Brexit news: Theresa May warns against no-deal Brexit as Tory leadership race swells to 10 candidates

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Theresa May warns against no-deal Brexit

Theresa May has warned her successor against pursuing a no-deal Brexit as the EU rebuffed the hopes of Tory leadership contenders by refusing to reopen talks.

Ms May told reporters in Brussels that the next Tory leader must "get a consensus" as the number of Conservatives jockeying to replace her reached double figures.

Foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt, one of the candidates, warned the Tories a no-deal exit would be "catastrophic", in a warning to rivals such as Esther McVey who are actively pursuing such an outcome.

Elsewhere, Speaker John Bercow fanned the flames by telling an audience in Washington that it would "inconceivable" for parliament to lack a voice over the shape of Brexit.

In another dramatic day in Westminster, the equality watchdog announced a formal investigation into antisemitism in Labour, while the Muslim Council of Britain demanded the Conservatives face a probe into claims of Islamophobia.

Tony Blair's former spin doctor Alistair Campbell was also expelled from Labour after admitting he voted for the Liberal Democrats in the European election

See below for live updates

Key Points

• Theresa May warns her successor against pursuing a no-deal Brexit
• ... as Speaker John Bercow says it is 'inconceivable' parliament would not have a say
• Labour faces formal investigation over handling of antisemitism complaints
• Muslim Council of Britain demands probe into Islamophobia among Tories 
• Alastair Campbell expelled by Labour after voting for Lib Dems in protest at Brexit stance

[28 May 2019 13:52 · Lizzy Buchan]

Labour MP Jess Phillips tweeted that former spinner Alastair Campbell had been thrown out of the party quicker than members who had threatened to kill her and had denied the Holocaust.

See the story on Campbell here.

[28 May 2019 14:04 · Lizzy Buchan]

Theresa May has abandoned her final attempt to get her Brexit deal through parliament in her last weeks in office.

Downing Street suggested the prime minister will no longer bring forward the legislation that would have enshrined her deal in law, effectively confirming that she has ditched plans to hold a vote on the bill at the start of June in a last-ditch bid to secure MPs' backing. 

Full story here:

[28 May 2019 14:21 · Benjamin Kentish]

Conservative MP Michael Fabricant has posted this quip in reference to the rapidly increasing number of Tory leadership candidates...

[28 May 2019 14:33 · Benjamin Kentish]

Dominic Raab, one of the frontrunners in the Conservative leadership race, has just posted this campaign video...

[28 May 2019 14:49 · Lizzy Buchan]

Deputy Labour leader Tom Watson has said the party risked a "vortex of shame" if it did not root out antisemitism in its ranks.

Responding to the EHRC decision to launch a formal investigation (see here), he said: "The decision of the Equality and Human Rights Commission to launch a statutory investigation into Labour shows they have reasonable suspicion that the party has unlawfully discriminated against, harassed or victimised people because they are Jewish"

"I feel utter shame that this investigation is necessary but I truly hope that it will provide the means to finally root out anti-Jewish racism from our party once and for all."

[28 May 2019 15:04 · Lizzy Buchan]

Tory leadership Rory Stewart is now in Lewisham Market, as he takes his tour around the UK. Earlier he was at Kew Gardens, now he's in south London.

[28 May 2019 15:20 · Lizzy Buchan]

John Bercow is making a speech in Washington, where he has been speaking at length about his role in the Commons.

The Speaker praises both Michael Gove and Jeremy Hunt for their intellectual skill and the way they handle urgent questions in the Commons.

Is that a boost - or a hindrance - for their leadership chances?

[28 May 2019 15:29 · Lizzy Buchan]

John Bercow says there was a "disequilibrium in the British body politic a decade ago" as the government had too much power. 

He says he has tried to allow the Commons "to breathe" in his tenure of Speaker.

Bercow says it is hard to avoid accusations of bias as Speaker - which is an admirable understatement of the claims thrown against him by Tory Brexiteers.

[28 May 2019 15:33 · Lizzy Buchan]

Asked about Theresa May, John Bercow says he has respect for her and she has always treated him with 'the utmost courtesy'.

He says the appetite of the Commons to 'have its say' on Brexit 'has been whetted' - and the idea that parliament will be 'evacuated from the centre stage on Brexit is simply unimaginable'.

[28 May 2019 15:47 · Lizzy Buchan]

Bit of snark here from Jeremy Hunt, who is one of the Tory leadership hopefuls.