May back to Brussels for Brexit talks

Summary

Theresa May has been back in Brussels to seek changes to the Brexit withdrawal deal
She met the Irish PM and the president of the European Council, before an EU summit
EU leaders insist the withdrawal deal can't be renegotiated - but say some points can be clarified
The PM has confirmed she will not fight the next general election
Mrs May remains Tory leader after surviving a confidence vote on Wednesday night
She won 200 votes, but 117 MPs voted against her

Live Reporting

Marie Jackson and Laurence Peter

Fabricant: Hats off to a good eggpublished at 20:49 Greenwich Mean Time 12 December 2018
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Conservative MP Michael Fabricant is full of praise for the 1922 Committee chairman.
Earlier today political commentator Tim Montgomerie suggested questions would be asked over how Sir Graham Brady had handled the contest.
Specifically he said holding the vote quickly helped Theresa May.
'Like a giddy classroom'published at 20:47 Greenwich Mean Time 12 December 2018
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#confidencevote trendingpublished at 20:41 Greenwich Mean Time 12 December 2018
BBC politics social lead tweets:
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Result due in 20 minutespublished at 20:41 Greenwich Mean Time 12 December 2018
The votes are being counted by three officers of the 1922 committee and then there will be some sort of independent verification before the final tally is announced.
The result is due at 21:00 GMT.
'I'd like to punch the ERG in the face'published at 20:38 Greenwich Mean Time 12 December 2018
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Minister hopes for two-thirds backing for Maypublished at 20:36 Greenwich Mean Time 12 December 2018
Brexit minister Robin Walker says he thinks as many as two-thirds of Tory MPs will have backed Theresa May.
This would mean the PM received comfortably more than 200 votes out of the electorate of 317 MPs.
We will have to wait and see if that is correct as the announcement is expected in the next half hour.
Taking a breakpublished at 20:31 Greenwich Mean Time 12 December 2018
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May has been told result - report suggestspublished at 20:27 Greenwich Mean Time 12 December 2018
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No no-showspublished at 20:24 Greenwich Mean Time 12 December 2018
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Watch: PM back at Downing Street after votepublished at 20:21 Greenwich Mean Time 12 December 2018
Media caption,
PM returns to Downing Street after vote
Brexit deal is 'balanced compromise'published at 20:21 Greenwich Mean Time 12 December 2018
Phone talks ahead of Thursday summit
Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker have said withdrawal agreement is a "balanced compromise" and the "best outcome available".
The Irish government said in a statement: "While they agreed to work to provide reassurance to the UK, the agreement cannot be reopened or contradicted.
"The Taoiseach thanked President Juncker for the continuing support of him and his team and looked forward to the European Council meeting tomorrow."
Theresa May is expected to attend Thursday's summit of EU leaders.
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Pic: May smiling as she returns to Downing Streetpublished at 20:18 Greenwich Mean Time 12 December 2018
Image source, Getty Images
What's the mood of Tory activists in Sale?published at 20:11 Greenwich Mean Time 12 December 2018
The BBC's Reeta Chakrabarti has been canvassing the opinion of Tory activists in Sale, Greater Manchester.
The mood is broadly supportive of Theresa May and the overwhelming view seems to be that whatever the outcome, the party must unite.
Stephen Calton-Woods says the PM could have been tougher in the Brexit negotiations by using the threat of a no-deal as leverage.
But he says the constant leadership speculation has been driving the local MP, 1922 committee chair Sir Graham Brady, mad and that this evening's vote must be "a chapter closing".
Robin Garrido is more outspoken, saying he is "disgusted" by the behaviour of Mrs May's detractors, saying "they should hang their heads in shame" and he hopes that she wins a "resounding" victory.
Michelle McGrath, who is standing in local elections next year, says she is not unduly worried by divisions in the party, saying they reflect the 52-48% split in last year's Brexit referendum.
She says the party must rally round, whatever the result, arguing that even a narrow win would be enough for Mrs May. "If I win by one vote next year, I have won."
PM looking 'pretty happy'published at 20:08 Greenwich Mean Time 12 December 2018
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Old habits die hard?published at 20:08 Greenwich Mean Time 12 December 2018
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Could result be 'stepping stone' to Brexit compromise?published at 20:04 Greenwich Mean Time 12 December 2018
Image source, EPA
Foreign Office minister Alistair Burt has echoed comments made by his colleague Tobias Ellwood earlier by suggesting that the European Research Group of Brexiteers is a "party within a party".
"The party is dancing merrily on the precipice," he told the BBC.
But he also struck a note of optimism about the potential for reconciliation between different Brexit factions going forward.
"I hope she (Theresa May) survives well... who knows, maybe if my colleagues have overreached themselves this will be a something that will be seen as a stepping stone to getting to compromise."
Voting closes in May confidence ballotpublished at 20:02 Greenwich Mean Time 12 December 2018
Voting has now closed in the ballot and the counting can get under way.
What about the Christmas party?published at 19:52 Greenwich Mean Time 12 December 2018
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PM keeps voting intentions to herselfpublished at 19:51 Greenwich Mean Time 12 December 2018
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Ian Blackford is the SNP Westminster leader.
Hancock: PM knew she couldn't fight next electionpublished at 19:49 Greenwich Mean Time 12 December 2018
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