Brexit news – live: Corbyn called ‘preening narcissist’ by defeated Labour MP as Boris Johnson warned over ‘strange’ statement

Follow all the latest developments as they happened

Former Labour MP Mary Creagh calls Jeremy Corbyn a '‘preening narcissist'

Boris Johnson has been accused of “reckless and irresponsible behaviour” after he amended his Brexit bill to prevent MPs extending the Brexit transition period beyond the end of 2020 – sending the pound plunging as it puts the possibility of no-deal back on the table.

Mr Johnson is also accused of showing “two fingers to democracy” after announcing Nicky Morgan has been handed a peerage and will carry on as culture secretary, despite standing down as an MP. Baroness Morgan ruled out taking a job in any Johnson cabinet last year.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn told MPs during a Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) meeting that he was "very sorry" for Friday's election defeat. However defeated Labour MP Mary Creagh said Mr Corbyn was guilty of "preening narcissism", after revealing no one from his team had been in touch after she lost her seat.

Earlier in the day, the PM made his ministers chant false campaign claims about nurse and hospital numbers as he assembled his cabinet for the first time since the election. It comes as Angela Rayner is reportedly ready to step aside and support Rebecca Long-Bailey’s bid to become the next Labour leader.

Key Points

• Outrage at Nicky Morgan's 'absolutely disgraceful' life peerage
• PM accused of ‘reckless’ behaviour as no-deal put back on the table
• Johnson gets cabinet to chant discredited campaign claims
• Pound declines after no-deal fears revived
• Rayner 'ready to stand aside' for Long-Bailey in Labour leadership race
• Tories appoint head of independent review of discrimination
• Corbyn tells Labour MPs he is 'very sorry' for election result
• Labour leader tells MPs party to vote against withdrawal bill
• Corbyn called 'preening narcissist' by defeated Labour MP

[17 December 2019 21:20 · Chiara.Giordano]

Jeremy Corbyn has been branded a "preening narcissist" by former Labour MP Mary Creagh, who lost her seat in the election.

The 52-year-old was angry after she lost her job as the MP for Wakefield last week when her 2,000 majority was overturned by Conservative Imran Ahman Khan.

She told Channel 4 News that she spoke to Mr Corbyn in Westminster on Tuesday as she returned to clear her office and speak to former staff.

She blamed him for "enabling a hard Brexit" and "five years of austerity," adding: "This was Jeremy's manifesto, Jeremy as the leader, Jeremy's NEC, Jeremy's plan, called at Jeremy's time."

Ms Creagh also told the programme that no senior Labour figures had been in touch since last week's vote, adding: "I've had no phone calls or messages from anyone in Jeremy or his team.

"Given I was in today, telling my staff that they're going to be redundant a week before Christmas, shows in Jeremy we have a man without honour and without shame - and a type of preening narcissism that means he thinks he's still got something left to offer our Labour movement."

[17 December 2019 21:25 · Chiara.Giordano]

That's it from us today; join us again tomorrow for all the latest updates from Westminster.

[17 December 2019 21:40 · Chiara.Giordano]

Some more reaction from Labour MPs and defeated candidates after tonight's meeting.

Ilford North MP Wes Streeting criticised party leader Jeremy Corbyn for carrying on "just like business as usual", adding: "Nothing about the tone and content of what we heard reflected an election defeat worse than 1935."

Veteran Labour MP Dame Margaret Hodge, who has long been critical of Mr Corbyn, said that "on the whole it was fury, despair, miserable and I just felt that the top table had corporate amnesia".

Hove MP Peter Kyle added: "It wasn't any more heartfelt, it wasn't a direct apology to the group. It was a generalised apology for the situation that he appears to have found himself in."

Former shadow work and pensions shadow Rachel Reeves said she told the meeting Labour needs "radical change" and get a leader "that actually wants to win".

"If we want to change the lives of the people we came into politics to serve then we've got to win power and that's not been possible two times under Jeremy Corbyn's leadership," she told reporters.

[17 December 2019 22:00 · Chiara.Giordano]

Our story in full from tonight's Parliamentary Labour Party meeting - the first since last week's general election defeat.

Jeremy Corbyn apologises to furious Labour MPs for general election result