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As it happenedended

Brexit news - live: MPs to vote on withdrawal bill in June as Cabinet sets summer deadline for exit

See below for live updates from Westminster

Lizzy Buchan
Political Correspondent
,Jon Sharman
Tuesday 14 May 2019 21:06 BST
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Countdown to Brexit: How many days left until Britain leaves the EU?

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Theresa May's cabinet has set a summer deadline for the UK finally to leave the EU, prompting speculation the prime minister could be ready to name her departure date.

The decision suggests Ms May is ready to confirm she will quit within two months when she meets Tory backbench leaders on Thursday, after she promised to quit when the first phase of Brexit is complete. She will bring forward her withdrawal agreement bill in early June to ensure Brexit happens this summer, Downing Street said.

It came after the EU told Britain that it was on a "Brexit break" but officials will meet Olly Robbins, Ms May's top Brexit negotiator tomorrow.

Elsewhere, a group of senior Tories urged Ms May to to stand firm against Labour's demands for a customs union in the cross-party talks or risk losing the support of her party's "loyal middle".

But the warning drew fury from shadow chancellor John McDonnell, who voiced fears that any agreement with Ms May would be "overturned within weeks".

Late on Tuesday Ms May met Jeremy Corbyn and both agreed that cross-party talks should continue.

However, making clear their precarious nature, the Labour leader told the prime minister he had "doubts over the credibility of government commitments, following statements by Conservative MPs and cabinet ministers seeking to replace the prime minister".

See how we covered the day's events live, below

These comments from ex-minister Crispin Blunt have certainly raised some eyebrows.

“The Conservatives are almost certainly going to have to go into some kind of electoral arrangement with the Brexit Party, otherwise Brexit doesn’t happen,” he said.

Lizzy Buchan14 May 2019 16:15

Downing Street said TV firms must support participants in their shows after ITV took Jeremy Kyle off the air due to the death of a participant.

The prime minister's official spokesman said: "This is a deeply concerning case.

"Broadcasters and production companies have a responsibility for the mental health and wellbeing of participants and viewers of their programmes.

"We are clear they must have appropriate levels of support in place."

Lizzy Buchan14 May 2019 16:26

Theresa May's official spokesman also said he did not know how many ovens the prime minister has - in response to questions about James Brokenshire's two (four) oven kitchen.

Lizzy Buchan14 May 2019 16:31

A former minister has quit Labour with a furious attack on Jeremy Corbyn, warning the party has been “destroyed” under his leadership.

Bridget Prentice accused Mr Corbyn of failing to stand up to antisemitic “bigots and bullies” and of “complete ignorance” about the damage to come from Brexit.

“In all the major issues of the day, you have called it wrong,” the former justice minister wrote, in her resignation letter to Labour’s general secretary.

More here:

Lizzy Buchan14 May 2019 16:49

Both the Tories and Labour would be "crucified' by voters if they fail to resolve Brexit and respect the referendum result, Jeremy Hunt has said.

The cabinet minister insisted Britain does not need another referendum or general election.

Referring to cross-party Brexit talks, Mr Hunt told the Wall Street Journal CEO Council conference in London: "There is potential because when you look at the fundamentals it is actually in both parties' interests to resolve Brexit.

"Because both of us will be crucified by our base if we went into a general election having promised that we would respect the referendum result, not having respected it.

"And I think the lesson of the local elections is that the downside for Labour is as big as the downside for us.

"I don't think it's impossible that there could be a deal there."

Lizzy Buchan14 May 2019 17:11

The oven row deepens...

Lizzy Buchan14 May 2019 17:28

Theresa May's Cabinet has set a summer deadline for the UK finally to leave the European Union.

After an extended meeting lasting over two hours, ministers agreed it was "imperative" to pass the legislation ratifying Brexit before Parliament rises for its summer break.

The decision suggests Ms May is ready to confirm her departure as Prime Minister within two months when she meets Tory grandees on the executive of the 1922 Committee on Thursday, in line with her earlier promise to quit when the first phase of Brexit is complete.

Lizzy Buchan14 May 2019 17:40

The new Middle East minister has faced Labour demands to recognise the state of Palestine, amid concerns over the actions of Israel's prime minister.

Andrew Murrison stuck to the UK government's approach of committing to the two-state solution, adding that a Palestinian state is expected to be recognised "when the time is right".

Shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry pressed him over the issue on his first outing in the Commons since succeeding Alistair Burt, who quit in March over Brexit.

The Labour frontbencher accused Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu of taking steps which push Israel "away from democracy and away from the rule of law" while also "attacking the freedoms" of Israeli Arabs and ignoring the human rights of Palestinians in Gaza.

She warned Britain should recognise the state of Palestine "while there is still a state left to recognise".

Lizzy Buchan14 May 2019 17:50

Interesting...

Lizzy Buchan14 May 2019 17:52

Dublin airport has set aside an area of land to hold freight vehicles that are backed up due to no-deal Brexit customs checks, it has been claimed.

Lord Malcolm Bruce, the British Liberal Democrat, said there was potential for "serious congestion" in Dublin as a result of stacking of freight vehicles if a Brexit deal was not reached.

Addressing the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly in Co Wicklow, Lord Bruce said checks on freight transport crossing ports in Ireland and the UK would be a "major issue" for cost and time.

Additional reporting by PA

Jon Sharman14 May 2019 18:06

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