Theresa May Brexit statement: PM demands new ideas from Brussels after EU rejects her plans - as it happened
As it happened...
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Theresa May has demanded new proposals from the EU to break the Brexit impasse after European leaders dismissed her Chequers proposals as unworkable.
In an unexpected statement from Downing Street, Ms May said both sides "remain a long way apart" but she was committed to getting a good deal.
She said she has "treated the EU with nothing but respect'' and "the UK expects the same'', adding: "A good relationship at the end of this process depends on it.''
Ms May has come under mounting pressure to abandon her Chequers plan after it was widely criticised by EU leaders and many of her own Eurosceptic MPs.
As it happened...
The big question from Theresa May's statement is whether she stands by her Chequers plan, which has been dismissed by EU leaders and by many of her own MPs.
Most people now believe that, to secure a deal with the EU, the prime minister will need to significantly compromise on her proposals. Is she about to do just that? We'll find out in 30 minutes...
To recap, the prime minister was humiliated yesterday when Donald Tusk, president of the European Council, dismissed her pleas for the EU to agree to her Brexit strategy.
May had hoped to use a summit in Salzburg to convince EU leaders to soften their opposition to her Chequers plan.
Her lobbying efforts were rejected, however, with EU sources suggesting she had adopted an overly aggressive approach.
Instead, the EU27 re-affirmed their opposition to the Chequers proposals - dealing a further blow to Ms May's hope of securing a Brexit deal...
Just 15 minutes to go until we hear from Theresa May, and speculation in Westminster is reaching fever pitch...
Despite some rumours, it is highly unlikely the prime minister will a) resign or b) call a general election.
Much more likely is that she will either announce a chance in Brexit strategy, significantly double down on her current approach or perhaps issue an ultimatum to the EU, possibly by suspending talks until they agree to a compromise.
Dominic Raab has just been asked by reporters if he thinks the EU's response to Theresa May in Salzburg yesterday was an "ambush".
"Yes I think it probaby was", he replied.
The prime minister's team were reportedly taken aback at the strength of opposition from EU leaders, having hoped for warmer words after ministers' lobbying efforts and May's pleas at the Salzburg summit...
The BBC are suggesting the statement could be delayed...
Have the lights gone out on Theresa May's Chequers plan? Quite literally, perhaps. Sky News are reporting there is no power in the room where the prime minister is due to give her statement in the next few minutes...
Tory MP George Freeman, the former head of Theresa May's policy unit, tweets...
The prime minister's statement is now 10 minutes late...
It doesn't sound like Theresa May is about to announce a change of strategy or suspend Brexit negotiations, given what her Brexit secretary, Dominic Raab, has just told the BBC...
He told Politics Live there was no "credible alternative" to the Chequers plan and criticised the approach of EU leaders at the Salzburg summit, saying:
"It did not feel like the reciprocation of the statesmanlike approach that she [May] has taken".
"We have been rebuffed on our plans without any coherent explanation as to why."
Raab said the government would "hold our nerve, stay calm and keep negotiating in good faith".
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