Brexit news: Theresa May stands by her deal in face of renewed threat from Conservative rebels
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Your support makes all the difference.Theresa May has claimed her Brexit blueprint is “the only deal available” after she travelled to Europe in a desperate scramble to win concessions from EU leaders.
The prime minister was forced to shelve Tuesday's crunch vote on the withdrawal agreement in the face of near-certain defeat by Tory rebels, embarking instead on a whistle-stop diplomatic tour of European capitals.
It comes as Tory rebels renewed a push to overthrow her, with some members of the European Research Group claiming more letters calling for her resignation have been submitted.
Meanwhile, Downing Street said the delayed vote would take place by 21 January, though insiders hope it could be before depending on what happens in Brussels.
To follow events as they unfolded, see our live coverage below
Theresa May has said her Brexit deal is "the only deal available" and that the controversial Northern Ireland backstop is "necessary" after being rebuffed in a meeting with Angela Merkel and other EU leaders on Tuesday.
The prime minister has been criss-crossing Europe in a bid to win concessions from the EU after she was forced to pull a vote on the plan at the last minute this week.
More from our Europe correspondent Jon Stone:
The SNP's Stewart Malcolm McDonald has now complained to the Speaker after alleging Labour veteran Dennis Skinner called him a "piece of shit" (see our earlier post here).
Raising a point of order, he said: "During proceedings earlier the Leader of the Opposition was opening his emergency debate when he had taken an intervention from a member of the Democratic Unionist Party, during the response from the Leader of the Opposition I said to my colleague (Marion Fellows) that I wished the Leader of the Opposition would answer a question.
"It then promoted (Dennis Skinner) to turn around to me and call me a piece of shit, Mr Speaker he then went on to defend that, telling a journalist that he was 'just putting me in my place'.
"As you know Mr Speaker I've no desire to raise this formally with you, I had hoped to deal with it informally as you suggested Mr Speaker, but given he shows no sign of having any regret about it can you just reaffirm that it's wrong and can you reaffirm that members on all sides should be able to go about this place without being on the tail end of that kind of abuse."
Mr Bercow responded saying he "wasn't there" and "wouldn't presume to comment on a conversation I did not hear".
See the clip here:
Theresa May's embattled leadership is under fresh pressure as Tory rebels renewed a push to overthrow her, claiming more letters calling for her resignation have been submitted.
The attempt to force Ms May from power flared as anger grew over her refusal to allow parliament to vote on her Brexit plans, amid fears it would result in a humiliating defeat.
More here:
Tory Brexit enforcer Steve Baker said that PM had a "duty" to stand down in order for a new leader to deliver EU withdrawal.
"What I would like to happen today is for Conservative Members of Parliament to realise that we simply cannot go staggering forward any longer like this and I'm afraid to put their letters of no confidence in," Mr Baker told the BBC.
That's it for The Independent's politics liveblog for the night. Thanks for following!
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