EU dismay at May's humiliating defeat as Tory row descends into open warfare
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Your support makes all the difference.Theresa May has been at loggerheads with her ministers as several openly contradicted each other over the prospect of a no-deal Brexit.
After MPs refused to support the prime minister’s plan in her latest Commons defeat, EU ministers said it made the current situation even more difficult.
Andrea Leadsom, the commons leader, insisted the option of leaving without a deal remained on the table, but foreign office minister Alastair Burt insisted this was not possible.
A dozen or more ministers could quit if Ms May refuses to extend the Brexit negotiating period beyond 29 March and veers towards a no-deal scenario, former attorney general Dominic Grieve said.
Margot James became the latest minister to rule out remaining in the government if that situation occurred.
The digital minister told Channel 4 News: “I could not be part of a government that allowed this country to leave the European Union without a deal.” Downing Street insisted Ms May would continue with her negotiating strategy, with ministers dismissing yesterday’s vote as no more than a “hiccup”.
Here is how we covered the day’s events:
Tory minister accuses Brexiteers in his own party of 'treachery'
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme this morning, Greek foreign minister George Katrougalos said of last night's vote:
"It complicates even further the situation. It's very, very difficult to be optimistic about Brexit under these circumstances.
"It is not foreseeable [that there will be] any kind of reopening of negotiations, because it took us two and a half years to reach the agreement we have now.
"I cannot exclude a miracle. Miracles happen, but I cannot see what kind of miracle it is that could save the day."
Ministers are at odds this morning over whether the government is keeping the option of a no-deal Brexit on the table.
Andrea Leadsom, the Commons leader, insisted it "absolutely" was, telling the Today programme:
"The government does not want no-deal, but it is there because that is the legal default position, and any competent government must prepare for all eventualities."
Just hours earlier, foreign minister Alistair Burt tweeted this...
Ministers have clashed over whether a no-deal Brexit remains an option
At least a dozen ministers could resign in order to vote against a no-deal Brexit, Dominic Grieve has said.
The pro-EU Tory rebel said "a dozen or even more" ministers could quit, including "up to half a dozen" from the Cabinet.
Asked if this could bring down Theresa May's government, Mr Grieve, a former attorney general, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme:
"Yes it could, and this isn't a desirable outcome.
"The irony of all this is that most of us in the Conservative Party are sufficiently united to want to try to operate a coherent government. But the truth is we're finding it harder and harder to do.
"It starts to bring into question whether in fact the government is able to operate in the national interest at all.
"We are facing a great crisis and we are not really looking at all the options for trying to resolve it."
Brexit secretary Steve Barclay will be in Brussels on Monday for more talks, the BBC reports
The Scottish government has demanded that Whitehall replace all the EU funding it will lose after Brexit
Theresa May loses another battle but zigzags towards winning the war, writes chief political commentator John Rentoul...
Irish taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said the EU's solidarity with Ireland is "resolute", despite Theresa May urging Brussels to agree to changes to the backstop.
Speaking at Dublin Castle, he said:
"No matter what happens we know that Northern Ireland citizens will have the right to travel anywhere in the EU from Athens to Athenrye. It is regrettable for British citizens that will not be the case.
"What's been remarkable is the solidarity from the EU, despite attempts to divide the 27, it has remained resolute."
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