Summary

  • The European Council agrees to delay Brexit until 22 May if PM's deal approved by MPs

  • If the deal is not approved, the European Council says an extension until 12 April will apply

  • 'Almost everything is now in the hands of British Parliament and government,' says Donald Tusk

  • Theresa May stresses importance of MPs approving deal next week to 'end uncertainty'

  • PM says she will 'work hard to build support to get her deal through'

  • A petition on the Parliament website calling for Brexit to be cancelled passes three million signatures

  1. Rumours PM will address the nation at 20:15 GMTpublished at 18:46 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2019

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  2. May to set out meaningful vote 3 as 'deal v no deal'published at 18:41 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2019

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  3. What we think is coming tonight?published at 18:40 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2019

    Theresa MayImage source, Getty Images

    It looks like a busy evening ahead for the prime minister

    • She is currently believed to be meeting opposition leaders
    • Then at 19:00 GMT a key group of Brexiteers are expected to see the prime minister
    • At 20:00 GMT the BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg says there are "strong rumours" that Mrs May will make a statement
    • Conservative MPs will be attending a meeting of the 1922 Committee - a body representing Tory backbenchers - a meeting that Theresa May will not be addressing

  4. MPs finish debating Brexit delaypublished at 18:39 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2019

    Brexit Statutory instruments

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    MPs have now concluded debating the government's plans to extend Article 50, and following a deferred vote on a rating and valuation motion, will move on to discuss various Brexit related statutory instruments.

  5. 'Introduction of a new cliff edge is dangerous'published at 18:24 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2019

    Emergency Brexit debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Keir StarmerImage source, HoC

    Concluding the Brexit emergency debate, shadow Brexit Secretary Sir Keir Starmer says a short extension and the introduction of "a new cliff edge" is "dangerous".

    "It is clearly not what this House wants," he adds.

    Sir Keir says he hopes that even at this 11th hour the prime minister will take action and steer a different course.

    He adds that "the deal is not fit to be put forward a third time", and that a new way forward is needed now more than ever.

  6. SNP, Lib Dems, Plaid Cyrmu and Greens back longer extensionpublished at 18:22 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2019

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  7. Extension needs 'a clear purpose' - Netherlands PMpublished at 18:22 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2019

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  8. May has caused 'irrevocable damage'published at 18:21 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2019

    Emergency Brexit debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Labour MP Sarah Jones says in her short time as prime minister, Theresa May has caused "irrevocable damage".

    She says Mrs May must change course and work across the House to find a position that MPs will support.

    Ms Jones calls for indicative votes to be held in the Commons as soon as possible - to judge the preferences of MPs on the way forward.

    "The prime minister must listen and do the right thing," she concludes.

  9. Lib Dems call for longer extensionpublished at 18:16 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2019

    The Liberal Democrats' Brexit spokesman Tom Brake says there should be a longer Brexit extension in order to hold another referendum.

    "Parliament has voted down the PM's deal twice and there is still no consensus to get it through," he says.

    "The only answer to this mess is for the Prime Minister to go to Brussels to get a longer extension to Article 50 so the people can have the final say on Brexit, with the option to stay in the EU."

  10. 'Very irresponsible way to run a country'published at 18:03 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2019

    BBC News Channel

    Former head of the Foreign Office Sir Simon Fraser says it is a "very irresponsible way to run a country" if the final meaningful vote is held just a day before the UK is supposed to leave the EU.

    "I don't think we've heard the last, last word on either side," he states, referring to further extensions being possible to the Article 50 process.

    "The EU side are united in their position," he says, adding that the 27 countries do not want extensions with no clarity or reason.

    He says the UK had a referendum where people "didn't realise what was really involved" over leaving the EU.

    He states that there is no majority for any particular outcome in the Commons.

    "So far, she has favoured party unity," he adds.

  11. Lib Dem accuses government of 'unparalleled' incompetencepublished at 18:01 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2019

    Emergency Brexit debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Lib Dem Brexit spokesman Tom Brake notes that the prime minister's letter requesting an extension to Article 50 "wasn't even submitted in time".

    "The level of incompetence of this government is unparalleled," he says.

  12. 'Just saying no to no-deal is nonsense'published at 17:59 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2019

    Emergency Brexit debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Kevin FosterImage source, HoC

    Conservative Kevin Foster tells MPs he disagrees both with those who want a fresh vote on Brexit, and those who want to leave the EU without a deal.

    He says all that remains is voting for the withdrawal agreement.

    "I'm not going to say its perfect," he says, but adds: "it was never going to be."

    "Just saying no to no-deal is nonsense," he says. "It is a sound bite, it isn't a solution."

  13. Tory MP: Deal 'will fail again if brought back'published at 17:54 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2019

    BBC News Channel

    Grant Shapps

    Conservative Grant Shapps says that "nothing has changed" unless something "actually changes within the agreement itself".

    He says if it is brought back, and if the Speaker accepts it, then "it is going to fail again".

    He adds that the Commons is at an "impasse" and it is unclear as to what will happen next.

    He raises concerns that there may not be a majority in Parliament for any next steps to be approved. He says in that event, the only next step may be a general election.

  14. Parliament 'should get defined role' in next Brexit stagepublished at 17:49 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2019

    BBC News Channel

    Gareth Snell

    Labour MP Gareth Snell says he and Lisa Nandy are proposing a role for Parliament in the next stage of Brexit negotiations, the future relationship.

    Next time around, he says, Parliament should have a "defined" role.

    He says he doesn't see why any MP would reject such a proposal.

  15. 'Crashing out mantra' is lazy thinking - Tory MPpublished at 17:47 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2019

    Emergency Brexit debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Owen PatersonImage source, HoC

    Conservative Owen Paterson says he has been "mocked" for saying he has been told to, external 'get on with it' by people on the tube.

    He tells MPs that if they doubt him, he can show them the business card of one such fellow tube traveller.

    On a no-deal Brexit, he says: "hiding behind the mantra of crashing out" is "lazy".

    "There may be hiccups," he says, but argues that "the damage of a bit of disruption is far less than the risk of populism should we thwart the wishes of the 17.4 million people".

  16. Labour MP: Ministers 'are trying to bully us'published at 17:38 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2019

    Emergency Brexit debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Alison McGovernImage source, HoC

    Labour MP Alison McGovern says the government is trying to "force" the hand of MPs, and attempting to get them to back its Brexit deal "simply by fear".

    Noting that the Commons has already voted against both the PM's deal and the idea of a no-deal Brexit, she adds: "by definition, the government needs to change course."

    "I beg the government to have no more bullying of this House...let's have a change of course and a policy that we can support."

  17. 'Never felt more ashamed' to be a Tory MP - Grievepublished at 17:24 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2019

    Emergency Brexit debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Dominic GrieveImage source, HoC

    Conservative MP Dominic Grieve says Theresa May is "zig-zagging all over the place, rather than acting in the national interest".

    "I have never felt more ashamed to be part of the Conservative Party," he says.

    He adds that if there is a third vote on whether to approve the PM's deal next week, then he believes it will be rejected again.

    "The government's credibility is running out," he concludes.

  18. Brexit 'a story of unwillingness to make decisions'published at 17:12 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2019

    Emergency Brexit debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Hilary BennImage source, HoC

    Labour MP Hilary Benn, who chairs the Brexit select committee, says he "can only assume" that "Mr Tusk is saying we don't really need more time, we need some decisions".

    He says that he agrees with Mr Tusk, as "it has been a story of an unwillingness to make decisions".

    He says the story of the last two and three quarter years is a "story of indulgence of a section of the Tory party".

    Mr Benn calls for indicative votes to give an indication of where support lies in the Commons, and says Monday is an opportunity to start the process through the amendable motion.

  19. May not attending meeting of Tory backbench MPspublished at 17:06 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2019

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  20. 'Government ministers must start acting responsibly'published at 17:05 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2019

    Emergency Brexit debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Justine GreeningImage source, HoC

    Goverment ministers must wake up, smell the coffee and start acting responsibly on behalf of this country," Conservative MP Justine Greening says.

    She calls on the government to allow MPs indicative votes "to find an alternative".

    "We cannot ignore that we are in a grave crisis," she adds, noting that this is "totally unacceptable".