brexit deal would be found with DUP MPs and some Labour rebels voting with the Conservatives.
"The important thing is the backstop is the problem in the withdrawal agreement for most people in the House of Commons who voted against it by an overwhelming majority and it is that that has got to be addressed," he said.
Asked about the Brexit plan proposed by Labour, Mr Dodds said: "I read with interest what Jeremy Corbyn has now belatedly come up with - I think it might be plan F or G - whatever it is, it doesn't have the support of his own party either.
"The way to a majority for a deal in the United Kingdom is with the Conservative Party and the DUP, I don't believe Theresa May is going to split her party in order to reach out to a Jeremy Corbyn who is going to find it very difficult to bring his own party along and who can't be relied upon to deliver the Brexit which the prime minister believes people voted for in the referendum.
"So the work must continue to ensure we get a majority in the Commons, as Arlene has said, and that will be based upon the votes of the Conservatives, the DUP and some in the Labour Party as well, who I believe will vote for a sensible outcome which can lead to a proper Brexit and one which also respects the integrity of the United Kingdom."
Health secretary Matt Hancock has also weighed in on Chris Chope's objection to the FGM bill amid growing opposition from senior Conservatives.
Former head of the civil service Lord Gus O'Donnell has backed calls for a second referendum.
The powerful former mandarin, who is known as GOD, said it would be "irresponsible" for the government to even consider leaving the EU without a proper plan.
Writing in the Evening Standard, he said: “Just seven short weeks before we are due to leave the EU, there is a fundamental challenge for Government: we do not have any clarity about our future relationship with our closest neighbours.
“While attention was focused on the withdrawal agreement, it is specifically the political declaration that should be the greatest cause for concern. It is not legally binding and leaves open numerous important issues.
“Are we going to follow a Norwegian model or one from Singapore, Turkey, Switzerland or Albania? The truth is we do not know and it is, I am afraid to say, irresponsible for any government to even contemplate embarking on such a perilous journey as Brexit without giving us a clearer idea of the eventual destination.
“Any final decision by MPs – a ‘meaningful vote’ – on this proposal would be ‘meaningless’. We need clarity from the government and parliament on a preferred route to leave the EU. If they cannot agree, there may be no alternative other than to hand the decision back to the people in a new referendum.”
Interesting - after the row today, it appears the motion of no confidence against Luciana Berger has been withdrawn.
Nigel Farage has said he will stand for the new Brexit Party if the UK's departure from the European Union is delayed.
The Brexit Party has been officially registered with the Electoral Commission allowing it to field candidates at upcoming elections.
Former Ukip leader Mr Farage said the new party "has my absolutely full support" and he would stand for it in May's European Parliament elections if the UK has not left the EU by that point.
The party's founder Catherine Blaiklock told the Daily Telegraph that "a number of hundred" Conservative members had been in touch to say they wanted to defect to the new party and the figure was likely to rise to thousands.
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