Brexit news: Government accused of 'staggering from one week to the next' as MPs' break cancelled due to crisis

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Theresa May has been accused of "staggering from one week to the next" after ministers opted to cancel parliamentary recess in an attempt to solve the Brexit crisis.

Valerie Vaz, the shadow Commons leader, mocked the decision to cancel the MP's break, as the parliamentary schedule failed to include any debates on Britain leaving the European Union.

The decision came as foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt was slapped down by the prime minister for warning that Brexit could be delayed as the government needs "extra time" to pass key legislation.

Ms May was also considering a bid to win Labour MPs' support for her Brexit deal with a cash injection for areas that voted Leave at the 2016 referendum.

See our live coverage to follow how the day unfolded

Key Points

• Jeremy Hunt warns the government may need 'extra time' to pass Brexit legislation
• Parliamentary recess cancelled to solve Brexit chaos
• Downing Street slaps down Hunt for suggesting Brexit will be delayed
• Theresa May accused of making 'stupid mistake' in EU talks 

[31 January 2019 15:41 · Shehab.Khan]

Car production slumped by almost a tenth last year, leaving the industry on "red alert" amid continued uncertainty over Brexit, a new report reveals.

Investment by car companies halved in 2018 to £588 million as firms hold off making decisions until trading arrangements between the UK and other countries become clearer.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said investment had effectively "stalled" amid fears over the UK's future trading prospects with the EU.

[31 January 2019 15:47 · Shehab.Khan]

There has been a lot of suggestion that a Final Say referendum would not work. Here is The Independent's video with Femi Oluwole debunking the claims

[31 January 2019 15:57 · Shehab.Khan]

It's a question that many has asked - will your passport be valid after Brexit? 

The Independent's Simon Calder has the answer for you: 

[31 January 2019 16:09 · Shehab.Khan]

If you haven't seen it already here is Labour MP Jess Phillips speaking in the House of Commons

[31 January 2019 16:15 · Shehab.Khan]

Yanis Varoufakis, the former Greek finance minister, has written a piece for the Independent about Jeremy Corbyn's Brexit position.

Read his take here:

[31 January 2019 16:22 · Shehab.Khan]

BT has warned that a disorderly Brexit could hit business and consumer confidence but said it is too early to predict the extent of the impact, as it posted a double-digit increase in profits.

[31 January 2019 16:41 · Lizzy Buchan]

The pro-Remain parties in Northern Ireland have issued a joint statement in support of the so-called backstop in Theresa May's Brexit deal. It is designed to prevent a hard border on the island of Ireland but Brexiteers are highly critical of the plan because they believe it keep the UK too close to the EU.

Colum Eastwood, leader of the SDLP, Michelle O’Neill, Sinn Fein vice president, Naomi Long, leader of the Alliance Party NI and Claire Bailey of the Northern Ireland Green Party, said the backstop was a "vital insurance policy" against a return to violence.

They said: “We continue to believe that there is no such thing as a good or sensible Brexit, and any opportunity to reconsider Brexit should be taken.

“We believe that while the Withdrawal Agreement is imperfect, it will mitigate against a bad Brexit which is being imposed against the democratic will of a majority of citizens here who decisively voted to Remain within the European Union.

“We believe that the ‘backstop’ contained within the Withdrawal Agreement is a vital insurance policy which avoids a hard border on the island of Ireland."

[31 January 2019 16:55 · Lizzy Buchan]

Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn held talks on Wednesday, which went badly by all accounts. Our sketchwriter Tom Peck has imagined it as a blind date - with horrifying consequences.

[31 January 2019 17:05 · Lizzy Buchan]

That's it for The Independent's politics liveblog for the day. Thanks for following!