Brexit news - LIVE: Rory Stewart attacks Boris Johnson as Labour reveals plan to block no deal
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Labour has joined with MPs from other parties, including senior Conservatives, to launch a fresh bid to block a no-deal Brexit. The party will force a vote on Wednesday on a motion to stop the government taking Britain out of the EU without an exit deal.
The news came shortly after the EU dismissed Tory leadership candidates’ claims that they will be able to renegotiate Theresa May’s deal. A spokesperson for the European Commission insisted the bloc would “not change the parameters of what is on the table”.
Boris Johnson picked up further endorsements from Tory Brexiteers to succeed Ms May. Launching his leadership bid on Tuesday evening, Rory Stewart attacked the credentials of Mr Johnson and jokingly compared him to a “prancing elephant”.
Matt Hancock, the health secretary and one of the Tory leadership candidates, has said he would hold an immediate House of Commons vote in his Brexit plan if he becomes prime minister.
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme:
"As prime minister I would propose to put my plan, which I have already published, to the House of Commons, in principle, immediately and therefore show the European Union that this plan is deliverable through the House of Commons."
He insisted the EU could agree to put a time-limit on the controversial Northern Ireland backstop, despite it having said repeatedly that it will not.
He claimed:
"They nearly proposed a time limit on the backstop before, but they didn't think that the prime minister, Theresa May, would be able to get it through the House of Commons."
Boris Johnson picked up more endorsements overnight but was criticised by senior Tories over his plan to cut taxes for the wealthy
center no-repeat #999999;cursor:pointer;background-size: 9px 10px;top:-8px; border-radius: 2px;">↵ Rory Stewart's walking tour of Britain continues - but not all of his conversations are going entirely to plan.
He's tweeted this video of one such example, which contains some strong language:
Andrea Leadsom is currently launching her campaign in Westminster, promising to deliver "decisive and compassionate leadership" if she becomes prime minister.
In attendance are her husband Ben and MPs includuing Chris Heaton-Harris, Tim Loughton and Derek Thomas.
She starts by saying that leaving the EU on 31 October "is, for me, a hard red line".
She says "the uncertainty and failure over Brexit" are overshadowing other important issues that the government should be addressing.
Defending her decision to remain in the cabinet despite being "uncomfortable" with Theresa May's deal, she says she believed it that "staying in government to fight for Brexit was the right thing to do".
Andrea Leadsom says politics has "failed dismally" in the past three years to deliver on "the biggest democratic decision in our history".
She says, "The next prime minister must have a clear plan for a managed exit by the end of October" and sets out plans for a final exit summit in Northern Ireland in September.
Andrea Leadsom says she was raised by a single mother for four years after her parents divorced.
She says this taught her the importance of "loving family and strong community" and the "vital need for the state to provide support when it is needed".
Attending a girls' grammar school taught her that "expectations and opportunities are crucial to success", she adds.
Andrea Leadsom says:
"The deficit is at last under control, austerity is over and we can start to invest again."
She says her priorities as prime minister would be "enabling working people and businesses to keep more of their hard-earned income" and supporting start-up businesses.
She promises an action plan within 12 months to achieve a zero-carbon future for the UK, as well as a cross-party commission on social care, to report before the next election. She said she would "share the proceeds of growth" between investing in public service priorities like schools and the police and reducing the national debt.
Wrapping up her campaign launch speech, Andrea Leadsom says she is offering herself as "an optimistic yet realistic Brexiteer with a range of transformational policy ideas for the modern Britain of the 2020s".
She says:
"In all circumstances, we are leaving the EU on 31 October this year. Our country and our party cannot afford any more indecisiveness.
"I do not think that parliament has the ability to prevent us leaving at the end of October."
Answering questions after her speech, Andrea Leadsom, who gave Theresa May a clear run in 2016 by pulling out of the leadership contest when it was down to the final two, says:
"Of all the candidates, I am the one who will not be withdrawing under any circumstances. I think we have tested that to destruction over the last three years. If I come second, I am absolutely going all the way."
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