Brexit: Theresa May vows to delay EU departure to secure a deal and reaches out to Jeremy Corbyn
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Theresa May has reached out to Jeremy Corbyn to find a way through the Brexit deadlock as she vowed to delay the UK’s exit to secure a deal.
In a statement from Downing Street, Ms May said: “This is a decisive moment in the story of these islands and it will require national unity to deliver the national interest.’’
Mr Corbyn, the Labour leader, said he was “very happy” to meet the prime minister to discuss a way forward.
It comes after Ms May gathered her cabinet for seven-hour crisis talks after MPs once again failed to unite around any Brexit option during a late-night session of indicative votes.
Recap our coverage of the day's developments
Despite Ms May’s departure plan having been rejected by MPs three times in the House of Commons, it is believed she may try to put it to the house for a fourth time.
The meetings come amid growing speculation the prime minister could call a snap general election if a fourth attempt to pass her deal fails.
Good morning and welcome to The Independent's Brexit live blog.
After MPs rejected the four alternatives to Theresa May's deal in indicative votes in the Commons yesterday, the prime minister is to hold lengthy cabinet meetings in a bid to find a solution.
Things are due to kick off with a five-hour cabinet meeting starting at 9am.
Ahead of today's cabinet meetings, the EU's chief negotiator Michel Barnier has reminded politicians the deal presented by Theresa May is the only one currently on the table.
If the UK “still wants to leave the EU in an orderly manner this agreement is and will be the only one”, he said.
Speaking in Brussels, he said: "If the UK parliament does not vote in favour of the withdrawal agreement in the coming days only two options would remain.
"Leaving without an agreement or requesting a longer extension of the Article 50 period."
MPs have failed again to agree on an alternative Brexit plan, increasing the risk of the UK crashing out of the EU without a deal next week.
In a second series of “indicative votes”, two options were only narrowly rejected: to keep the UK in the EU customs union – or in both the single market and a customs arrangement.
The Commons also turned down putting any agreed deal to a Final Say referendum – and rejected revoking Article 50 if the UK is close to the no-deal Brexit cliff-edge.
Read our overnight piece here.
Conservative MP Steve Double, who previously described Theresa May's deal as a "turd" believes it is coming back to the Commons...
After last night's marathon votes, what's going on today?
Theresa May has scheduled a five-hour Cabinet meeting instead of the usual 90 minutes. Starting from 9am, the first three hours will be political cabinet, which is held in the absence of civil servants.
Such a long session has sent hares running, with Westminster already abuzz with rumours over the prospect of a snap election. It could also be a chance to discuss the PM's departure, after she told MPs she would quit before the next phase of the Brexit talks.
Then there is due to be an ordinary cabinet from 1-3pm, with civil servants present again.
In a sign of how febrile things are, Conservative MP Nick Boles resigned from his party's whip on the Commons last night, seconds after MPs rejected alternatives to Theresa May's deal.
"My party refuses to compromise," he said. "I regret therefore that I can no longer sit for this party."
He later tweeted that he would "sit as an Independent Progressive Conservative."
Read our piece here.
Rumours leaking out that cabinet could be shorter than expected, starting at 9.30am and running to 11.30am.
James Brokenshire, Chris Grayling, Penny Mordaunt and Sajid Javid have arrived at Downing Street for political cabinet.
The UK would have to hold a referendum, general election, or some kind of other “political process” if it wants to delay Brexit again, the EU’s chief negotiator has said.
Speaking in Brussels the morning after MPs yet again rejected a slate of compromise Brexit options Michel Barnier said a no-deal “becomes day after day more likely”.
Mr Barnier confirmed that the EU would accommodate any move by MPs to try and soften Brexit, stating that deals like the so-called “Norway option” or a customs union had always been on the table.
Read our breaking story here.
Amid the Commons chaos, here's a reminder that we have not had a ministers for disabled people for 20 days - after Sarah Newton resigned over Brexit.
A string of other junior ministerial positions remain unfilled too.
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