Brexit news: Theresa May insists her EU exit plan is not dead before flying to Brussels for crucial meeting
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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
MPs arguing John Bercow should stay on until after Brexit have a point – but more needs to be done to tackle the toxic culture in Westminster, says Andy Grice, the Indy political commentator.
Read his column here on the Speaker, bullying and the Brexit talks:
On the bullying row, Jeremy Corbyn distanced himself from comments made by shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry over John Bercow's position.
Ms Thornberry drew criticism for saying Mr Bercow should remain in place because of upcoming Brexit votes despite the release of a damning report into a culture of bullying and harassment at Westminster.
A spokesman for the Labour leader said: "Jeremy's view is that the issue of Brexit and the issue of bullying, harassment and abuse in Parliament, or any work place, are entirely separate, and shouldn't be confused in any way."
Mr Corbyn's spokesman said that Ms Thornberry had made it clear she was expressing a "personal view".
MPs are currently engaged in an opposition day debate on universal credit, which Labour hopes to force the government to publish its analysis of the economic impact on claimants (see earlier post).
The government's flagship social security programme was branded a "vehicle for cuts" by MPs, who said it was "beset with flaws in its design and delivery" and was "causing immense hardship".
Shadow work and pensions secretary Margaret Greenwood said: "Universal credit, the Government's flagship social security programme, has been beset with flaws in its design and delivery. It's causing immense hardship for many people wherever it is rolled out.
"It is hard to believe now, but UC was designed to lift people out of poverty and smooth the transition into work to ensure that it always pays. The reality is that UC is a vehicle for cuts."
People were "facing hunger and destitution", she said, as she called on the government to "wake up ... open its eyes to what's happening" and halt the rollout of the benefit.
She said: "So, will the Government publish all reports and analysis that it has carried out into the effects of UC since the Secretary of State took office? People have a right to know."
Labour's motion is the latest proposed use of an arcane parliamentary procedure to make the vote binding on the government by issuing a "humble address" to the Queen asking her to require ministers to comply.
It calls for "any briefing papers or analysis provided to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions since January 8 2018 on the impact of the rollout of Universal Credit on recipients' and household income and on benefit debts" to be laid before Parliament.
Ms McVey insisted the rollout of Universal Credit would continue, but said she would ensure the Government "get it right".
"We will make sure we get this benefit right. You know for why? Because the genuine concerns of the people on our backbenches want to get it right."
She received backing from Tory Heidi Allen who said she and fellow backbenchers believe the Secretary of State is "listening to what needs to change with Universal Credit".
A little gem from PMQs earlier - A senior Tory MP hit out at "shroud-waving" EU negotiators as he claimed a hard Irish border will not materialise as no-one wants to build it.
Julian Lewis, chairman of the Defence Committee, pressed Theresa May to ask who would construct such a border the next time it is raised as a prospect by Brussels.
He said: "The next time shroud-waving EU negotiators claim a hard border is necessary on the island of Ireland, will she kindly ask them who would actually construct it?
"The Irish certainly won't, the British certainly won't, so unless the EU army plans to march in and build it, it surely can never happen."
Ms May replied: "We're all working to ensure there will be no hard border between Northern Ireland and Ireland, that is the clear commitment of the United Kingdom Government, as agreed by the European Union when we signed the December joint report."
England’s most senior health official says he cannot be “confident” that essential medicines will still be available after a no-deal Brexit – describing the task as “extremely difficult”.
Maintaining supplies would be “very complex” if the UK crashes out of the EU, Sir Chris Wormald told MPs, adding: “I never use words like confident.”
See more here:
People who want to be "absolutely certain" they can take their pets abroad in the Easter holidays after Brexit should see their vet in November, Michael Gove has said.
Speaking to the Lords EU Energy and Environment Sub-Committee, the Environment Secretary said the UK becoming an "unlisted third country" after a no-deal Brexit would lead to onerous new measures for pet owners.
The scenario for what replaces the current pet travel scheme is the most unlikely, he told peers, as it is usually only applied to countries with a real risk of disease.
But he said: "If you want to be absolutely certain you can take your pet abroad and you're worried about the worst case scenario and you're taking your pet abroad for example during the Easter holidays then you should see your vet.
"It's a relatively straightforward process but you should see your vet to make sure your vaccinations are appropriate in November," he said.
'PMQs: Who won? I'm not sure I even know who was there,' says Independent sketchwriter Tom Peck.
Read his column here:
Police have cordoned off part of the Embankment because of a suspicious package near the Ministry of Defence.
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