Brexit news - LIVE: Parliament descends further into farce after debate abandoned due to leak, as MPs pile pressure on Corbyn over second referendum
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Your support makes all the difference.A plan to prevent a no-deal Brexit and delay the date of the UK’s exit from EU is being debated by the Lords this evening, after squeaking through the Commons.
It came as Chancellor Philip Hammond said a second referendum was a “perfectly credible proposition” and indicated the government would be prepared to compromise on a customs union.
Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn's teams also met again after 11 Labour MPs, including four frontbenchers, urging their leader to insist on a second referendum in an open letter to The Independent.
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An MP from the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has said a customs union with the EU, as a "temporary staging post", is something his party could possibly get behind.
The remarks from the MP from the party which has repeatedly rejected Theresa May's Brexit agreement comes after the chancellor Philip Hammond also suggested that some kind of customs agreement is "clearly" going to be part of the solution to the impasse at Westminster.
A permanent customs arrangement is one of the key demands of Labour, and Jeremy Corbyn himself remains in talks with the prime minister.
Speaking to BBC Newsline, Mr Donaldson said: "We would have preferred a form of Brexit that enables the UK to negotiate new trade agreements with other countries.
"That's part of the reason for Brexit and maybe a customs union might be a temporary staging post towards that objective.
"We will wait to see what the Prime Minister brings before Parliament but we are very clear, we want a Brexit that delivers for all of the United Kingdom and that keeps the United Kingdom together - that is our objective."
With talk around Westminster over the possibility of a general election, the Conservative MP Johnny Mercer has used an interview with the Spectator magazine to offer his votes on any snap vote - and it's not great.
He says the Tories will be "wiped out", adding: "We'll get top-sliced and bottom-sliced by those who don't want any Brexit - and those who want a Ukip version of Brexit. We'll just get left behind and Jeremy Corbyn will be prime minister."
A motion has been tabled in the House of Lords for Yvette Cooper's bill (against a no-deal Brexit) to be rushed through the second chamber in a single day - enabling it to become law by the end of play today.
The move was put forward by Labour's deputy leader in the Lords, Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town.
Labour's Stephen Timms says it is "inconceivable" the government could now pass a Brexit deal in time for the EU summit next Wednesday - fair to say that is a widespread opinion among in MPs in the Commons.
But Brexit minister Kwasi Kwarteng attempts at offering an optimistic reply, saying he would not describe anything as inconceviable.
A second Labour MP describes the Brexit frontbench as "zombie ministers".
"First of all we're not zombies," replies Mr Kwarteng. "I'd like to confirm that to the House.
Shadow Brexit Keir Starmer asks his opposite number whether no deal will only happen if the House of Commons agrees to it.
Barclay replies and refers to the legislation passed last night preventing a no-deal Brexit. But he points out any extension to the negotiating period under Article 50 is at the discretion of the EU 27.
Shadow Brexit minister Matthew Pennycook asked if the government will "comply with the spirit" of the bill passed on Wednesday when it returns from the Lords today.
This legislation, led by Labour's Yvette Cooper, require Theresa May to seek a delay to Brexit rather than risk the UK leaving without a deal on April 12.
Mr Barclay replied: "As set out in the ministerial code, ministers will abide by the law - and if the law of the land dictates a certain course of action then clearly ministers, under the ministerial code, will follow the law.
"But he slightly gets ahead of himself because the Bill only passed with a majority of one last night.
"It was passed in such haste that many of my colleagues had as little as two minutes to speak in the second reading debate, there were flaws in the Bill that I pointed out to the House, which I'm sure their lordships will wish to explore, and we will need to see what consideration takes place in the other House before any further deliberations are necessary in this place."
The DUP's Brexit spokesperson, Sammy Wilson, doesn't seem particularly thrilled with the chancellor's referendum remarks last night. "Beginning of another u-turn," he suggests on Twitter.
The British government has put trade with China above vital issues of national security and human rights in a policy which “reflects an unwillingness to face the reality” that Beijing is an “active challenger” to the UK in many areas, writes Kim Sengupta.
A report by the MPs states that the UK “needs to recalibrate its policy towards China”.
A declaration by Theresa May’s government of a “golden era” in relations between the UK and China may have been misconceived and much greater scrutiny needs to be given, it says, to claims of interference in British domestic affairs by Beijing, and intelligence risks such as those allegedly posed by the involvement of telecommunications giant Huawei in this country’s 5G infrastructure.
Commons leader Andrea Leadsom says MPs will not be sitting on Friday during a business statement in the chamber.
The cabinet minister, however, says MPs could be expected to sit next Friday - despite being scheduled to be working from their constituencies.
Leadsom says as MPs will be aware, discussions between the two main parties over Brexit are ongoing and subject to the outcome of these talks the business is subject to change next week.
She did not say whether there will be any major Brexit votes next week, including on the government's deal, or indicative votes.
Her opposite number, Valerie Vaz, says yet again it's "another sign the government cannot government".
The European Parliament has voted to confirm UK citizens will continue to benefit from visa-free travel to member states after a no-deal Brexit.
MEPs voted 502 votes to 81 in favour of the concession – provided EU nationals enjoy the same conditions when travelling to the UK.
The decision had been held up by a row at the European Council about the status of Gibraltar, whose sovereignty is disputed by Spain.
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