Carillion liquidation - as it happened: Government faces urgent question on major contractor's collapse leaving key NHS services in doubt
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Your support makes all the difference.Ministers faced questions over the collapse of construction giant Carillion, which holds a string of lucrative Government contracts for railways, education and health projects.
The firm went into administration on Monday as a result of its lenders refusing to provide any more financial support, raising fears about the future of hundreds of major projects at an already challenging time for the British economy.
Cabinet Office minister David Lidington told MPs that the Official Receiver would investigate the role of company directors in the collapse and warned they could face "severe penalties". He was also set to chair a meeting of Cobra - the Government's emergency response committee - on the situation.
Meanwhile, pro-European MPs, including several Tory rebels, went to Brussels for talks with the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier as Brexit talks gear up for their next phase.
Jeremy Corbyn also tightened his grip on the party as three Momentum-backed candidates - including his close ally Jon Lansman - swept to victory in the NEC election, shifting the party’s ruling body to the left.
And Ukip leader Henry Bolton faced calls to quit, despite announcing that he had dumped his girlfriend for sending racist texts about Prince Harry’s fiance Meghan Markle.
See latest updates below.
Welcome to The Independent's liveblog, where we will bring you all the latest political stories throughout the day.
One of today's top stories is the collapse of the construction giant Carillion, which holds a number of lucrative Government contracts in the NHS, railways and defence.
Ukip leader Henry Bolton is fighting to keep his job after his girlfriend Jo Marney reportedly made racist remarks about Meghan Markle.
Mr Bolton - the party's fifth leader since Nigel Farage stood down in 2016 - has ended his relationship with Ms Marney but still faces calls to resign.
Story here:
Pro-European MPs are heading to Brussels to meet EU chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier today.
Leading Tory Brexit rebels Dominic Grieve and Anna Soubry will be among the delegation discussing withdrawal plans.
Former attorney general Mr Grieve - who headed a Conservative revolt which won a "meaningful" vote for MPs on the final EU withdrawal deal - described the visit as a "fact-finding mission".
Mr Barnier is believed to be eager to hear the views of British MPs on Brexit as well as Government figures and has already met with pro-Leave campaigners.
Jeremy Corbyn is expected to tighten his control on the Labour Party as voting closed in a crucial set of elections for positions on the party’s ruling body.
All three of the vacancies on the National Executive Committee (NEC) – the organ of the party responsible for setting rules – are expected to be won by three candidates backed by Momentum.
One insider at Momentum – set up in the wake of Mr Corbyn’s first victory in the party’s 2015 leadership contest – told The Independent the feeling is “quietly confident”, adding: “But if the last two years in British politics prove anything, it’s that the unexpected does happen.”
Business Editor Josie Cox has all the latest on the Carillion collapse here:
Nicola Sturgeon will make a speech at around 10.30am outlining new analysis from the Scottish Government on the impact of a hard Brexit.
It finds that Scotland's economy could be £12.7bn a year worse off if the UK leaves the bloc without a deal, according to reports.
The First Minister also told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show that she will make a decision about a second independence referendum later this year.
Meg Hillier, chair of the influential Public Accounts Committee, has released a statement on Carillion:
“Carillion’s collapse raises grave concerns about jobs, the delivery of public services and the way Government conducts its business.
“The Public Accounts Committee has previously warned of the risks when contractors, paid from the public purse, become too big to fail.
“Government now faces a stark choice: bail Carillion out or let public services and projects suffer. Either way, taxpayers will get a raw deal.
“Government has serious questions to answer about its role in allowing taxpayers’ exposure to escalate to this point."
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