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

Theresa May compares the vote to the Welsh Assembley: 'We've never had a referendum in the United Kingdom that we've not honoured the result of'

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...

Key Points

• Theresa May's Brexit plea backfires after false Welsh Assembly claim
• Prime Minister to make statement this afternoon to outline further 'assurances' from the EU
• Backbenchers to publish bill allowing MPs to take control if Theresa May does not have a plan B
• Labour say a no confidence motion is 'not a matter of if, it is a matter of when'
• Liam Fox claims no-deal Brexit would not be 'national suicide'

[14 January 2019 17:48 · Benjamin Kentish]

Irish taoiseach Leo Varadkar says he remains hopeful that the UK will leave the EU with an agreement.

Ahead of the "meaningful vote" on Theresa May's deal, he said:

"I think it's important that we allow the British political system the time to make that decision.

"I hope the vote will be in favour, that the withdrawal agreement will be ratified by Westminster and we can get straight into talks on the future relationship.

"It is a matter for them and out of respect for their democratic institutions we should allow them to have their vote tomorrow and we'll reassess.

"I don't think it would be in Ireland's interest for me to be interfering in their internal politics."

[14 January 2019 18:05 · Benjamin Kentish]

It's still all going on here in Westminster. Jeremy Corbyn is currently addressing his MPs at a meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party, while Theresa May will give a speech to her party at 7.00pm.

Opponents of a no-deal Brexit are also meeting to finalise their strategy ahead of tomorrow's crunch vote. They are led by former minister Nick Boles and former cabinet ministers Sir Oliver Letwin, Dominic Grieve and Nicky Morgan, who have come up with a plan to hand Parliament control of Brexit if Ms May is unable to get her deal through. 

[14 January 2019 18:24 · Benjamin Kentish]

John Bercow has defended himself in response to a number of points of order from Tory MPs.

The Commons Speaker insisted he would "not be pushed around" in relation to parliamentary process on Brexit.

In another fiery clash in the Commons, he told MPs:

 "I have no intention of taking lectures on doing right by Parliament from people who have been conspicuous in denial of and sometimes contempt for it.

"I will stand up for the rights of the House of Commons and I will not be pushed around by agents of the executive branch.

"They can be as rude as they like, they can be as intimidating as they like, they can spread as much misinformation as they like, it won't make the slightest bit of difference to my continuing and absolute determination to serve the House of Commons.

"Unlike some people in important positions, who are of course elected constituency members but have not been elected to their offices here, I have been elected, reelected, reelected and reelected as Speaker to do the right thing by the House of Commons.

"That's what I have done, that's what I am doing and that's what I will go on doing."

[14 January 2019 19:04 · Benjamin Kentish]

Theresa May has arrived at the 1922 Committee meeting of Tory MPs to loud cheers. We're not expecting her to say anything new - the prime minister is instead likely to once more urge her MPs to back her deal tomorrow. But with over 100 of them having said they will reject the plan, her pleas are unlikely to have much effect. 

[14 January 2019 19:29 · Benjamin Kentish]

Jeremy Corbyn has just finished addressing the Parliamentary Labour Party meeting.

According to his office, he said:

"Theresa May’s deal is a bad deal for our country. It fails to meet the needs of millions of our constituents facing deep insecurity and stress from a lack of good jobs, inadequate housing and chronic under-investment in their communities and futures.

Theresa May has attempted to blackmail Labour MPs to vote for her botched deal by threatening the country with the chaos of no deal. I know from conversations with colleagues that this has failed. The Labour party will not be held to ransom.

When the prime minister’s deal is defeated, she will only have herself to blame. She has spent two years negotiating with her cabinet and her bickering backbenchers instead of the EU, shutting out trade unions, businesses and parliament from the process.

The Tory party’s botched deal will be rejected by Parliament. We will then need an election to have the chance to vote for a government that can bring our people together and address the deep-seated issues facing our country."

[14 January 2019 19:32 · Benjamin Kentish]

That's all for today's live coverage - see you tomorrow for one of the most momentous days in British politics in decades, as MPs finally vote on Theresa May's Brexit deal.