Theresa May admits she has failed to secure legally-binding time limit on backstop from EU, just a day before pivotal vote in parliament
Follow live updates on the eve of the meaningful vote
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Your support makes all the difference.Theresa May made a last-ditch attempt to convince MPs to back her Brexit deal, as she warned that parliament could block Britain's withdrawal from the EU.
Speaking ahead of tomorrow's "meaningful vote" on her proposed agreement, the prime minister admitted she had failed to secure a legally-binding time limit on the controversial Northern Ireland backstop.
But she insisted her plan was the only way to avoid a no-deal Brexit and guarantee that Britain exits the EU as planned.
Delivering a speech at a factory in Stoke, Ms May claimed some in Westminster would use “every device available to them” to “delay or even stop Brexit”.
She hailed letters of clarification on the backstop that were published by EU leaders Jean-Claude Juncker and Donald Tusk on the eve of the vote, but admitted she "did not achieve" a time limit on the controversial backstop.
“What if we found ourselves in a situation where parliament tried to take the UK out of the EU in opposition to a Remain vote?” she said.
“People’s faith in the democratic process and their politicians would suffer catastrophic harm.”
As it happened...
Reports suggest the plan being put forward by Tory rebels to give Parliament control of Brexit if the government cannot pass its deal includes provisions for revoking Article 50, reports suggest.
According to The Times, the plot being devised by senior Tories Sir Oliver Letwin, Nick Boles and Nicky Morgan would see instruct Theresa May to extend Article 50 MP do not approve a Brexit deal within six weeks. If the EU refuses, she would have to revoke Article 50.
The bill would introduce a clear mechanism for delaying or reversing Brexit where one does not currently exist.
Labour MP Tulip Siddiq is delaying her caesarean in order to take part in tomorrow's "meaningful vote", the Evening Standard reports.
A quick update on what we are expecting for the rest of today...
At 3.00pm, Nick Boles, Sir Oliver Letwin and Nicky Morgan will publish their full plan for giving Parliament control of Brexit if Theresa May cannot get her deal through.
Around 5.00pm, Theresa May will give a statement in the Commons on the letters sent today by Jean-Claude Juncker and Donald Tusk.
After that, the penultimate day of the Commons debate on the Brexit deal will begin, with Liam Fox, the international trade secretary, due to open it and Philip Hammond, the chancellor, expected to close it.
NEW: Tory whip Gareth Johnson has resigned, reports suggest.
Full story: Labour MP to delay birth of child so she can take part in Brexit vote
The government has published a new letter from Geoffrey Cox, the attorney general, giving his verdict on this morning's letters from Jean-Claude Juncker and Donald Tusk
Kwasi Kwarteng, the Brexit minister and a Eurosceptic, has said there is a "very real" risk of Parliament trying to reverse Brexit.
He told the BBC:
"I think that there is a very real danger that if the deal is voted down we will enter a situation in which the House of Commons will try and take control - and will prevent Brexit from happening.
"I think that is a very real and present danger.''
Former Labour MP Frank Field says he will vote for Theresa May's Brexit deal. The Birkenhead MP resigned the Labour whip last year and now sits as an independent.
Three Labour MPs have said they will also vote with the prime minister: Sir Kevin Barron, Jim Fitzpatrick and John Mann.
↵Under the plan put forward by Nick Boles, Sir Oliver Letwin and Nicky Morgan, the Commons Liaison Committee would effectively take charge of Brexit if Theresa May is unable to get her deal through Parliament.
The 36-strong committee is made up of the chairs of all the other Commons select committees.
But its chair, Sarah Wollaston, does not seem to have been consulted and has poured cold water on the idea...
We presume this is some sort of prank - but at this point, who knows...
Mel Stride, the financial secretary to the Treasury, has been photographed carrying a hand-written note saying:
1. No food
2. No Channel Tunnel
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