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| Brexit: Boris Johnson to discuss options with DUP leaders | Brexit: Boris Johnson to discuss options with DUP leaders |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Boris Johnson has said "there is a way" of getting a Brexit deal as he prepares to discuss his options with Democratic Unionist leader Arlene Foster. | |
| The PM, whose attempts to force an early election have been blocked by MPs, said "loads of people" wanted an agreement but he was prepared to leave without one if "absolutely necessary". | |
| The DUP said any solution which led to UK trade borders was a "non-runner". | |
| Parliament was dramatically suspended for five weeks earlier on Tuesday. | |
| MPs are not now due to return to Westminster until 14 October after Parliament was controversially prorogued. | MPs are not now due to return to Westminster until 14 October after Parliament was controversially prorogued. |
| Amid unprecedented scenes in the Commons early on Tuesday, some MPs protested against the suspension with signs saying "silenced" while shouting: "Shame on you." | Amid unprecedented scenes in the Commons early on Tuesday, some MPs protested against the suspension with signs saying "silenced" while shouting: "Shame on you." |
| Mr Johnson dismissed as "a load of nonsense" claims that proroguing Parliament was undemocratic. adding: "We were very, very clear, that if people wanted a democratic moment, if they wanted an election, we offered it to the Labour opposition and mysteriously, they decided not to go for it." | |
| Opposition MPs said a law blocking a no-deal Brexit on 31 October must be enforced first before there could be any election. | |
| Mr Johnson has insisted he will not ask the EU for a further delay but, after legislation passed by MPs, he will be legally obliged to do so unless Parliament approves an agreement by 19 October. | |
| Key sticking point | |
| Ahead of their talks in Downing Street, the DUP insisted their influence over Brexit events was "not waning" despite Mr Johnson's government losing its Commons majority. | Ahead of their talks in Downing Street, the DUP insisted their influence over Brexit events was "not waning" despite Mr Johnson's government losing its Commons majority. |
| The party, which propped up Theresa May's government since the 2017 election, said it would not support any revised version of the former PM's Brexit agreement which separated Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK. | The party, which propped up Theresa May's government since the 2017 election, said it would not support any revised version of the former PM's Brexit agreement which separated Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK. |
| The Irish border has proved a key sticking point in attempts to agree a Brexit deal between the UK and the EU. | The Irish border has proved a key sticking point in attempts to agree a Brexit deal between the UK and the EU. |
| The government has indicated it could support harmonised rules for the agriculture and food sector to prevent the need for any sanitary and other health checks on the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic. | |
| But it has distanced itself from reports that plans for a single EU-UK customs territory in the current withdrawal agreement - rejected three times by MPs - could be replaced with a specific Northern Ireland only "backstop" arrangement. | But it has distanced itself from reports that plans for a single EU-UK customs territory in the current withdrawal agreement - rejected three times by MPs - could be replaced with a specific Northern Ireland only "backstop" arrangement. |
| Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said a considerable number of Tory MPs would look to the DUP to judge the likely success of any new proposals. | |
| "We are plugged into the ongoing discussions about alternative arrangements, we have a significant role to play and, therefore, I would argue that our influence remains," he told Radio 4's World at One programme. | "We are plugged into the ongoing discussions about alternative arrangements, we have a significant role to play and, therefore, I would argue that our influence remains," he told Radio 4's World at One programme. |
| "I don't see the prime minister, who appointed himself as the minister for the Union, agreeing to an arrangement that separates Northern Ireland from Great Britain in trading terms," he said. | "I don't see the prime minister, who appointed himself as the minister for the Union, agreeing to an arrangement that separates Northern Ireland from Great Britain in trading terms," he said. |
| "I think that this idea that you have a Northern Ireland-only backstop where you have a trade border in the Irish Sea between Northern Ireland and Great Britain is simply a non-runner." | "I think that this idea that you have a Northern Ireland-only backstop where you have a trade border in the Irish Sea between Northern Ireland and Great Britain is simply a non-runner." |
| Parliament was suspended - or prorogued - at just before 02:00 BST on Tuesday. | Parliament was suspended - or prorogued - at just before 02:00 BST on Tuesday. |
| As Speaker John Bercow - who earlier announced his resignation - was due to lead MPs in a procession to the House of Lords to mark the suspension, a group of angry opposition backbenchers tried to block his way. | As Speaker John Bercow - who earlier announced his resignation - was due to lead MPs in a procession to the House of Lords to mark the suspension, a group of angry opposition backbenchers tried to block his way. |
| Late into the night, MPs also burst into song on the Commons benches, singing traditional Welsh and Scottish songs, Labour anthem Red Flag and hymns like Jerusalem. | Late into the night, MPs also burst into song on the Commons benches, singing traditional Welsh and Scottish songs, Labour anthem Red Flag and hymns like Jerusalem. |
| During the five-week suspension, parties will hold their annual conferences but no debates, votes or committee scrutiny sessions will take place. | During the five-week suspension, parties will hold their annual conferences but no debates, votes or committee scrutiny sessions will take place. |
| Boris Johnson will not face Prime Minister's Questions until the period is over and his scheduled questioning by the Commons liaison committee on Wednesday has been cancelled. | Boris Johnson will not face Prime Minister's Questions until the period is over and his scheduled questioning by the Commons liaison committee on Wednesday has been cancelled. |
| Parliament's suspension means MPs will not get a third chance to vote for an early election until they return, meaning a poll would not be possible until November at the earliest. | Parliament's suspension means MPs will not get a third chance to vote for an early election until they return, meaning a poll would not be possible until November at the earliest. |
| In Monday's vote, 293 MPs backed the prime minister's motion for an early election, far short of the two thirds needed. | In Monday's vote, 293 MPs backed the prime minister's motion for an early election, far short of the two thirds needed. |
| At present, UK law states that the country will leave the EU on 31 October, regardless of whether a withdrawal deal has been agreed with Brussels or not. | At present, UK law states that the country will leave the EU on 31 October, regardless of whether a withdrawal deal has been agreed with Brussels or not. |
| But new legislation, which was granted royal assent on Monday, changes that, and will force the prime minister to seek a delay until 31 January 2020 unless a deal - or a no-deal exit - is approved by MPs by 19 October. | But new legislation, which was granted royal assent on Monday, changes that, and will force the prime minister to seek a delay until 31 January 2020 unless a deal - or a no-deal exit - is approved by MPs by 19 October. |
| Speaking during a visit to a primary school in London, Mr Johnson said he was focused on the "people's priorities" - including getting ready to leave the EU on Halloween. | |
| He said there "were loads of people around the place", including in Brussels, who wanted to nail down an agreement but he was willing to leave without a deal "if absolutely necessary". | |
| "There is a way of getting a deal but it will take a lot of hard work - but we must be prepared to come out without a deal." | |
| Labour, the SNP, the Liberal Democrats, the Green Party, the Independent Group for Change and Plaid Cymru said they refused to agree to an election on "Boris Johnson's terms". | Labour, the SNP, the Liberal Democrats, the Green Party, the Independent Group for Change and Plaid Cymru said they refused to agree to an election on "Boris Johnson's terms". |
| Speaking at the TUC Congress on Tuesday, Mr Corbyn said "our priority is to stop no deal - and then have a general election". | Speaking at the TUC Congress on Tuesday, Mr Corbyn said "our priority is to stop no deal - and then have a general election". |
| When the election came, he said Labour would commit to another referendum with a "credible option to leave and an option to remain". | When the election came, he said Labour would commit to another referendum with a "credible option to leave and an option to remain". |
| Sir Oliver Letwin, who last week defied Mr Johnson to vote to block a no-deal outcome and subsequently lost the Conservative whip - told BBC Radio 4's Today he believed there was now a majority in the Commons to back another referendum. | Sir Oliver Letwin, who last week defied Mr Johnson to vote to block a no-deal outcome and subsequently lost the Conservative whip - told BBC Radio 4's Today he believed there was now a majority in the Commons to back another referendum. |
| Asked whether the prime minister would back a further vote, Mr Letwin replied: "Boris has often changed his mind about many things and that's one of his advantages, that he's very flexible so maybe he can." | Asked whether the prime minister would back a further vote, Mr Letwin replied: "Boris has often changed his mind about many things and that's one of his advantages, that he's very flexible so maybe he can." |
| Mr Johnson is now more than 20 seats short of a majority in Parliament, making effective government extremely difficult. | Mr Johnson is now more than 20 seats short of a majority in Parliament, making effective government extremely difficult. |
| The prime minister's self-imposed Halloween Brexit deadline looks further out of reach than a few short days ago. | The prime minister's self-imposed Halloween Brexit deadline looks further out of reach than a few short days ago. |
| Is it impossible? Absolutely not. | Is it impossible? Absolutely not. |
| There is the possibility, still, of a deal, with Number 10 today stressing it was still their primary aim. | There is the possibility, still, of a deal, with Number 10 today stressing it was still their primary aim. |
| Whispers again about a Northern Ireland only backstop, and a bigger role for the Stormont assembly, if it ever gets up and running, are doing the rounds. | Whispers again about a Northern Ireland only backstop, and a bigger role for the Stormont assembly, if it ever gets up and running, are doing the rounds. |
| Some MPs and some diplomats are more cheerful about the possibilities of it working out. | Some MPs and some diplomats are more cheerful about the possibilities of it working out. |
| If you squint, you can see the chance of an agreement being wrapped up at pace, although it seems the chances range somewhere between slim and negligible. | If you squint, you can see the chance of an agreement being wrapped up at pace, although it seems the chances range somewhere between slim and negligible. |
| Read more from Laura. | Read more from Laura. |