Brexit: Labour MP suspended from Commons for stealing ceremonial mace in protest at vote delay
The latest Brexit developments at Westminster
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Your support makes all the difference.A Labour MP was ejected from the House of Commons for seizing the ceremonial mace in protest at Theresa May's decision to delay a key Brexit vote.
In dramatic scenes, Lloyd Russell-Moyle swung the antique symbol of parliamentary authority from its holder after the government confirmed it would delay the vote on the prime minister's Brexit deal.
Tory MPs screamed "expel him" as Mr Russell-Moyle was promptly asked to leave the chamber by Speaker John Bercow.
The incident came after Ms May faced fury from MPs for calling off a vote on her Brexit deal, in an attempt to seek further "assurances" from the EU.
The prime minister admitted her blueprint would have been "rejected by a significant margin" on Tuesday due to major rebellion by Conservative MPs, as she confirmed plans in an eleventh-hour Commons statement.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn secured an emergency debate on the delay on Tuesday, saying "the government’s incompetence can’t be used as an excuse to threaten the country with no-deal".
It comes as the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled that the UK can unilaterally revoke Article 50 and stop the Brexit process following a "democratic process".
See below to read our coverage of events as they happened
Theresa May is expected to head to Brussels on Tuesday to meet with EU leaders as she begins a fresh attempt to secure new concessions.
It comes ahead of a European Council meeting on Thursday and Friday, where the prime minister will try to convince the EU to budge.
However, government sources are playing down the chances of any significant progress being made this week. It appears MPs won't get to vote on the deal until January.
Commenting on today's events, Welsh first minister Carwyn Jones said:
"Shambles is too polite a word for what we have seen today from the prime minister.
"The future economic security of this country is being sacrificed on the altar of her party's needs. This cannot carry on.
"If the prime minister cannot bring forward a deal that commands the support of Parliament, there needs to be a general election.
"If there isn't a general election, there needs to be a people's vote on the terms on which the UK leaves - or if the country wishes to remain."
No 10 has explained the process for delaying the "meaningful vote".
When the Commons clerk reads out the orders of the day on Monday evening, a government whip will call out "tomorrow". This puts off the two remaining days of debate and any votes until a date yet to be fixed.
There is no requirement for vote on this procedure, said a Downing Street spokesperson.
More than 50 Labour MPs are calling on Jeremy Corbyn to push for a formal vote of no confidence in the government.
It's very likely that such a motion would be voted down at this stage - but these MPs know that. They want this to happen as soon as possible so they can argue that the only option is a fresh Brexit referendum.
Labour has confirmed it will not table a motion of no confidence at this stage.
A party spokesperson said: “We will put down a motion of no confidence when we judge it most likely to be successful.
“It is clear to us that Theresa May will not renegotiate the deal when she goes to Brussels, and will only be asking for reassurances from EU leaders.
“When she brings the same deal back to the House of Commons without significant changes, others across the House will be faced with that reality.
At that point, she will have decisively and unquestionably lost the confidence of Parliament on the most important issue facing the country, and Parliament will be more likely to bring about the general election our country needs to end this damaging deadlock.”
Horrific exchange in the Commons earlier.
The PM has had "a premature parliamentary ejaculation" over her decision to delay the Brexit vote, according to a Labour MP.
Speaking after Theresa May's latest statement to the Commons, Rupa Huq said: "Nine times the Prime Minister assured us there would be no early General Election, yet still it happened.
"As recently as this morning her hapless band of ever-changing ministers were out on the airwaves assuring us there would be a meaningful vote tomorrow, before this latest twist - this sort of premature parliamentary ejaculation - that has put the lie to the claim she sticks to her guns.
"When she won't even tell us when the vote is deferred to, it would appear the lady is for turning.
"How can we ever trust anything she ever says again?"
There were hoots of laughter and one MP muttered "wow, wow that's strong".
Ms May appeared to enjoy the joke, which came after nearly three hours of hostile questioning.
She responded: "If she looks carefully, she will see I I am not capable of a parliamentary ejaculation."
International trade secretary Liam Fox, a leading Brexiteer, has said Britain will either leave without a deal or stay in the EU if an agreement can't be reached on the backstop.
He told the BBC: "I think that unless we can get this agreement with the backstop in a form that is acceptable to MPs, I think you get one of two outcomes.
"The first is that we don't leave the European Union, which I think would be a democratic affront, with the public already having voted to do so, and Parliament having said that it would honour that referendum, and both parties being elected on a manifesto that said they would offer that.
"I think now to deny that to the British people would actually be a very dangerous thing politically in terms of the trust between the electorate and Parliament.
"Or, secondly, if there is no agreement then we would have to leave the European Union without any deal at all."
Interesting - EU council president Donald Tusk has said they WILL discuss Brexit at the EU summit this week.
However, he says they will not negotiate the deal OR the backstop - in a blow to Theresa May.
Theresa May's statement has finally ended after nearly three hours.
Andrea Leadsom is now making a statement on the upcoming business - and it is not going well. Instead of a historic vote on her Brexit deal, MPs will discuss Lords amendments to the Ivory Bill and also hold a general debate on fuel poverty.
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