Brexit news: May sacks defence secretary Williamson over ‘unprecedented’ Huawei leak as MPs vote on climate change
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Your support makes all the difference.Theresa May has endured a day of intense scrutiny over her Brexit strategy ahead of an anticipated mauling in the local elections over delays to the UK's departure from the EU.
Ms May and Jeremy Corbyn held their last prime minister's questions clash ahead of Thursday's poll, as the Labour leader accused Ms May of failing to tackle the "burning injustices" she pledged to combat during her first day in office.
Amid mounting speculation that the prime minister could cave in to opposition demands, Ms May told senior backbenchers she hopes "a deal can be done" with Labour to find a consensus which can command a majority in parliament.
To see events as they unfolded, follow our live coverage below
Gavin Williamson is still denying he was the source of the leak, and is preparing his own letter to the PM in response, according to reports.
The former defence minister also appears to be blaming cabinet secretary Sir Mark Sedwill, who led the inquiry.
Meanwhile a by-election has been triggered in Peterborough following a successful petition to recall the disgraced MP Fiona Onasanya.
Nigel Farage has confirmed the Brexit Party will fight it. But will he be their candidate?
Here's Gavin Williamson's letter to Theresa May. "I strenuously deny that I was in any involved in this leak," he writes, suggesting that he would have been cleared by a "full and thorough inquiry".
Here's the full text of Mr Williamson's letter:
He said: "It has been a great privilege to serve as Defence Secretary and Chief Whip in your Government. Every day I have seen the extraordinary work of the men and women of our armed forces, who go to incredible lengths to defend our country.
"I am sorry that you feel recent leaks from the National Security Council originated in my department. I emphatically believe this was not the case. I strenuously deny that I was in any way involved in this leak and I am confident that a thorough and formal inquiry would have vindicated my position.
"I have always trusted my civil servants, military advisers and staff. I believe the assurances they have given me.
"I appreciate you offering me the option to resign, but to resign would have been to accept that I, my civil servants, my military advisers or my staff were responsible: this was not the case.
"Restoring public confidence in the NSC is an ambition we both share. With that in mind I hope that your decision achieves this aim rather than being seen as a temporary distraction.
"As I said there has been no greater privilege than working with our armed forces and I will continue to stand up for our service personnel and the superb work they do."
Gavin Williamson is the sixth cabinet minister to leave the government in just over 12 months.
The South Staffordshire MP was one of Mrs May's closest allies after she made him chief whip on entering Downing Street in 2016.
He was a surprise appointment as defence secretary in November 2017 and was thought to have ambitions to succeed Theresa May as prime minister.
In June it was reported that he had threatened to bring down the prime minister if he did not get extra money for the armed forces. He has also been criticised for his military posturing and his recent comments about Bloody Sunday.
The former chief whip was once best known in Westminster for keeping a pet tarantula named Cronus in a glass box on his desk, according to a profile by the Press Association.
As defence secretary he made headlines by telling Russia to "go away and shut up" following the Salisbury novichok poisoning incident.
In February he was blamed for offending the Chinese by vowing to send an aircraft carrier to the Pacific in a display of "hard power", resulting in the cancellation of a crucial trade visit to Beijing by Chancellor Philip Hammond.
The prime minister's official spokesman insisted that "a full and impartial investigation has been carried out."
"It is the duty of the Prime Minister to protect national security and the national security decision making process," he added.
Asked whether Mr Williamson should now lose the Tory whip, the spokesman said the prime minister considered the matter closed.
↵MPs have voted to make the symbolic move to declare an "environment and climate change emergency" - the first parliament in the world to do so.
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