European elections - live: Corbyn tells supporters 'get ready for a general election' as Theresa May teeters on brink after shelving Brexit vote

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Who could replace Theresa May as Tory leader?

Theresa May is thought to be on the brink of resignation as she faces a growing cabinet revolt over her Brexit plan and humiliation for the Conservative Party in today's European elections.

The prime minister is expected to announce a departure plan on Friday after failing to quell a ministerial mutiny over her revised EU withdrawal agreement. Commons leader Andrea Leadsom, the most prominent Brexiteer in the cabinet, quit late on Wednesday and other ministers were expected to follow her out of the door.

It comes as both the Tories and Labour face a drubbing in European parliament elections, with the Liberal Democrats and the Brexit Party set to capitalise.

Key Points

• Theresa May on the brink of resignation after cabinet minister Andrea Leadsom resigns
• ... and PM shelves Brexit vote and publication of Withdrawal Agreement Bill
• Who are the top Tories in the running to replace the PM?
• Voters head to polls in European elections, as Tories face crushing defeat
• ... as hundreds of EU citizens 'turned away from polling stations'
• Change UK Heidi Allen admits she nearly quit leadership

[23 May 2019 09:59 · Ashley Cowburn]

The UK's Electoral Commission has responded to a widespread conspiracy theory about using pens in the European elections. 

Some have claimed that voters must use ink for their vote to count. Using a standard pencil will allow biased people at the count will be able to erase the mark from the box and change the vote so that it has been cast for somebody else.

The story gained particular traction around the Brexit referendum, when Leave supporters were urged to take pens with them to ensure their votes could not be tampered with.

[23 May 2019 10:17 · Ashley Cowburn]

Foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt tells journalists Theresa May will be PM to welcome the US president Donald Trump when he arrives in the UK on 3 June for a state visit.

This is from The Times' Lucy Fisher

[23 May 2019 10:24 · Ashley Cowburn]

Ahead of the PM's showdown meeting with the chairman of the 1922 Committee, Sir Graham Brady on Friday, the committee's treasurer, Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, said: "I want her to give a timetable for when she will go.

"I think this blank denial from Number 10 today may be a smokescreen because she does not want to influence the outcome of the European elections. Maybe she will still quit tomorrow."

Asked what would happen if the PM did not announce a resignation date, Sir Geoffrey said: "I think there will be overwhelming pressure for the 22 to change the rules and hold a ballot on confidence in the Prime Minister."

[23 May 2019 10:41 · Ashley Cowburn]

[23 May 2019 11:00 · Ashley Cowburn]

British voters are heading to the polls in the European Parliament elections. Other countries across the European Union will do so in the coming days. Here's everything you need to know about them from our Europe Correspondent Jon Stone.

[23 May 2019 11:09 · Ashley Cowburn]

Government whip Mark Spencer is currently outlining the business statement for the week after recess - he is stepping in at the despatch box, after the resignation of the Commons leader Andrea Leadsom.

On the Withdrawal Agreement Bill, he tells colleagues to wait for further information after the recess. It's quite extraordinary given this bill is the central purpose of Theresa May's government, and yet the government can't say - yet - when MPs will vote on it.

"We will update the House on the publication and introduction of the Withdrawal Agreement Bill on our return from the Whitsun recess," he told MPs.

[23 May 2019 11:25 · Ashley Cowburn]

Theresa May's official spokesman said the PM would be meeting cabinet colleagues during the course of Thursday, but declined to say which ones.

"The prime minister is listening to colleagues' concerns about the Bill and will be having further discussions today," said the spokesman. "She is speaking to ministers in relation to the Bill."

Asked if Ms May was prepared to consider rewriting the legislation in the light of concerns raised within government, the spokesman said: "The prime minister is having discussions with ministers relating to the Bill."

Pressed over whether Ms May believed she still has the confidence of her cabinet, the spokesman replied: "The PM and the cabinet are focused on delivering Brexit."

The spokesman said a new Leader of the Commons was expected to be appointed on Thursday.

He dismissed rumours that Donald Trump's state visit might be cancelled because of the turmoil in UK politics. Ms May "is looking forward to welcoming the president", said the spokesman.

[23 May 2019 11:33 · Ashley Cowburn]

The crisis surrounding Theresa May has deepened after she was forced to shelve the publication of – and vote on – her Brexit bill.

MPs were told the government now “hope” to finally reveal the detail of the withdrawal agreement bill in the first week of June – not tomorrow, as she promised. 

[23 May 2019 11:48 · Ashley Cowburn]

Downing Street said that it was not currently possible to schedule second reading of the bill for 7 June because agreement has not yet been secured with the opposition through the process known as “usual channels” for the Commons to sit that Friday, which had previously been designated a non-sitting day.

Asked if the PM was disappointed by the negative reactions to her proposals from within her own party, Ms May’s spokesman told journalists at a regular brief: “This is a subject which throughout has provoked strong emotions in the House of Commons. What the prime minister has been trying to do throughout is find a withdrawal agreement which can carry the support of a majority of MPs, because she is determined that the UK should leave the EU.

“That’s what she’s been working for for the past three years and what she is trying to do this week.”

Challenged over whether her proposals went beyond what was agreed at Tuesday’s cabinet, the spokesman said: “The PM summed up cabinet in the usual way and set out the way forward in the speech.”

[23 May 2019 12:14 · Ashley Cowburn]

An unprecedented number of extra police have been deployed in parts of the UK in anticipation of violence as voters go to the polls for the European elections.

The plan, revealed by Police Scotland, follows an increasingly tense and hostile election campaign that has seen clashes between far-right activists and anti-racism protesters.

Deputy Chief Constable Will Kerr, of Police Scotland, said four units comprising about 100 public order officers would be "strategically placed" throughout the day.