Image source, PA

Justice Secretary David Gauke has been asked whether some ministers are still pushing the prime minister to renegotiate the EU withdrawal agreement.

He told the Press Association that the draft deal would not be re-opened and conversations at this morning's cabinet - reported to focus on technological alternatives to the proposed customs backstop - were "about pursuing some of the options that we have".

Mr Gauke has also been trying to see the funny side of recent events.

Arriving late for an event in London on the rehabilitation of offenders, he said this morning's cabinet meeting "certainly gives me an understanding of incarceration in tense conditions".

He later told PA that the mood had not been "particularly tense" and his remarks were intended as "more of a joke".

Emma Vardy
Ireland correspondent

The BBC's Ireland correspondent Emma Vardy understands that the DUP will be abstaining again in Tuesday's votes on the Finance Bill.

The votes, on changes to fixed-odds betting terminals and remote online gaming as well as measures to combat tax avoidance and evasion, will be coming up relatively soon in the Commons.

Image source, AFP

Jeremy Corbyn and Nicola Sturgeon met this morning.

The Labour and SNP leaders don't agree on everything when it comes to Europe, far from it.

But they are united in their opposition to Theresa May's draft Brexit agreement and could find themselves bedfellows in the big Commons vote on a final deal.

Labour said their talks had been "constructive", that's a time-honoured phrase which can cover a multitude of sins.

But it is interesting to learn from Mr Corbyn's office that they discussed their "common opposition to Theresa May’s botched Brexit deal and determination to work across Parliament to prevent a disastrous no deal outcome".

We are getting a flavour of what happened at this morning's cabinet meeting.

The new Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay - attending his first cabinet - gave an update on preparations for Brexit, either with or without a deal.

These included what will happen to UK nationals living on the continent in the event of a no-deal exit. He told colleagues that a "significant number" of EU countries had committed to allowing UK nationals to carry on pretty as much as before in such a scenario and hoped others would do the same.

Theresa May then led a discussion on what she said were the "intensive" negotiations still going on the future political framework ahead of her visit to Brussels on Wednesday.

Most interestingly, No 10 said that ministers also discussed "alternative arrangements" to the customs backstop as a means of preventing checks on the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

Technological solutions - which we know are backed by a number of ministers - were among those possibilities raised.

Downing Street said most ministers spoke during what was a "constructive" discussion and the cabinet was "absolutely united" behind the prime minister in her efforts to negotiate the best deal for the UK.

Damian Grammaticas
Europe correspondent

Theresa May is going to be here in Brussels at 17:30 on Wednesday and No 10 is saying the meeting is about the ongoing negotiations, as there is still that political declaration on future ties being hammered out.

The European Commission are saying that she is coming for tea with Jean-Claude Juncker and not confirming there will be any negotiations happening.

We know the declaration was meant to be finalised today, but it looks like that is being delayed until later in the week, so there is still a lot to talk about.

But there is the impression of momentum happening there.

As for Spain and its prime minister saying he might vote against this deal on Sunday if the terms with Gibraltar isn’t clarified?

Well, the problem for Spain is it doesn’t have a veto in those negotiations.

It would be is difficult for the EU to press ahead without all of its countries on board, but Spain can't stop them doing that.

And the EU negotiators do not want to reopen all of the negotiations that have been settled as they know that would be difficult for London and it could bring problems.

So, there is quite a lot to play for, but things are still on track.

BBC News

The Chief Whip Julian Smith has said “everybody is behind” Theresa May and “it couldn’t be more positive”.

Speaking after today's cabinet meeting, he said: "The negotiations are on-going. The prime minister will be at the summit on Sunday.

"Everybody is behind her. It couldn’t be more positive, [with a] big focus on making sure we get the best deal for families, for business and for delivering on the commitments we made to respect the referendum.

"It is a really exciting week and I think the prime minister is going to have a very busy time."

Asked if there was any room for renegotiations, which some of her cabinet are believed to be pushing for, he added: "There is a focus on getting the deal done [and] she will get the deal done.

"[Then], in a few weeks time, I’ve got a job to do in parliament."

Image source, Getty Images

Recent debate about no deal - which would mean the UK leaving the European Union (EU) next year without any withdrawal agreement - has focused on the fact that the UK would automatically fall back on World Trade Organisation (WTO) trade rules.

Those rules would apply automatically to UK trade with the EU and other countries with which the EU has free-trade deals.

So what would WTO rules mean in practice?

Read our piece from BBC Reality Check to find out more.

BBC Politics Live
BBC2's lunchtime political programme

Labour MP and prominent Leave campaigner Kate Hoey said it was time to talk about World Trade Organization rules - which the UK would end up on without a deal with the EU.

"What we are beginning to see is those who were quite relaxed about going over to World Trade Organization rules are starting to argue for – and show that – it isn’t this huge disaster that [some claim]," she told BBC Politics Live.

"We haven’t had a proper debate on World Trade Organization rules.

"Yes, it would be difficult. But it is going to be difficult whatever happens now.

"And it is certainly going to be difficult if we go along with a deal that is leaving us half in, half out, taking [EU] rules, no end date, and destroying the unity of our United Kingdom by treating Northern Ireland in such a despicable way."

BBC Politics Live
BBC2's lunchtime political programme

Conservative MP Robert Halfon disagreed with his colleague Ms Dorries, saying the continued drama of the letters unfolding saw his party "entering Dr Strangelove territory with a nuclear explosion at the end".

He told BBC's Politics Live: "Suppose you put in the letters, when do you have an election?

"There is the Christmas period coming up, you don’t have a new leader until January, we are about to leave in March... how does that leader get a majority in parliament which the current prime minister has not got?

"I think it is basically Donald Rumsfeld’s ‘unknown unknowns’ and I don’t think having a new leader in the middle of the most important negotiations in our post-war history is the right way to go about it."

BBC Politics Live
BBC2's lunchtime political programme

Tory MP Nadine Dorries, who has written a letter of no confidence in Theresa May, says it is a "tactical move" by Brexiteers to stay short of the 48 letters needed to trigger a vote.

She said every female member of the European Research Group had put in a letter already, and she claimed the number sent was at 46.

But she said some were hoping to use the threat of a letter as leverage to change the deal and a number of key players were waiting until after a meaningful vote on the Brexit withdrawal agreement to put their ones in - something she called a "high risk strategy".

"Personally I think we are faced with two choices as Conservative MPs," she told the BBC's Politics Live.

"It is either change the prime minister or face a general election.

"I think waiting to lose such a considerable vote in parliament opens up new dangers, new potential catastrophes for us as a party, so I would rather see the letters go in now."

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Labour MP Sarah Jones asks what steps the department is taking to help safeguard skilled manufacturing jobs after the UK leaves the EU.

Business Minister Richard Harrington says "many businesses have supported the draft deal" and "the CBI has issued its praise".

Mr Harrington says he is "excited" about the "opportunity for high-quality employment" post-Brexit.

"The government wants to finish the future relationship with the EU as quickly as possible," he adds.

Labour MP Matt Western says that "staying in the customs union is what is demanded by our manufacturing sector."

Mr Harrington says "the EEF have warmly accepted the proposals for a future relationship in trading."

Shadow industrial strategy minister Chi Onwurah says manufacturing demand "is dropping at the fastest rate since 2015" and that "the Cabinet is in meltdown".

"A permanent customs union is essential for securing British manufacturing jobs," she adds.

Mr Harrington says "the cabinet is not in meltdown" and "this deal allows us to enter negotiations to sign free trade agreements with countries all over the world."

Mark Devenport
BBC News NI Political Editor

In Northern Ireland, the majority of people voted Remain, so the DUP do not represent the majority overall.

But they believe that they speak for their Unionist community in seeing the EU withdrawal agreement as potentially creating a thin end of a wedge - making Northern Ireland aligned economically more with the Irish Republic and the rest of the EU, rather than the UK.

That’s why they have taken a stand on this.

But they are under pressure here at home from various lobby groups, such as business and farming, who are concerned a no-deal Brexit could be very detrimental to the local economy.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has said Spain will reject the draft Brexit withdrawal deal without a clarification of the text on future talks on the status of Gibraltar.

"As things stand today if there are no changes regarding Gibraltar, Spain will vote no on Brexit," said Mr Sánchez.

Read more on the story here.

A last ditch attempt by the UK government to prevent European judges hearing a legal challenge to the Brexit process is rejected.