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As it happenedended

Brexit news: Tory leadership candidates deepen party splits over no-deal and cabinet appointments

Follow live updates from Westminster, as they happened

Lizzy Buchan
Political Correspondent
Wednesday 05 June 2019 16:59 BST
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Conservative leadership hopefuls have clashed over whether to back a no-deal Brexit, as party bosses tightened the rules to limit the number of candidates to succeed Theresa May.

Esther McVey said she would only have "committed Brexiteers" in her cabinet until the UK was out of the EU, which she pledged would happen by 31 October, with or without a deal.

But rival candidate Matt Hancock said no deal is "not a credible option" as he pledged to go back to the EU to discuss the Irish border issue.

To follow events as they unfolded, see our live coverage below

Long-Bailey denies Labour wants to reopen any coal mines for energy purposes. She mentions an FT report which claims the government is trying to "fiddle" its emissions stats.

She asks Lidington if the government will ban fracking and support renewables such as wind power.

Lidington claims the government has "outperformed" its climate targets.

Lizzy Buchan5 June 2019 12:16

Long-Bailey says parliament declared a climate emergency but the government is not taking it seriously. What is he doing to help the collapsing steel industry.

Lidington says she has got her facts from "ideological tracts" and says the government will set out plans for the next carbon budget this year.

Lizzy Buchan5 June 2019 12:19

Long-Bailey says he is peddling 'empty rhetoric' and calls for a green industrial revolution. She says it could create hundreds of thousands of jobs but the government will not act.

She says the government has recklessly run down the clock on Brexit and it will recklessly run down the clock on the planet.

Lidington hits back, saying Labour's renationalisation plans would cost billions to the taxpayer.

Lizzy Buchan5 June 2019 12:21

There's a fair bit of praise for Rebecca Long-Bailey on Twitter.

Lizzy Buchan5 June 2019 12:23

SNP's Kirsty Blackman is going on the NHS, asking why the government is so obsessed with doing a trade deal with the US, which could put the health service at risk.

The NHS is devolved in Scotland. She says the Tories will never be forgiven if they put the NHS at risk.

Lidington says the NHS is not for sale and the Scottish Tories are fighting for Scotland, not the SNP.

Lizzy Buchan5 June 2019 12:24

Tory leadership hopeful Mark Harper asks an easy question about how the Tory candidate in Peterborough by-election is the best for the job.

Lidington - surprisingly - agrees.

Lizzy Buchan5 June 2019 12:27

Labour MP Laura Pidcock asks about May's legacy - 'as the vultures are circling' around the PM. She says there is widespread poverty and division.

Lidington accuses her of talking the UK down and the Tories prefer to raise people up.

Lizzy Buchan5 June 2019 12:29

Tory MP David TC Davies condemns private prosecutions, in the wake of a case against Boris Johnson.

Lidington defends free speech but he says he cannot comment on the case itself.

Lizzy Buchan5 June 2019 12:30

Shadow Brexit minister Matt Pennycook says the government must commit to cutting emissions by 2050, following the recommendations from the UK Committee on Climate Change.

Lidington says the government is considering the recommendations but he shares his concerns.

Lizzy Buchan5 June 2019 12:34

Lizzy Buchan5 June 2019 12:35

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