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. 'Joint committee cannot act if the UK does not agree'published at 13:42 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2019

    Urgent question on EU withdrawal joint committee

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Kwasi KwartengImage source, HoC

    Brexit Minister Kwasi Kwarteng says the joint committee is comprised of representatives from the UK and the EU to govern the application of the withdrawal agreement.

    He says the joint committee will ensure both parties are able to discuss any issues that may arise, and will make all its decisions and recommendations "by mutual consent of the parties".

    "In other words, it cannot act if the UK does not agree," he says.

    The government's approach to the joint committee will be underpinned by full ministerial accountability to Parliament.

  2. Urgent question on proposed Brexit joint committeepublished at 13:37 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2019

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    UK EU flagsImage source, Getty Images

    Conservative Mark Francois now asks an urgent question on what checks MPs will have over the powers of the joint committee proposed in the Brexit withdrawal agreement.

    The joint committee would be responsible for overseeing the operation of the UK-EU’s future relationship, as well as trying to resolve any disputes.

    It would be made up of both UK and EU representatives.

  3. Will May step down if EU force a long extension?published at 13:34 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2019

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  4. Watch: 'Make it stop!'published at 13:29 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2019

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  5. 'Strategically nothing has changed'published at 13:21 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2019

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  6. What are the European Commission's concerns about Brexit extension?published at 13:12 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2019

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  7. 'UK must play important role in tackling climate change'published at 13:11 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2019

    Urgent question on Cyclone Idai disaster

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Preet Kaur GillImage source, HoC

    Shadow international development minister Preet Kaur Gill says she is pleased with the money the government is investing, and that the UK must play an important role in tackling climate change.

    She calls for the government to focus on the debt burden faced by Mozambique "so the country can rebuild".

    International Development Minister Harriett Baldwin says the government can ensure there will be an investigation, although cannot comment on the exact details of the investigation publicly.

  8. Juncker 'warned May over including June date'published at 13:09 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2019

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  9. Government gives £6m to Cyclone Idai disasterpublished at 13:08 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2019

    Urgent question on Cyclone Idai disaster

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Answering the urgent question on the Cyclone Idai disaster, International Development Minister Harriet Baldwin says the government has so far committed £6m to support the countries needs, and that teams are on the ground in Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi.

    Conservative MP Andrew Mitchell says hundreds of thousands of people are affected, and that it is close to being the worse weather-related disaster to hit the southern hemisphere.

    A huge global response is required and the UK has a key leadership role to discharge in that, Mr Mitchell concludes.

  10. MPs debate impact of Cyclone Idaipublished at 13:04 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2019

    Cyclone Idai hits MozambiqueImage source, Reuters

    With PMQs having finished, MPs are now debating an urgent question from Conservative Andrew Mitchell on the Cyclone Idai disaster.

    Cyclone Idai has triggered a "massive disaster" in southern Africa affecting hundreds of thousands if not millions of people, the UN has said.

    The region has been hit by widespread flooding and devastation affecting Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi.

    Mozambique's President Filipe Nyusi called it "a humanitarian disaster of great proportion".

  11. Cooper: PM's actions 'are deeply dangerous'published at 13:01 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2019

    PMQs

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Yvette CooperImage source, HoC

    Labour's Yvette Cooper accuses the prime minister of asking MPs to agree to the same plan that has "been roundly defeated twice".

    "Just allow the indicative votes," she says, adding: "what she [the prime minister] is doing is deeply dangerous".

    "What is in the national interest is for this country to leave the European Union," replies Theresa May.

    The prime minister says alternative Brexit proposals have been rejected by MPs and that the "one thing MPs have agreed to" is to leave with a deal.

  12. Short extension 'means until 23 May for EU'published at 12:58 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2019

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  13. PM: Agreement on extension 'not possible until end of week'published at 12:57 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2019

    PMQs

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Conservative MP Nick Boles asks when MPs will be given the chance to approve the extension request, and when Theresa May will bring forward the necessary legislation to change the UK's exit date.

    Theresa May says the date 30 June was discussed last week, but that it is necessary for EU leaders to agree to the extension first.

    She says this will not be possible until the end of the week.

  14. Miliband: PM is roadblock to Brexit agreementpublished at 12:54 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2019

    Prime Minister's Questions

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Former Labour leader Ed Miliband says the prime minister is the "roadblock" to the Commons reaching a majority on Brexit.

    He says it is " blindingly obvious" that MPs should now be able to take part in "a series of indicative votes so it can express what it is for, not just what it is against".

    Theresa May replies that it is not the case that MPs have not been able have their say.

  15. Tory Brexiteer: Will PM leave without a deal?published at 12:51 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2019

    PMQs

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Sir Bill CashImage source, HoC

    Conservative Brexiteer Sir Bill Cash asks if the prime minister will let the UK leave the EU on 29 March if her deal is voted down again.

    Theresa May says she believes Brexit should not be delayed beyond 30 June and has written to President Tusk to say this.

    There are issues in relation to leaving without a deal on 29 March with regards to the governance of Northern Ireland, she adds.

  16. 'High stakes' if deal defeated againpublished at 12:48 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2019

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  17. May: MPs will have to decide how to proceedpublished at 12:48 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2019

    Prime Minister's Questions

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Conservative Oliver Letwin asks if the prime minister will confirm that the Article 50 extension will remain in place regardless of whether or not MPs approve her deal.

    The prime minister says if her deal is not approved, "the House will have to decide how to proceed".

  18. Tory MP calls for indicative votes next weekpublished at 12:46 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2019

    PMQs

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Ken ClarkeImage source, HoC

    Conservative MP Ken Clarke says MPs have not yet had the chance to debate and vote on a range of Brexit alternatives, including on a customs union.

    He calls for indicative votes to be held next week "to see where the majority lies".

    Otherwise, Mr Clarke adds, "a short extension will be completely useless if the government does not know what it can negotiate for in the long-term."

    Theresa May says MPs have had "many opportunities" to express their views, and that the House has rejected the deal and a no-deal Brexit.

    She confirms that an amendable motion will be brought forwards.

  19. Watch: Short extension is 'downright reckless' - SNPpublished at 12:43 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2019

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  20. MP calls on May to condemn Leadsom's LGBT commentspublished at 12:42 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2019

    PMQs

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Lloyd Russell-MoyleImage source, HoC

    Labour MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle asks the prime minister to condemn comments made this morning by Commons leader Andrea Leadsom on the teaching of LGBT relationships.

    Speaking on LBC radio, Ms Leadsom said, with regards to LGBT relationships, that parents should get to decide when their children "become exposed to that information".

    Mr Russell-Moyle says these views are "dog-whistle politics", and calls on the PM to condemn "bigots that do not want LGBT people to be heard in schools".

    Theresa May says she’ll write to him about the official guidance Ofsted provides for teaching about LGBT relationships.