Brexit news - live: Theresa May travels to Brussels for crunch EU talks hours after Tory MPs quit party over Brexit then savage her record
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Your support makes all the difference.Theresa May was dealt a major blow ahead of a crucial trip to Brussels when three Conservative MPs dramatically quit the party over Brexit.
Pro-European Tories Anna Soubry, Sarah Wollaston and Heidi Allen resigned minutes before prime minister’s questions on Wednesday, citing Ms May’s “disastrous” handling of Brexit as their motivation for joining the new Independent Group.
In an emotional press conference, Ms Allen said the prime minister had been bullied into submission’’ by the European Research Group (ERG) and was “dragging the country and parliament kicking and screaming to the edge of a no deal abyss.’’
She also claimed ministers “at all levels” of government were sympathetic to their project, which saw the 11-strong group reach equal footing in the Commons with the Liberal Democrats and overtake the DUP, who prop up Ms May’s administration.
Meanwhile, Ms May said she held “constructive” talks with European Commission boss Jean-Claude Juncker as she scrambles to secure changes to her Brexit deal. She said that “we have made progress” and that talks would continue “at pace”.
And Labour was plunged into fresh controversy when it suspended ex-Militant member Derek Hatton over an allegedly antisemitic tweet – just two days after he was allowed to rejoin the party.
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Here's our write-up of left-winger Derek Hatton's suspension from Labour - just days after he was readmitted.
Theresa May and Jean-Claude Juncker have said their talks in Brussels on Wednesday night had been "constructive" and wanted ongoing discussions to be held in a "positive spirit".
A joint statement issued by the European Commission said: "Their discussions covered: - which guarantees could be given with regard to the backstop that underlines once again its temporary nature and give the appropriate legal assurance to both sides.
"Both reconfirmed their commitment to avoiding a hard border on the island of Ireland and to respect the integrity of the EU's internal market and of the United Kingdom.
"The Prime Minister acknowledged the EU's position and notably the letter sent by President Tusk and President Juncker on 14 January.
"She welcomed the continued engagement of Task Force 50 with her team; - the role alternative arrangements could play in replacing the backstop in future, where they tasked the Commission's Chief Negotiator Michel Barnier and Secretary of State Stephen Barclay with considering the process the European Commission and the UK will follow; and - whether additions or changes to the Political Declaration can be made that are consistent with the EU and UK Government positions and increase confidence in the focus and ambition of both sides in delivering the future partnership envisaged as soon as possible.
"The Commission's Chief Negotiator and the Secretary of State will follow up.
"The two leaders agreed that talks had been constructive, and they urged their respective teams to continue to explore the options in a positive spirit.
"They will review progress again in the coming days, seized of the tight timescale and the historic significance of setting the EU and the UK on a path to a deep and unique future partnership.
"President Juncker and Prime Minister May agreed to talk again before the end of the month."
Jeremy Corbyn has released a video in which he says Labour is at its best "when we work together", after eight of his MPs resigned and joined The Independent Group.
He called on the defectors to stand in byelections in their constituencies.
The Labour leader added: "It's disappointing that some MPs have left our party to sit with disaffected Tory MPs. But we cannot return to the failed business-as-usual politics of the past.
"These MPs now want to abandon the policies on which they were elected. So the decent and democratic thing for them to do is to resign and put themselves up for election."
Addressing one of the breakaway group's main concerns, Mr Corbyn said combatting antisemitism was "an absolute priority".
He added: "We are utterly determined to root out antisemitism from our party and our society."
Theresa May has addressed the departure of Heidi Allen, Anna Soubry and Sarah Wollaston and Brexit divisions in the Conservative Party.
The trio had accused her of handling the UK's exit from the EU in a "disastrous" fashion.
Speaking in Brussels, the prime minister said: "I'm saddened by the decision that three former members of my party have taken today.
"Of course, the question of the UK's relationship with the European Union has been a source of disagreement in my party, and also in the country, for a long time.
"Leaving the European Union after 40 years was never going to be easy."
Ms Allen had accused the European Research Group wing of the Conservatives of dragging the party to the brink of no-deal Brexit.
Ms May also commented on her meeting with Jean-Claude Juncker, insisting the pair "made progress".
She said: "I have underlined the need for us to see legally-binding changes to the backstop that ensure that it cannot be indefinite.
"That's what is required if a deal is to pass the House of Commons. We have agreed that work to find a solution will continue at pace.
"Time is of the essence and it is in both our interests that when the UK leaves the EU it does so in an orderly way. So, we have made progress."
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