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

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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 17:42 · Lizzy Buchan]

[28 May 2019 17:54 · Lizzy Buchan]

Speaking outside his home in North London, Alistair Campbell said he had voted in the "best interests" of the Labour Party by supporting the Lib Dems at the European elections.

He said: "You can interpret the rules in all sorts of different ways, but one thing I know is I'm not going to leave the party just because some random email comes in telling me that I've been expelled.

"So I will definitely appeal against it and we will see where that goes."

Mr Campbell claimed people in "senior positions" in Mr Corbyn's office had recommended voting against the Labour Party.

Mr Campbell said he didn't feel like he had left the Labour Party.

"I'm still in the Labour Party as far as I'm concerned and I'll always be Labour," he said.

Mr Campbell, who backs a people's vote on Brexit, added: " I don't think I've supported another party, I don't support another party, tactical voting has gone on for years."

He said he wouldn't name party colleagues who had also voted against Labour out of "friendship" and "loyalty".

He added: "I know there are an awful lot of MPs and councillors and peers who did not vote for Labour in the European elections and they did it for the same reasons I did it, to try and get the Labour Party to see sense on the single most important issue facing the country."

[28 May 2019 18:01 · Lizzy Buchan]

That's it for The Independent's politics liveblog for the day. Thanks for following!