Brexit news latest: EU negotiations hit crisis point with days left to reach deal as Downing St admits 'robust exchange of views'

Our live coverage of the day's political events

Theresa May clashes with Jeremy Corbyn over knife crime at PMQs

Downing Street has admitted that talks between cabinet ministers and EU officials have been “difficult” and saw a “robust exchange of views” – despite there being just days left to secure an agreement.

EU officials said the latest talks with Geoffrey Cox, the attorney general, and Stephen Barclay, the Brexit secretary, “did not go well”.

Mr Cox and Mr Barclay are seeking to allay fears that the backstop could leave the UK trapped in a customs union with the EU in a bid to win over Tory MPs ahead of further votes next week.

But the European Commission said there was still “no solution” to the impasse over the Irish backstop.

Meanwhile, the international trade secretary Liam Fox refused to rule out backing a no-deal Brexit if the Withdrawal Agreement is voted down by MPs next week.

It came as the issue of knife crime dominated clashes between Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn at prime minister’s questions on Wednesday, following a series of fatal stabbings across the UK.

Ms May said “we cannot arrest our way out of the problem”, as the Labour leader criticised cuts to police budgets and the vast reduction in the number of officers.

Here's how the day unfolded:

Key Points

• PM faces criticism at PMQs over rise in knife crime and drop in police cuts 
• Liam Fox says Theresa May could force MPs to vote for no-deal Brexit
• Sajid Javid directs contradicts the PM over knife violence
• No-deal Brexit will trigger UK recession, OECD warns
• Jeremy Corbyn urges Labour's official Jewish group not to disaffiliate

[6 March 2019 08:05 · Shehab.Khan]

Welcome to The Independent's live coverage of the day's political events. 

[6 March 2019 08:10 · Shehab.Khan]

New measures to protect workers' rights after Brexit have been roundly rejected by unions and Labour as "flimsy" and "deeply disappointing" after they were unveiled by the prime minister.

Under the proposals, MPs will be allowed to vote on whether to take new EU workplace rules, rather than them being automatically written into UK law.

Union leaders warned the measures will risk UK employees' rights falling behind those in neighbouring countries.

[6 March 2019 08:15 · Shehab.Khan]

The US ambassador to the UK has said any post-Brexit trade deal will have to include farming. 

He also added he was confident that the UK and US relationship will prosper. 

[6 March 2019 08:17 · Shehab.Khan]

The Independent's Political Editor, Joe Watts, has written a report about Theresa May preparing to travel to Brussels in attempt to secure changes to her Brexit deal. 

[6 March 2019 08:23 · Shehab.Khan]

Economists believe Brexit will be delayed by at least a few months, a new poll by Reuters has found. 

All but three of 54 economists featured in the poll said more than four-decade marriage between Britain and the EU would not be dissolved in a little over three weeks time as planned.

[6 March 2019 08:35 · Benjamin Kentish]

Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn will clash at Prime Minister's Questions at 12.30, with the recent spate of knife crime likely to dominate the exchange.

Sajid Javid, the home secretary, is demanding more money to tackle the problem and Mr Corbyn is also likely to call for investment, as well as highlighting falling police numbers.

Mr Javid will meet police chiefs this morning as the government attempts to get a grip on the issue. 

[6 March 2019 08:52 · Benjamin Kentish]

Jeremy Corbyn has written to the Jewish Labour Movement urging them to stay in the party, as the group prepares to meet to discuss disaffiliating amid the ongoing row over antisemitism.

In a letter, the Labour leader said: 

"I want to express my sincere hope that the JLM will decide to continue a relationship that has been fundamental to the history of our party and our movement.

"This morning our shadow cabinet discussed this and affirmed our support for JLM's affiliation and our very strong desire for you to remain part of our movement."

[6 March 2019 09:09 · Benjamin Kentish]

Local councils have warned that services for elderly and disabled people will be cut because of a £1bn funding black hole

[6 March 2019 09:20 · Benjamin Kentish]

Government plans to scrap most import tariffs will be kept secret unless there is a no-deal Brexit, Greg Clark has said

[6 March 2019 09:34 · Benjamin Kentish]

Breaking: Momentum has been fined £16,700 by the Electoral Commission for several breaches of electoral law, including during the 2017 election campaign.

The group was found to have recorded its spending inaccurately and failed to report donations.

The Commission said:

"We have concluded that Momentum committed a number of offences, and we have imposed fines totalling £16,700. The offences spanned 2016 and 2017. This is the biggest fine that we have imposed on a non-party campaigner for the submission of an inaccurate spending return to date."