Brexit news - live updates: Theresa May holds unscheduled talks with European Commission president Juncker 'at her request'

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Theresa May leaves Downing Street after Cabinet meetings

Theresa May has held talks with the European Commission President, Jean-Claude Juncker, amid the chaos over Brexit and as Whitehall chiefs have reportedly been ordered to draw up contingency plans for a snap general election.

It came as the brinkmanship over cross-party talks over Brexit continued in Westminster and claims the civil service chief, Sir Mark Sedwill, had told departmental heads to be prepared for an snap election.

Theresa May, however, has consistently said there will be no general election before 2022, and earlier this week said it would be the “worst thing we could do” and “bring chaos when we need certainty” as she urged the Commons to reject a no confidence motion brought by the Labour leader.

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Key Points

• Boris Johnson falsely claims he 'didn't say anything' about Turkey during referendum
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• ... as Germans issue plea to Britons over Brexit: 'From the bottom of our hearts, we want them to stay'
• ... and reports emerge that Whitehall chiefs have ordered preparatons for a snap election

[18 January 2019 13:20 · Benjamin Kentish]

At least three cabinet ministers and six junior ministers have told their local Conservative associations to prepare for a snap general election, the New Statesman reports.

Four of the ministers reportedly told local activists that the poll could be held on 28 February as Theresa May considers how to break the deadlock in Parliament over Brexit.

According to the magazine, one minister has already written their election address, while another is said to have asked their local party for election campaign materials.

[18 January 2019 13:41 · Benjamin Kentish]

Political commentator Andrew Grice has worked in Westminster for 38 years - he says he's never seen it as bad as this

[18 January 2019 14:14 · Ashley Cowburn]

[18 January 2019 14:23 · Ashley Cowburn]

This is from my colleague Tom Peck, the Independent's political sketch writer, on Boris Johnson's speech.

[18 January 2019 14:41 · Ashley Cowburn]

[18 January 2019 14:54 · Ashley Cowburn]

[18 January 2019 15:14 · Ashley Cowburn]

[18 January 2019 15:30 · Ashley Cowburn]

Donald Tusk - the president of the European Council - has just tweeted this. We should get more of a sense of what was actually discussed later this afternoon...

[18 January 2019 15:40 · Ashley Cowburn]

Theresa May left Downing Street by car shortly after 3pm on Friday without speaking to reporters, according to the Press Association. She is due to spend the weekend at her country retreat, Chequers.

[18 January 2019 15:58 · Ashley Cowburn]

After Jean-Claude Juncker's meeting with the prime minister, a European Commission spokesperson said: "President Juncker spoke to prime minister May on the phone. It was an exchange of information on both sides. The two agreed to stay in touch."