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
A glimmer of hope after a chaotic day: Andrea Leadsom confirms that parliament WILL rise on December 20 and return on January 7, despite the delay to the meaningful vote.
The president of the European Council has ruled out renegotiating Theresa May’s Brexit deal at a scheduled summit in Brussels later this week.
Story from our Europe correspondent Jon Stone:
Back in the Commons, Andrea Leadsom confirms that the government is 'under a statutory obligation' to have the Brexit deal approved by a motion in the Commons.
Otherwise the government would not be able to legally ratify the EU withdrawal agreement, Ms Leadsom says.
The European Research Group, which represents Brexiteer Tories, has met tonight to discuss its next steps.
Leading Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg said: "I think that this is a rotten day for the government. And it is a humiliating day."
He added: "I think the feeling is sad that the government is in such a mess.
"I thought it was as humiliating for the government to pull the vote as to lose by 100."
Amid increasingly surreal scenes, the government has been accused of "hiding in the toilets" by one of its own MPs.
Mark Francois, to cheers from the Labour benches, said: "What the government have done today is shameful."
He accused them of a "complete abuse of this House", adding: "Having been found in contempt recently for the first time in living memory, they have now gone for a 'buy one get one free'.
"The whole House wanted to debate this, we wanted to vote on it, the people expected us to vote on it. And the government have gone away and hidden in the toilets."
The Conservative backbencher added: "People watching this on television will be confused and bemused and very, very angry at the way their own parliament has let them down, the Government should literally be ashamed of themselves."
To chants of "resign" Mrs Leadsom responded, saying: "I simply do not agree with his assessment."
Andrea Leadsom says the vote on the Brexit deal will be held "as soon as possible".
She says the government will be unable to ratify the withdrawal agreement and introduce the legislation needed to enact it until MPs have approved the deal, so time is of the essence.
Stephen Barclay, the Brexit secretary, is now making a statement on the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruling that the UK could unilaterally revoke Article 50, thereby stopping Brexit.
He says the ruling "does not in any way change our policy". The government knows revoking A50 is "possible, just as many undesirable actions are possible".
He adds:
"The government's firm and long-held policy is that we will not revoke the Article 50 notice. This position has not changed."
Theresa May sparked anger across the Commons by refusing to say when MPs will vote on her Brexit deal, as she prepared to head to Brussels to beg EU leaders for further concessions.
Our deputy political editor Rob Merrick has filed an essential write-through of the day's drama:
Theresa May will hold a bilateral meeting with Dutch PM Mark Rutte in The Hague tomorrow morning, Downing Street has said.
It comes after sources confirmed that tomorrow's planned cabinet meeting was cancelled.
Back in the Commons, Tory grandee Ken Clarke called on ministers to consider revoking article 50 - which would effectively cancel Brexit.
The Father of the House said: "Although the House regards itself, the majority do, as bound by this opinion poll or referendum that we held in 2016, in which absolutely none of the circumstances of that are now talked about were remotely discussed with public before the vote was taken.
"Isn't the obvious thing for government to start considering revoking Article 50 to save us from the disastrous consequences of leaving with no deal for our economy, our business, our employment and many other things?
"If anybody can ever put this shambles back together again and wants to resume the process of leaving the European Union they can go ahead and see if the future House of Commons is ever more receptive than this one's been."
Mr Barclay responded saying the policy of the government had not changed and Article 50 would not be revoked.
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