Brexit news - live: Andrea Leadsom resigns over Theresa May's withdrawal bill as PM clings to power
Premier to meet Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 Committee, on Friday
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Your support makes all the difference.Senior Tories told Theresa May "it is time to go" as 1922 Committee leader Sir Graham Brady revealed he would meet the PM on Friday.
The prime minister set out her proposals in the Commons but Tory and Labour MPs expressed fury at her plans for a second referendum.
Leader of the House of Commons Andrea Leadsom resigned from the cabinet with a "heavy heart", saying she no longer believed the government's approach to Brextit would "deliver on the referendum result".
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Welcome to The Independent's politics liveblog, where we will be bringing you all the latest updates throughout the day.
Theresa May’s last-ditch attempt to salvage her Brexit plan looked doomed to failure as angry Tory MPs deserted her and opposition parties gave a cold shoulder to efforts to woo them.
The prime minister launched an audacious bid to win support for her “new deal” with a string of concessions specifically tailored to win over Labour MPs, Remainers, Brexit hardliners and Ulster unionists.
Among them were a Commons vote on whether a Final Say referendum should be held before ratification, a promise to safeguard European standards of workplace and environmental protections, and a choice on the future customs arrangements the UK should pursue with the EU.
Read our full report here:
Environment secretary Michael Gove has the broadcast round this morning and he has revealed that the withdrawal agreement bill is coming later today.
Story alert - Michael Gove says the government will "reflect" over the next few days, when asked if the bill will definitely be brought forward for a vote.
It comes in the face of major opposition from Tory Brexiteers and Labour.
Earlier, shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer said May should abandon attempts to get her new deal through the Commons.
"The PM needs to, today, accept that what she announced yesterday isn't going to work and pull the vote," he told BBC Radio 4's Today.
"She has still got time to say 'I do know what the central concerns of the Labour Party are and I'm prepared to put a concrete policy proposition on the face of the Bill on the issues of a close economic relationship and on the issue of a public vote'.
"She could do that, that would be a far better way forward than just allowing this vote to happen in a week or two's time and to lose it. So, I think she should pull it today and reconsider."
The Conservatives have slumped to fifth place in the upcoming European Parliament elections, according to a dramatic new poll.
The new YouGov/Times survey finds Nigel Farage's Brexit Party continuing to dominate with 37 per cent of the vote, up from 35 per cent in the previous week.
The Lib Dems tighten their grip on second place, holding a six-point lead over third-placed Labour, with 19 per cent and 13 per cent respectively.
The Green party is now snapping at Labour's heels on 12 per cent, with the Tories dropping to 7 per cent.
Michael Gove has hinted that Theresa May will pull the latest Commons vote on her Brexit deal to avoid a crushing defeat – a move likely to trigger her resignation from No 10 within days.
The environment secretary refused – three times – to say the vote would go ahead as planned early next month, saying: “We will reflect over the course of the next few days.”
Story here:
European Research Group chairman Jacob Rees-Mogg said it would be "more dignified and more elegant" if Theresa May followed the constitutional convention of quitting if she lost the support of a Commons majority rather than relying on an internal Tory rule change to oust her.
He said: "I hope that the prime minster will look at the figures, look at the lack of support for her deal, remember that she lost the first vote by 230 and the constitutional conventions and recognise that, in truth, the prime minister does not command a majority in the House of Commons.
"We see that with the lack of business in the House of Commons - the last Bill of any significance we've had before us has been on wild animals in circuses. The House of Commons is not functioning."
A Conservative Brexiteer MP has been called a “liar” and a “traitor” during an extraordinary exchange with a Leave supporter during a television interview.
David TC Davies was speaking to BBC Wales outside parliament about a rise in abuse towards politicians when he was confronted by a passing woman, who accused him of “acting like a snowflake” and being a “remoaner”.
Watch the incredible exchange below:
Nigel Farage, Brexit Party leader, and the Lib Dems' Vince Cable are going head to head this morning in a debate hosted by The Telegraph.
Mr Farage makes his pitch, saying a vote for the Brexit Party is a vote for "democracy" and says a good result for his party will put pressure on the government to ensure the UK will leave on Oct 31 and also raise prospect of a no deal Brexit.
He also says it would send a message, potentially ending the careers of both Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn.
Mr Farage first made these comments a rally in London last night, which I covered for the Independent.
Read the piece here:
Sir Vince Cable condemned the recent milk-shaking of Nigel Farage in Newcastle but asked if he was "being a bit precious" by pressing charges against the man who hurled the drink at him.
Cable says most politicians have endured unpleasantness, saying he has had spitting, excrement through the door etc.
Farage says it is "not about me" and challenges him for coarsening for debate by saying "bollocks to Brexit" on his manifesto.
Cable defends the decision as use of ordinary language, saying he is an ordinary person who uses such language.
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