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Labour rebuffs May offer of plan B Brexit talks after no-confidence motion fails – Politics live Brexit: May calls on MPs from all parties to 'put self-interest aside' – Politics live
(40 minutes later)
This is the Labour party political broadcast which aired on the BBC tonight:
This is what our country could be with a Labour government.Watch and share 👇 pic.twitter.com/NcLXKDcZGc
The prime minister says she is disappointed Corbyn has chosen not to talk part in talks, “but the door remains open”.
In her closing remark, she says: “In a historic vote in 2016 the country decided to leave the EU. In 2017, 80% of people voted for parties that stood on manifestos promising to respect that result.
“Now, over two and a half years later, it’s time for us to come together, put the national interest first and deliver on the referendum,” she concludes, before immediately turning around and walking back into No 10.
That’s it. The prime minister has kept it short and sweet, without creating much news.
Full transcription follows.
May says now is the time to put self-interest aside, noting that she has just held constructive meetings with Lib Dem leader Vince Cable and the Westminster leaders of the SNP and Plaid Cymru Ian Blackford and Liz Saville Roberts. “From tomorrow meetings will be taking place between senior government representatives, including myself, and groups of MPs that represent the widest possible selection of views from across parliament,” she says.
May reiterates that she understands it is her duty to deliver on the British people’s instruction to leave the European Union: “And I intend to do so.”
May says she understands that people getting on with their lives outside of Westminster must have found the last 24 hours “unsettling”.
The BBC’s news bulletin is in progress and the prime minister is expected to appear any moment.
It is believed that Theresa May has held some talks with unspecified party leaders tonight.
Laura Kuennsberg says she does not expect any “dramatic departure” from her established positions.
May’s statement is due in the next few minutes at 10pm. This will be her fourth public appearance during what must have been one of the most testing days in her political career.
The podium is erected in front of Number 10 Downing Street. You can watch it live if you click on the video feed at the top of this blog. Or here:
Southampton’s third round FA cup replay with Derby has gone to extra time, meaning that BBC1 programmers have a small dilemma on their hands.
It has now been reported - and this is unconfirmed – that May’s statement will now air on the BBC News Channel. How British.
I think we all knew tonight would end with Martyn Waghorn relegating Theresa May to BBC2.
Here’s our live blog for the game:
Southampton v Derby: FA Cup third-round replay – live!
For anyone catching up on development’s tonight, here are several reports from the Guardian’s lobby team:For anyone catching up on development’s tonight, here are several reports from the Guardian’s lobby team:
May's government survives no-confidence vote after Brexit defeatMay's government survives no-confidence vote after Brexit defeat
No 10 rules out customs union after Brexiters warn of Tory splitNo 10 rules out customs union after Brexiters warn of Tory split
Corbyn: no talks with May until no-deal Brexit is off tableCorbyn: no talks with May until no-deal Brexit is off table
And for anyone who fancies a giggle:And for anyone who fancies a giggle:
First history, then the hangover: MPs traipse back to the farce | John CraceFirst history, then the hangover: MPs traipse back to the farce | John Crace
A No 10 spokeswoman has confirmed that Theresa May is to make a statement in Downing Street at 10pm.A No 10 spokeswoman has confirmed that Theresa May is to make a statement in Downing Street at 10pm.
Tom Newton Dunn, the Sun’s political editor, claims May will reassure the public that she’s still in charge, and is delivering Brexit.Tom Newton Dunn, the Sun’s political editor, claims May will reassure the public that she’s still in charge, and is delivering Brexit.
At ease, folks. I am told the PM's 10pm statement on No10's steps is just a message of reassurance. She's in charge, and still delivering Brexit. Just in case you were in any doubt.At ease, folks. I am told the PM's 10pm statement on No10's steps is just a message of reassurance. She's in charge, and still delivering Brexit. Just in case you were in any doubt.
Labour’s shadow education secretary has her own prediction:
PM is to make a statement at 10pm outside Downing Street, l suspect it will say l am still in charge, l will deliver Brexit, nothing has changed&it will be in the national interest. It would be quicker to play back the same speech she made the other month, it will be identical 😩
The Scottish National party has called on Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn to support a people’s vote, saying it “must now be on the table” for cross-party Brexit talks to take place with the prime minister.The Scottish National party has called on Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn to support a people’s vote, saying it “must now be on the table” for cross-party Brexit talks to take place with the prime minister.
Ian Blackford called on May to make concessions on her withdrawal deal after she survived tonight’s confidence vote, saying the the SNP want guarantees that ruling out a no deal and extending article 50 will be possible options.Ian Blackford called on May to make concessions on her withdrawal deal after she survived tonight’s confidence vote, saying the the SNP want guarantees that ruling out a no deal and extending article 50 will be possible options.
“The SNP is committed to working constructively with the prime minister, however the option of ruling out a no deal, extending article 50 and holding a people’s vote must now be on the table,” Ian Blackford the party’s Westminster leader said.“The SNP is committed to working constructively with the prime minister, however the option of ruling out a no deal, extending article 50 and holding a people’s vote must now be on the table,” Ian Blackford the party’s Westminster leader said.
“I have written to Jeremy Corbyn along with other opposition leaders calling on him to support a People’s Vote on the final Brexit deal.“I have written to Jeremy Corbyn along with other opposition leaders calling on him to support a People’s Vote on the final Brexit deal.
“Last night’s historic vote, which saw the UK government humiliated, was a clear indication of the strength of opposition to the Prime Minister’s deal from across the House. We must see concessions from the prime minister, as well as Jeremy Corbyn, to break the Brexit impasse.”“Last night’s historic vote, which saw the UK government humiliated, was a clear indication of the strength of opposition to the Prime Minister’s deal from across the House. We must see concessions from the prime minister, as well as Jeremy Corbyn, to break the Brexit impasse.”
Ahead of any talks, the SNP wrote a cross-party letter with the Liberal Democrats, Plaid Cymru and the Greens to the Labour leader.Ahead of any talks, the SNP wrote a cross-party letter with the Liberal Democrats, Plaid Cymru and the Greens to the Labour leader.
.@IanBlackfordMP has joined with other opposition party leaders to call on Labour and Jeremy Corbyn to finally get off the fence and support a #PeoplesVote.The SNP will not stand by and watch as Tory recklessness & Labour inaction threatens to drag Scotland out of the EU. pic.twitter.com/DXP7IbPMb9.@IanBlackfordMP has joined with other opposition party leaders to call on Labour and Jeremy Corbyn to finally get off the fence and support a #PeoplesVote.The SNP will not stand by and watch as Tory recklessness & Labour inaction threatens to drag Scotland out of the EU. pic.twitter.com/DXP7IbPMb9
It argues that “now that the government and the official opposition’s options have been tested before the House, we believe the only way now which presents a real chance of breaking the Brexit deadlock is to put the decision to the people by backing a people’s vote.”It argues that “now that the government and the official opposition’s options have been tested before the House, we believe the only way now which presents a real chance of breaking the Brexit deadlock is to put the decision to the people by backing a people’s vote.”
Nick Dearden, a spokesperson from Another Europe is Possible, has spoken to the BBCNick Dearden, a spokesperson from Another Europe is Possible, has spoken to the BBC
71 Labour MP’s today signed a letter saying that they would support a second referendum – that amounts to around 28% of the parliamentary party.71 Labour MP’s today signed a letter saying that they would support a second referendum – that amounts to around 28% of the parliamentary party.
Labour MPs declare support for second Brexit referendumLabour MPs declare support for second Brexit referendum
Dearden conceded that this does not amount to a majority, but he countered: “If you look at the opinion polls we see over and over again that the Labour party is overwhelmingly in favour of remain, still, and an increasing number of people in favour of another referendum.Dearden conceded that this does not amount to a majority, but he countered: “If you look at the opinion polls we see over and over again that the Labour party is overwhelmingly in favour of remain, still, and an increasing number of people in favour of another referendum.
“And who can be surprised, we’ve left it to this government, we’ve left it to the politicians, they have failed to deliver anything which I think whether you voted remain or whether you voted leave, nobody voted for the constitutional crisis that we now have on our hands.“And who can be surprised, we’ve left it to this government, we’ve left it to the politicians, they have failed to deliver anything which I think whether you voted remain or whether you voted leave, nobody voted for the constitutional crisis that we now have on our hands.
“We have to put this back to the people and get a popular mandate, one way or another,” he added, saying that he believes most Labour members would vote remain if it was on the ballot paper.“We have to put this back to the people and get a popular mandate, one way or another,” he added, saying that he believes most Labour members would vote remain if it was on the ballot paper.
8 frontbench Labour MPs publicly back a #PeoplesVote. It's clear that the Labour Party should support a public vote if their confidence motion fails todayMomentum for a #PeoplesVote is growing all the time. Demand a vote from your MP now: https://t.co/2yO5hlY6C0 pic.twitter.com/REPSwU2gP58 frontbench Labour MPs publicly back a #PeoplesVote. It's clear that the Labour Party should support a public vote if their confidence motion fails todayMomentum for a #PeoplesVote is growing all the time. Demand a vote from your MP now: https://t.co/2yO5hlY6C0 pic.twitter.com/REPSwU2gP5
Robert Peston, ITV’s political editor, says May’s emergency statement tonight will take place at 10.03pm.Robert Peston, ITV’s political editor, says May’s emergency statement tonight will take place at 10.03pm.
.@theresa_may is making emergency statement on steps of Downing Street at 10.03pm tonight to reassure us that it will all be OK in the end..@theresa_may is making emergency statement on steps of Downing Street at 10.03pm tonight to reassure us that it will all be OK in the end.
Now that Theresa May's botched deal has been decisively rejected, the starting point for talks to break the Brexit deadlock must be that No Deal is taken off the table. pic.twitter.com/io3fRHOznO
Earlier this evening, Corbyn’s spokesman told reporters that Downing Street contacted the Labour leader’s office ahead of the vote about the prospect of a meeting, but said that he was not expected to go to Number 10 on Wednesday evening.
Explaining why the Labour leader wanted no-deal taken off the table, the spokesman said: “The blackmail is that by attempting to run down the clock and hold the threat of the country going over a cliff-edge into a no-deal outcome... that makes it more difficult to reach a real and effective deal.”
The spokesman said May must recognise the “reality” facing her Withdrawal Agreement.
That deal is dead. No number of tweaks or sweeteners from Brussels are going to change that. That is absolutely clear. If there is going to be a deal that is going to work for the country and have a majority in Parliament, Theresa May is going to have to abandon her red lines.
However, he acknowledged this would cause problems in her own party, saying: “Any change in the Government’s red lines is going to cause them internal splits. That’s the fundamental reason why they are unable to govern.”
The spokesman said Labour was not ruling out another no-confidence vote, but refused to be drawn on timing.
Vince Cable is likely to meet with Theresa May tonight, along with Plaid Cymru’s Liz Saville Roberts, who is apparently set to demand a “people’s vote” from the PM face-to-face, according to the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg.
Vince Cable is likely to meet the PM tonight, and Plaid Cymru leader Liz Saville Roberts will meet her to to 'tell her to her face take no deal off the table and give us a people's vote'
Earlier she tweeted that the secretary of state for international trade, Liam Fox, has told her he has “consistently opposed a customs union”.
Liam Fox tells me that he has consistently opposed a customs union and would fight anything like that that isn't really Brexit - no getting away from all of Theresa May's other problems is a cabinet as split as they were two years ago
Richard Branson, the business magnate, has urged Theresa May to abandon her red lines.
As business leaders, we know the catastrophe a no-deal #Brexit would cause for Britain. Theresa May should abandon red lines and work with other parties in the best interests of Britain.
Ian Lavery, the Labour party chairman, says May’s offer of talks and a degree of rapprochement on Brexit in the national interest is “a little too late” and that “she hasn’t listened until now”.
Its two years since these negotiations started, and for the prime minister to make a claim to meet with the leaders of the party’s is a little too late. She hasn’t at any stage .. sought to seek the advice .. of the opposition parties at all. I find that very distasteful. Its probably why we’ve ended up in this situation.
He went on to call May’s deal “the worst possible from Brussels” and that Labour will look to see what the government’s plan B will be on Monday. “We want to see some sort of remedy to this situation.”
After obfuscating in his response to what has a credible chance of getting through the house, Lavery was asked whether there is any possible scenario where Labour could help get Brexit through. He reiterated Labour’s opposition to no deal and said:
We want to ensure that there’s a Brexit for the people, we want to make sure that whatever Brexit is there for jobs, for the economy, for businesses.
We will have one red line in these discussions with Theresa May, and that will be an absolute guarantee that there will not be a no-deal Brexit. So, everything’s on the table, it’ll be up to Theresa May to accept what the Labour party might wish to put forward. I hope she listens because she hasn’t listened until now.
Christopher Hope, The Telegraph’s chief political correspondent, has tweeted:
LATEST on Brexit chaos: Jeremy Corbyn is now refusing to meet for substantive talks with Theresa May unless she takes "no deal" off the table. But she can't. This game of brinkmanship starts tonight. At stake is the future of this country. #Brexit
Here’s a reminder of Corbyn’s demand earlier:
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn calls on UK government to remove "once and for all the prospect of the catastrophe of a no-deal #Brexit" after PM Theresa May wins confidence votehttps://t.co/sQNa5Vp7Tu pic.twitter.com/aekre2xqwD
Vince Cable, the Liberal Democrat leader, has said tonight’s vote was a “big rejection” of Jeremy Corbyn, and that the Labour leader must change his position on the principle of a people’s vote.
“It’s a big rejection of Jeremy Corbyn,” he told the Press Association. “Just as last night was a big rejection of her [Theresa May’s] Brexit. I think we are narrowing the options. I think the one step forward that we are looking for from Jeremy Corbyn is he has got to change his position and accept some movement on the principle of a ‘people’s vote’.”
On Brexit talks with May, Cable said: “If she wants to reach out we are up for it.”
Cable also told the BBC that while he would meet May he would have conditions on Brexit.
“As I said in parliament this afternoon of course we will talk to the prime minister,” he said.
“But I will make it absolutely clear that no deal has to be taken off the table and there has to be a sensible discussion about the ‘people’s vote’.”
Theresa May’s spokesman has told reporters that the Westminster leaders of Labour, the Liberal Democrats, the SNP and Plaid Cymru have been invited to meet the prime minister later this evening.
However, a no-deal Brexit will not be taken off the table, despite Corbyn’s insistence it was a prerequisite for talks, he added.
The spokesman said: “The prime minister has been very clear that the British public voted to leave the European Union.
“We want to leave with a deal but she is determined to deliver on the verdict of the British public and that is to leave the EU on 29 March this year.”
A Number 10 source told the Press Association: “What we are talking about tonight is party leader-level talks between the prime minister and her opposite numbers in other parties, should they wish to accept that.”
It is understood that the prime minister will be making a further statement at 10pm tonight. It is unclear what will be said. She may well reprise parts of her earlier speeches today, but the party talks – if they do indeed happen – could prove crucial in shaping her approach going forward.
Caroline Lucas, the former Green party leader, has urged Jeremy Corbyn to hold a second referendum after his confidence motion was voted down.
In a clip posted to Twitter, the Brighton Pavilion MP said: “The leader of the opposition was right to try to bring down this toxic, failing government. But now MPs have had their say on the Brexit deal, he needs to give the people a say over our future relationship with our nearest neighbours.”
PM hangs on by 19 votes. So disappointing that MPs failed to remove this cruel & incompetent Govt with tonight's #NoConfidenceMotionParliament has now had its say both on the #Brexit deal & on the Government.It's time to extend that right to the people with a #PeoplesVote pic.twitter.com/dSNZuginmh
Lucas added that to do otherwise would be a “betrayal” of the “majority of his party’s members” and young supporters who were unable to vote in the referendum two years ago.
Earlier this evening in parliament, she said:
PM has failed to tackle any of underlying injustices & inequalities that drove #Brexit vote, so very glad to support #NoConfidenceMotionBut general election between 2 parties who support Brexit won't resolve this crisis.So we also need to listen to country with #PeoplesVote pic.twitter.com/qZESZKQly3
Nigel Dodds, the DUP deputy leader, has highlighted the fact the government would have been unable to command half the support of the Commons tonight without the support of the Northern Irish unionist party, with whom the Conservatives have a confidence and supply agreement.
The result of tonight's vote shows the importance of our C&S Agreement.DUP votes once again make the difference.
Its worth mentioning here that the DUP have 10 MPs, and the result of tonight’s vote was 325 to 306, out of 650 MPs overall.
Vince Cable, the Liberal Democrat leader, has renewed calls for a “people’s vote” and criticised Jeremy Corbyn for sitting on the fence. He tweeted:
Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour Party cannot procrastinate any longer. Either he backs Brexit or he backs the people. He has a responsibility to get off the fence and provide some effective opposition.
The only serious option is what the Liberal Democrats have been calling for since the 24th June 2016: a People’s Vote with the option to remain in the EU.#NoConfidenceMotion