Brexit news: Theresa May insists her EU exit plan is not dead before flying to Brussels for crucial meeting

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PMQs 171018

Theresa May insisted her Chequers blueprint for Brexit was not "dead" hours before she travelled to Brussels to address EU leaders at a crucial summit.

Tackling Ms May at the weekly session of prime minister's questions, Jeremy Corbyn noted she had not mentioned "Chequers" in either her conference speech or in a recent update to the Commons on the state of the negotiations.

But, in her reply, Ms May said: "He asked me if the Chequers plan was dead, the answer is no."

Arriving at the EU summit, the prime minister said she believes a deal on the UK's orderly withdrawal from the EU remains "achievable", despite the deadlock in negotiations.

Ms May was due to address leaders of the 27 remaining EU states before they discuss Brexit in her absence at the European Council on Wednesday evening.

But leaders were openly saying that there would be "no breakthrough" at the summit, which was long billed as the "moment of truth" when a deal must be done to give time for ratification by the date of Brexit on March 29.

To follow the events as they unfolded, see our liveblog below

Key Points

• Theresa May says Chequer's plan is not dead - ahead of EU summit
• Labour defeated in attempt to force government to publish universal credit analysis
• Michel Barnier ‘open to extending Brexit transition period by a year’
• 'No grounds for optimism' ahead of summit, EU's Donald Tusk says

[17 October 2018 12:16 · Lizzy Buchan]

SNP's Ian Blackford asks if jobs will be at risk because of Brexit, seizing on comments from Sir John Major, who said Brexit would make people poorer.

May says her plan will protect jobs.

Blackford quotes May from June 2016, when she apparently said "People's jobs will be put at risk". He says staying in the single market and the customs union is the only deal that will get through parliament. Nicola Sturgeon made this point earlier in the week.

May said she will protect jobs and hits out at the SNP, as she says Brexit will take Britain out of the Common Fisheries Policy, which Scottish fishermen want.

[17 October 2018 12:18 · Lizzy Buchan]

Labour MP Steve McCabe praises the PM for doing her job with diabetes and asks if the glucose monitoring system she uses could be available on the NHS.

May thanks him for his comments and says the device is available on the NHS. But there are other ways to monitor glucose and patients must pick the best for them, she says.

[17 October 2018 12:19 · Lizzy Buchan]

[17 October 2018 12:22 · Lizzy Buchan]

Tory MP Kevin Hollinrake asks if she will give proper thought to an insurance scheme to make sure everyone is protected from the "potentially catastrophic costs of care".

May says it is vital to alleviate pressure on care and says 

Labour MP Ian Lucas asks about plans to take away free TV licenses and accuses the BBC of "pickpocketing pensioners".

May says the arrangements change and it is a matter for the BBC.

[17 October 2018 12:27 · Lizzy Buchan]

SNP's Pete Wishart asks about the police investigation into Vote Leave spending irregularities during the Brexit negotiations.

He asks what the PM will do to defend democracy 'from those who seek to circumvent it'.

May says politicians do not interfere in police matters and there is a presumption of innocence. The government will look at the Electoral Commission findings.

[17 October 2018 12:28 · Lizzy Buchan]

[17 October 2018 12:31 · Lizzy Buchan]

Brexiteer klaxon - Tory Steve Baker asks her to demand the EU does not break up the UK or try to regulate the UK after Brexit.

May says the UK will take control of money, laws and borders. She says she has made it clear and will continue to make it clear that she will not break up the union.

[17 October 2018 12:32 · Lizzy Buchan]

[17 October 2018 12:33 · Lizzy Buchan]

Second Brexiteer klaxon - DUP's Nigel Dodds says it will be difficult to get MPs to agree to a deal without a clear idea of the future relationship.

May says that is true and she has always insisted on the linkage.

[17 October 2018 12:35 · Lizzy Buchan]

Labour's Danielle Rowley says universal credit is pushing some women to stay with domestic abusers - which is 'disgusting'. She asks how it makes the PM feel.

May says the government is doing lots to combat domestic abuse.