Brexit news - live: Andrea Leadsom resigns over Theresa May's withdrawal bill as PM clings to power

Premier to meet Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 Committee, on Friday

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Senior Tories told Theresa May "it is time to go" as 1922 Committee leader Sir Graham Brady revealed he would meet the PM on Friday.

The prime minister set out her proposals in the Commons but Tory and Labour MPs expressed fury at her plans for a second referendum.

Leader of the House of Commons Andrea Leadsom resigned from the cabinet with a "heavy heart", saying she no longer believed the government's approach to Brextit would "deliver on the referendum result".

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Key Points

• Theresa May told 'it's time to go' during bruising Commons session
• ... as 1922 committee chairman Graham Brady announces meeting with May on Friday
• Cabinet ministers seek meetings with May as calls for her resignation escalate
• Brexit Party victory would result in 'buy one get one free' hit on May and Corbyn, says Farage
• Tories slump to fifth place in the polls as Brexit Party soars to 37 per cent support

[22 May 2019 10:09 · Lizzy Buchan]

From the Telegraph's political editor:

[22 May 2019 10:18 · Lizzy Buchan]

Asked how they will celebrate the elections, Vince Cable says he will be campaigning in Wales where there could be another by-election in Brecon. The Tory MP Chris Davies is facing a recall petition after admitting expenses fraud.

Nigel Farage says he has been 'on the leash' for the past five weeks, so he will hit the pub.

[22 May 2019 10:30 · Lizzy Buchan]

Vince Cable also accused Mr Farage of "whipping up antagonism against foreigners" with his controversial warnings about an influx of Turkish immigrants during the Brexit campaign.

Farage said he had taken "terrible stick on this" but claimed all he had ever argued was for a free and fair system that stops discriminating against India and Australia over European nations.

Cable made a rather questionable comment about Farage's 'breaking point' posters'.

He said: "You put an advertisement on the hoarding, showing immigrants with dark faces. I welcome people with dark faces, I was married to one."

[22 May 2019 10:47 · Lizzy Buchan]

British Steel is to enter an insolvency process, putting more than 4,000 jobs directly at risk and threatening a further 20,000 in the company's supply chain.

The announcement on Wednesday came after talks broke down between the government and British Steel's private equity owners Greybull.

The government's Official Receiver will take control of the company with accountancy firm EY acting as Special Manager.

More here:

[22 May 2019 11:10 · Lizzy Buchan]

Shadow Business Secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey tweeted: "This is absolutely devastating news for the 1000s of workers, their families and the communities in Scunthorpe and Teesside and those throughout the supply chain. The Tories legacy will once again be industrial decline whilst they endlessly squabble over the European Union.

"The Government must act quickly to save this strategically important industry and the livelihoods and communities of those who work in it, by bringing British Steel into public ownership."

[22 May 2019 11:17 · Lizzy Buchan]

Tory MP Tim Loughton has tweeted a picture of his letter to Sir Graham Brady, chair of the 1922 committee, which will be about Theresa May's leadership.

Extraordinary to see this happen on the eve of an election.

[22 May 2019 11:34 · Lizzy Buchan]

A Labour peer has resigned from the party after announcing that he will vote for the Liberal Democrats in this week's European Parliament elections. 

Michael Cashman, a prominent LGBT campaigner and former Labour MEP, said he "can't trust" Jeremy Corbyn and his team on Brexit and would be backing the Liberal Democrats because of their "absolute consistency" on the issue.

A number of elected officials from the main parties have now said they are unable to vote for their own party in the EU elections because of the leadership's position on Brexit. 

More here:

[22 May 2019 11:40 · Lizzy Buchan]

Blow for Theresa May here, as influential grassroots website ConservativeHome tells readers not to back the party in tomorrow's elections.

[22 May 2019 11:56 · Lizzy Buchan]

PMQs is coming shortly. Here are the MPs who have questions to the prime minister.

[22 May 2019 12:02 · Lizzy Buchan]

Theresa May says it is two years since the Manchester bombings, and pays tribute to those who died and praises the emergency services.

Ex-Labour MP John Woodcock says she 'may not have long left' as Tory leader. He asks her to lead international response against the use of chemical weapons in Syria.

May condemns the use of chemical weapons and will respond appropriately. She says president Assad is incapable of leading a legitimate government in Syria after attacks on his own citizens.