Brexit news: John Bercow rules Theresa May cannot bring her deal back for third time unless something has changed
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John Bercow has dramatically ruled that Theresa May cannot hold another vote on her Brexit deal unless the proposed agreement has changed "substantially".
In a major blow to the prime minister, the Commons speaker invoked a centuries-old rule that says the same motion cannot be voted on more than once in the same parliamentary sitting.
Ms May was reported to be planning a third "meaningful vote" on her deal this week, although Downing Street said it would only happen if there was a "realistic prospect" of success.
If no vote happens in the coming days, she is now expected to ask European leaders for a lengthy extension to the two-year negotiation process, delaying Brexit for months or even years beyond March 29.
To follow events as they unfolded, see our live coverage below
Another one standing firm...
Former cabinet minister Priti Patel tells an event organised by the Taxpayers' Alliance that she voted against Theresa May's deal before and that "nothing has changed".
She says:
"My views have been clear on not just the meaningful vote, but, actually, the Withdrawal Agreement.
"And on January 29 I voted for alternative arrangements when it came to the Withdrawal Agreement.
"And so nothing has changed."
NEW: Theresa May's spokesman confirms that another vote on the Brexit deal will only take place this week if "we believe we have a realistic prospect of being successful in that vote".
Theresa May could sacrifice her chief Brexit negotiator in a bid to save her premiership, reports suggest.
MPs have reportedly been told that Olly Robbins, who has led negotiations with the EU, would be removed as soon as a withdrawal agreement is passed. The civil servant has been criticised by Tory Eurosceptics, who claimed he wants a softer Brexit than they would like.
According to the Evening Standard, one Tory MP lobbied by No10 was told that the prime minister would “update her negotiating team” before the next phase of Brexit talks, while another was told that Mr Robbins would “go as soon as the deal is through”.
Another Conservative MP says he will continue to vote against Theresa May's deal.
John Baron said:
"The deal remains flawed. The backstop's legal risk remains unchanged - we could be trapped indefinitely. I will vote against.
"The law as it stands says we are leaving on March 29 with or without a deal. I intend to honour that. It is now up to parliament if it wishes to ignore the result of the largest democratic exercise this country has ever seen."
Downing Street says it has 30 hours to convince enough MPs to back the Brexit deal, or plans for a third ‘meaningful vote’ will be abandoned, writes deputy political editor Rob Merrick.
The deadline is 7pm on Tuesday for tabling the necessary motion for the vote to take place on Wednesday – the last day before Thursday’s EU summit, at which Theresa May will otherwise ask for a long Article 50 extension.
The vote could still take place on Tuesday, as talks with the Democratic Unionist Party continue, but hopes of quickly persuading the party to step into line appear to be fading.
At the regular briefing for journalists, the prime minister’s spokesman confirmed she will need to be sure there is a “realistic prospect” of success before holding another ‘meaningful vote’.
If it is not staged – or if it is lost – the spokesman would not say whether Ms May would then head to Brussels with a “specific proposal” for how long Brexit would have to be delayed.
Another big headache is May’s European Parliament elections, which No 10 again insisted the UK would have to take part in if Article 50 was extended beyond the end of June.
They have already been scrapped in legislation, so MPs would have to vote to reinstate them – with a deadline of the middle of April for doing so, after which the UK would be committed to going to the polls.
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Here’s the link to the full Fiona Onasanya video (see previous post)...
Here’s the full Fiona Onasanya video (see previous post) in which the MP insists she is innocent and did not pervert the course of justice:
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