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As it happenedended

Brexit news: Jeremy Corbyn urges Theresa May to rule out 'devastating' no-deal as EU rejects her plan B

Catch up on the day's events from Westminster

Ashley Cowburn
Political Correspondent
,Lizzy Buchan
Wednesday 23 January 2019 18:07 GMT
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Brexit: What will happen in 2019?

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Theresa May has repeatedly refused to rule out a no-deal Brexit ahead of a critical vote next week, as MPs ramp up the pressure on the prime minister to change course.

Jeremy Corbyn has urged the prime minister to take a “devastating” no-deal exit off the table during a tense prime minister’s questions clash, where Ms May accused the Labour leader of being prepared to "meet Hamas, Hezbollah and the IRA" but declining to meet her to discuss Brexit.

It comes as a prominent Conservative MP condemned Liam Fox, after he suggested those backing a move to extend Article 50 were motivated by “having no Brexit at all”.

Hitting back at the international trade secretary, Anna Soubry said Dr Fox’s comments were “not true” while another Tory MP said he "has never been very good at detail".

See below how we covered this story live

Labour MP Rachel Reeves has written for The Independent on her plan to take the no-deal Brexit off the table.

Read her column here: 

Lizzy Buchan23 January 2019 17:49

The real owner of Downton Abbey has failed in his bid to secure a place in the House of Lords.

George Herbert, the eighth Earl of Carnarvon, was one of 16 male hereditary peers vying for a seat-for-life created by the death of Lord Skelmersdale.

However, the 62-year-old, whose country home, Highclere Castle in Hampshire, doubled for Downton Abbey in the hit period TV drama was knocked out in the eighth round of the ballot, run under the alternative vote system.

The election was eventually won by financier and Scottish clan chief Lord Reay, who secured 110 votes, with the Earl of Leicester coming in second place with 93.

The contest has again fuelled calls to scrap the controversial by-elections used to fill vacancies caused by the death, resignation or expulsion of hereditary peers.

The system has faced widespread criticism given the exclusive male-dominated list of eligible candidates and the limited number of people able to vote. Each poll costs the taxpayer more than £1,140 to run.

Lord Reay, who is hereditary chief of the Clan Mackay, is expected to sit as a Conservative peer.

Lizzy Buchan23 January 2019 18:10

'Take back control now means Jacob Rees-Mogg telling the Queen to shut down parliament', writes Tom Peck, in his sketch on the day's events.

Lizzy Buchan23 January 2019 18:20

Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon has been at Downing Street, along with Welsh first minister Mark Drakeford.

No10 released a statement saying both leaders have been invited to attend a new sub-committee looking at preparations for Brexit.

However Ms Sturgeon appeared unimpressed by the meeting. Speaking outside Number 10, she said: "It seems to me her priority is trying to win support from the DUP and the hardline Brexiteers in her own party rather than genuinely trying to compromise to bring others on side.

"It seems to me she's putting all of her eggs in the basket of trying to win over the DUP and the ERG - playing to the right-wing hardline Brexiteers, which unless something fundamental changes that I can't see right now, is destined to fail.

"It's also taking the entire country, and Scotland in particular, down the wrong road, one that's going to be devastating for our economy and particularly around free movement deeply damaging to Scotland's population and therefore our economy in the long term."

Lizzy Buchan23 January 2019 18:35

David Davis has declared he will earn £60,000 for 20 hours work a year as an external adviser to manufacturing giant JCB.

The former Brexit secretary will earn the equivalent of £3,000 an hour for the role, which he has added to the Register of Members' Financial Interests.

Mr Davis said he had consulted the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Acoba) - which vets posts taken up by ex-ministers and senior officials - about the role.

His update to the register said: "From 1 January 2019 to 1 January 2020, external advisor to JCB, Rocester ST14 5J. I will receive £60,000 per annum, paid quarterly. Hours: approx. 20 hrs a year. I consulted ACoBA about this appointment. (Registered 10 January 2019)."

JCB's chairman and Tory peer Lord Bamford is a Conservative Party donor and a Leave supporter.

Mr Davis also registered he had been made a board member of German manufacturing company Mansfelder Kupfer Und Messing GMBH from December to June 2019, for which he will receive £36,085.

The sums are in addition to his basic salary as an MP of £77,379 a year.

Labour MP Ian Murray, a supporter of the Best for Britain anti-Brexit campaign, claimed it is "disgusting" Mr Davis would earn £3,000 an hour in the JCB role having "failed to properly plan for Brexit and storming out of the Cabinet".

He added: "What an absolute insult to the people of the UK who have been left facing deeper austerity and increased living costs as a result of the calamitous Brexit he campaigned for and still supports.

"There are very real consequences of the decisions he made, and workers in the construction and manufacturing sectors will be among those to pay the price."

Lizzy Buchan23 January 2019 18:51

That it for The Independent's liveblog for the night. Thanks for following!

Lizzy Buchan23 January 2019 18:55

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