Theresa May refuses to say her deal is better than staying in EU, during live radio phone-in

Prime minister dodges question on whether she would resign if MPs voted against the agreement

Theresa May faces public interrogation in live radio phone-in as Brexit negotiations with Europe continue

Theresa May refused to say her Brexit deal was better than staying in the EU when she answered questions from the public on live radio.

The prime minister also dodged a question on whether she would resign if MPs voted against the agreement, but insisted that Brussels would not offer better terms.

She appeared on BBC Radio 5 Live on Friday afternoon a few hours after former Brexit secretary Dominic Raab hit out at the deal, branding it as "even worse than remaining."

EU diplomats are meeting to finalise the draft divorce between Britain and the bloc, with Spain threatening to oppose any deal that does not give it a say on the future of Gibraltar.

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Key Points

• Prime minister dodges question on whether her deal is better than staying in the EU
• Theresa May refuses to say whether she will resign if MP's reject her Brexit deal
• EU will not offer better terms and UK 'will be back at square one', says PM
• Dominic Raab hits out at withdrawal agreement, calling it worse than remaining in EU
• Spain threatens to oppose divorce if denied say on future of Gibraltar

[23 November 2018 15:24 · Peter Stubley]

Thirty-one per cent of Brexit voters say they believe the conspiracy theory that “Muslim immigration to this country is part of a bigger plan to make Muslims a majority of this country's population”, according a new study by researchers at Cambridge University. The figure for Remain voters is six per cent.

Overall, 60 per cent of the British public believe at least one conspiracy theory, it is claimed.

[23 November 2018 15:53 · Peter Stubley]

Diane Abbott has said Labour would not rule out working with the DUP if it helped remove the Conservative government.

The shadow cabinet minister told the BBC Radio 4 podcast Political Thinking with Nick Robinson: "At this point, we don't agree with the DUP on the issues at stake, but in this sort of parliamentary turmoil you can't necessarily rule anything out.

"I always say to my MP colleagues that the people of Hackney send me to parliament to get rid of the Tories and if it's all about getting rid of this Tory government, you do what it takes."

Ms Abbott added that a second referendum was "not off the table" but said she was sure the UK would leave the EU next spring. "People should be careful what they wish for, because my view is that if we had a second referendum tomorrow Leave would win again."

[23 November 2018 16:00 · Peter Stubley]

Former transport minister John Hayes, the Conservative MP for South Holland and The Deepings, has been awarded a knighthood, Downing Street has announced.

Coincidentally, Mr Hayes voted for Brexit - as did his constituency - but he has so far remained loyal to the prime minister.

Conservative MP Christopher Pincher and Labour MP Mark Tami have been appointed to the Privy Council.

[23 November 2018 18:06 · Shehab.Khan]

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