Brexit news - live: Labour 'moving closer to new EU referendum' amid fresh party splits as ninth MP this week quits

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John McDonnell has insisted that Labour is “moving towards” supporting a second referendum as the party seeks to stem the flow of defections over Brexit.

The shadow chancellor spoke out at the end of a dramatic week when 8 Labour MPs and 3 Tories broke away to form the Independent Group, in protest at the leadership of both parties.

Dudley North MP Ian Austin became the ninth MP to quit Labour on Friday over its handling of antisemitism allegations - but he said he had no plans to join the breakaway group.

Meanwhile, Theresa May has been warned she faces a major Tory rebellion unless she takes a no-deal Brexit off the table ahead of another set of key votes on the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union.

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Key Points

• Labour 'moving towards' backing a second referendum, says John McDonnell
• Ian Austin becomes ninth Labour MP to quit ‘broken’ party this week
• PM facing major rebellion from Tories unless no-deal taken off table
• Chance for Final Say vote to be missed with no-one committed to bring plan forward
• Theresa May to hold weekend talks with Tusk on sidelines of Egypt summit

[22 February 2019 11:26 · Tom Barnes]

Ex-Labour shadow minister Chuka Umunna is the “obvious” person to lead the newly-formed Independent Group of breakaway MPs, according to two Conservative defectors.

More here: 

[22 February 2019 11:54 · Tom Barnes]

Jeremy Corbyn ally Chris Williamson has branded Ian Austin an “embarrassment” following his resignation from the Labour Party.

Incorrectly stating Mr Austin had joined the newly-formed Independent Group, Mr Williamson accused his former colleague of demonstrating “contempt” for grassroots members of the party.

He urged Mr Austin to contest a by-election in his Dudley North constituency, echoing the calls made by Labour leadership in recent days for MPs stepping down to seek a new mandate from their constituents.

[22 February 2019 12:12 · Tom Barnes]

A crucial chance for MPs to back giving the British public a Final Say referendum on Brexit next week could be missed as no-one has committed to tabling a motion calling for one. 

More here:

[22 February 2019 12:29 · Lizzy Buchan]

NEW: John McDonnell has insisted that Labour is “moving towards” backing a new referendum as the party seeks to stem the flow of defections over Brexit.

The shadow chancellor said in an interview that the party’s existing policy did mean a new public vote had been “kept on the table”.

[22 February 2019 12:44 · Tom Barnes]

Corbyn to set out Brexit vision to European socialists

Jeremy Corbyn in Brussels on Thursday (Reuters)Jeremy Corbyn will lay out his Brexit plans at a meeting of the Party of European Socialists in Madrid.

The labour leader is expected to hold talks with Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez at the event.

“The damaging deadlock on Brexit must be broken and following my discussions with European Union leaders and officials, I am in no doubt that Labour's alternative plan is credible and could be negotiated with the EU,” Mr Corbyn said.

[22 February 2019 13:12 · Tom Barnes]

It appears a potential compromise deal on Brexit may finally be starting to emerge in Brussels with the UK and EU both working towards a new route out of the current impasse.

More here:

[22 February 2019 13:35 · Tom Barnes]

To Peterborough, where a local Ukip councillor has entered the depressingly crowded field of contestants vying for the title of UK’s worst electoral material.

The latest candidate, John Whitby, somehow managed to misspell “Britain” on a leaflet sent to residents.

He later apologised to the Peterborough Telegraph for the mistake, claiming he and several colleagues had “misproofread” the pamphlet.

[22 February 2019 13:48 · Lizzy Buchan]

With a new group of MPs taking defectors from both sides of the aisle, Indy political correspondent Ashley Cowburn looks the impact on Theresa May’s bid for a deal with Brussels.

[22 February 2019 14:09 · Lizzy Buchan]

Tory MP Bim Afolami will become the first dad to vote by proxy as he heads off on paternity leave. A recent overhaul of parliamentary rules means that new parents can appoint an MP to vote on their behalf.

Tulip Siddiq, the Labour MP for Hampstead and Kilburn, was the first person to use the system in last month's Brexit votes.

Read our piece here:

[22 February 2019 14:35 · Lizzy Buchan]

Labour MP Siobhain McDonagh has been tweeting about the level of abuse received by MPs. This is interesting, as she is regarded as a possible quitter.