Brexit news: No-confidence motions in Jewish Labour MP withdrawn as party issues May second referendum ultimatum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No confidence motions in Labour MP Luciana Berger have been withdrawn after activists in her local constituency backed down following widespread condemnation of their move.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:

Key Points

• Theresa May flies to Dublin for last-ditch talks to break Brexit impasse
• Labour want new referendum if Brexit deal rejected, says John McDonnell
• Senior MPs rally behind Labour's Luciana Berger amid bid to oust her by local party
• Tory MP provokes fury for blocking bill to protect girls from FGM
• Brexit deal will cause 'never-ending nightmare' warns top civil servant

[8 February 2019 17:29 · Shehab.Khan]

Breaking news: No-confidence motions in Labour MP Luciana Berger have been withdrawn

[8 February 2019 17:47 · Shehab.Khan]

Activists in Liverpool Wavertree backed down after widespread condemnation of their move and accusations of antisemitism.

Deputy leader Tom Watson attacked the local party's actions as "intolerable".

[8 February 2019 18:22 · Shehab.Khan]

Arlene Foster has dismissed as "project fear" reports of Cabinet concern about an Irish unity poll in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

The DUP leader said the criteria for calling a referendum on Northern Ireland's constitutional future had not been met.

Mrs Foster's remarks came after the BBC quoted three unnamed Cabinet ministers talking about the increased likelihood of a poll if the UK leaves the European Union without a deal.

[8 February 2019 18:56 · Shehab.Khan]

High profile Tory MPs are criticising their colleague Christopher Chope who blocked an FGM bill in the Commons today:

[8 February 2019 19:07 · Shehab.Khan]

Irish Prime Minster Leo Varadkar on Friday said he believes "a deal can be done" to avoid Britain crashing out of the European Union, although it is unclear if it will be reached before the March 29 exit date.

Mr Varadkar was speaking to Irish state broadcaster RTE after a meeting with Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party, a key ally of British Prime Minister Theresa May and a fierce critic of the current exit deal between Britain and the EU.

He said there was more that unites than divides the DUP and Irish government, and that "often when you share all the major objectives, it is possible to come to a solution".

[8 February 2019 19:29 · Shehab.Khan]

Our parliamentary sketch writer, Tom Peck, has written a piece about  Christopher Chope MP, who today blocked anti-FGM legalisation. 

[8 February 2019 20:10 · Chris Baynes]

We're closing this live blog for today. Thanks for reading.