Brexit: Leo Varadkar warns Theresa May not to renege on promises over Irish backstop to win over Conservative rebels

European leaders say they can clarify aspects of Withrawl Deal with Theresa May, but cannot re-open negotiations

Theresa May says Conservative party 'would prefer new leader' for next general election

Theresa May has played down expectations of a Brexit breakthrough from EU leaders after surviving a bruising no-confidence vote triggered by Tory rebels.

The prime minister travelled to Brussels to seek fresh concessions to get her Brexit blueprint "over the line" in parliament, in the wake of her decision to shelve a crunch Commons vote on the deal over fears of a catastrophic defeat.

Ms May also confirmed she would not lead her party into the 2022 election - but failed to say if she would stand down after exit day in March 2019.

See below for live updates

Key Points

• Theresa May dampens expectation of Brexit 'breakthrough' at EU summit
• PM refuses to say if she will step down in March after confirming she won't fight 2022 election
• Conservatives plunge into public civil war after bruising no confidence vote
• May's Brexit blueprint will not return to parliament until after Christmas
• What is the Brexit deal? Theresa May's agreement with the EU explained

[13 December 2018 08:21 · Lizzy Buchan]

Welcome to The Independent's politics liveblog, where we will be bringing you all the latest developments throughout the day.

[13 December 2018 08:39 · Lizzy Buchan]

Theresa May won a critical vote of confidence from Conservative MPs last night, dashing the hopes of Brexiteer rebels who want to end her leadership.

Read our write-through of the dramatic events: 

[13 December 2018 08:47 · Lizzy Buchan]

Despite the PM's victory last night, Tory infighting continues apace.

Brexiteer ringleader Jacob Rees-Mogg said May should step down after the vote, pointing out that she had lost the confidence of more than a third of her MPs and a majority of her backbenchers.

However loyalist Tories hit back, with the fight spilling out into the opened.

Foreign minister Alistair Burt tweeted: "They never, ever stop. Votes against them, letters going in late - nothing matters to ERG .

"After the apocalypse, all that will be left will be ants and Tory MPs complaining about Europe and their leader."

Business secretary Greg Clark posted that "now the PM's position is confirmed MPs must move from being critics to being responsible participants".

He added: "No one wants a crash out, so we must now come together to agree a deal that works & supports jobs and industries across our country."

Tory deputy chairman James Cleverly said: "Some colleagues, perhaps out of frustration, saying foolish things about other Conservatives.

"Now would be a good time to stop.

"Respect the results of the two referendums; 52% to leave the EU and 63% to support Theresa May. There's work to do."

[13 December 2018 09:07 · Lizzy Buchan]

Conservative MP Richard Drax said the PM should consider resigning.

Mr Drax told ITV1's Good Morning Britain: "We want a Brexiteer... I would suggest, were the prime minister thinking carefully this morning, she would offer her resignation and allow someone who can deliver this to take over."

Brexiteer backbencher Peter Bone also said the PM should step down: "More than a third of MPs voted against the prime minister. It seems to me we need to have a leader who can unite the party and unite the country and deliver a proper Brexit."

Former Brexit minister Steve Baker told the programme: "I'd like the prime minister to bring this deal forwards, let us vote it down, so it can go back to the European Union and we can say this clearly won't go through parliament, we need to change the backstop.

"It's an awful deal, the country doesn't want it. Parliament would overwhelmingly reject it. This isn't personal, this is about the policy being wrong for the country long-term."

But pro-EU Tory Sarah Wollaston said: "I think the last thing we need in the middle of a constitutional crisis is to have more chaos, a Conservative Party looking in on itself deciding on a new leader. A new leader won't change the maths of this place, that's the point here."

Dr Wollaston told GMB: "Sooner or later we're going to have a blinding flash of the obvious and the Prime Minister is going to have to accept that we have reached deadlock and the only way forward is to take her deal direct to the British people with a simple question, 'Is this the Brexit you voted for or would you rather prefer to stay on the terms we have?"'

[13 December 2018 09:27 · Lizzy Buchan]

Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay said it was time for Tory MPs to put aside their leadership woes and focus on Brexit.

He told Today: "The vote gives us a chance to stop focusing on the issue of the leadership and really now to heal the party and come back together in the national interest.

"We have now got the opportunity to focus on the deal, to listen to the concerns colleagues have expressed in terms of the backstop, to get the political and legal assurances that colleagues are looking for.

"The European leaders have made it very clear, this is the only deal on the table. And this is the right deal for the country."

Mr Barclay said there was "positive" movement from the EU on the backstop, which has proved so controversial among Tory MPs.

[13 December 2018 09:45 · Lizzy Buchan]

Looking ahead, Theresa May has travelled to Brussels to seek further concessions from European leaders.

There is an EU summit today, and the PM will address all 27 leaders later in a Brexit session. She is also hoping to meet Irish premier Leo Varadkar in the margins of the meeting.

Donald Tusk has tweeted that he will meet the PM for talks ahead of the official meeting. 

[13 December 2018 09:52 · Lizzy Buchan]

Iain Duncan Smith called on Philip Hammond to "moderate your language" after the chancellor suggested that Wednesday's confidence vote was a way to "flush out the extremists" in the Conservative Party.

The former work and pensions secretary said many Tory MPs felt "frustration over the idea that Downing Street has failed to listen".

He added: "I have one simple message for the chancellor: When you start turning on your own party and making accusations about them, that's the beginning of the end for your party.

"You need to moderate your language and recognise that a party is a coalition and we need to get this thing through the line. I do not want to see the party where it is at the moment."

Here's our story on the row from yesterday:

[13 December 2018 10:05 · Lizzy Buchan]

[13 December 2018 10:15 · Lizzy Buchan]

Amber Rudd says the leadership challenge should have settled the matter, and tells MPs to stand by the PM.

[13 December 2018 10:28 · Lizzy Buchan]

Aside from Brexit, our social affairs correspondent May Bulman has filed this breaking story about a shocking surge in child homelessness.

Read her piece here: