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The DUP's decision not to change its mind on the EU withdrawal agreement is disappointing, Theresa May's effective deputy says.

But David Lidington rejects the notion the government's confidence-and-supply agreement has been fatally undermined.

The DUP confirmed it would not back the prime minister's Brexit deal on Wedneday.

Labour MP Ben Bradshaw, a supporter of the People's Vote campaign, accuses the government of using "every trick in the book" to "force its broken Brexit deal through Parliament".

"If it is really seeking to separate the withdrawal agreement from the political declaration, this would mean asking MPs to approve the terms of departure from the European Union without even the faintest clue about our eventual destination," he says.

"Any MP who cares about responsible government and the national interest or the future of jobs and public services in their constituencies will judge this proposal utterly intolerable."

He goes on to urge the government to put a final Brexit deal "back to the people" in a confirmatory public vote.

The Independent Group voted against Ken Clarke's customs union amendment on Wednesday night, alongside most Conservatives. Most Labour MPs voted for it.

The World at One
BBC Radio 4

Image source, AFP

Labour MP Dame Margaret Beckett is reiterating her call for a confirmatory referendum on any deal the UK strikes with the EU.

In Wednesday night's indicative vote, 268 MPs voted for and 295 against her motion demanding that any Brexit agreement should be put to the British people. It was defeated by 27 - meaning it lost by a smaller margin than six of the other eight proposals.

Dame Margaret tells the World at One she "was a little bit disappointed, but on the whole relieved" by the result.

She says many MPs wrongly believe holding a confirmatory referendum conflicted with other Brexit motions being suggested.

“Not only do I think it can be attached to anything, I think it’s vital that it is because whatever comes out of this is not going to be what people were led to expect," she says.

The UK's trade union movement chief, Frances O'Grady, says the problem with the prime minister's Brexit deal is that it contains no certainty that workers' rights currently guaranteed by EU law will be kept.

The general secretary of the TUC tells the BBC News Channel: "Promises are fine, but what we prefer are cast iron guarantees, and of course we can't take a promise from a prime minister who herself, by her own admission, is on a temporary contract.

"Any new Conservative prime minister could rip up her promises. So that's not good enough.

"We need guarantees on people's jobs, and their rights at work, written into that deal."

Polish MEP Danuta Huebner chairs the committee which will scrutinise the withdrawal agreement before it is voted on at the European Parliament...

Shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer says reports MPs may not now be asked to vote on the political element of the government's Brexit deal "would mean leaving the EU with absolutely no idea where we are heading" - which "cannot be acceptable".

Amid suggestions the UK's plans for a future trade and security relationship will not be part of the vote, Sir Keir says: "Anybody who is considering supporting the prime minister's deal on Friday needs to give that very serious concern."

Addressing business leaders at the British Chambers of Commerce, he says there is "real frustration" among MPs that we are unable to break the deadlock, as well as "much concern" among businesses.

Sir Keir adds that Theresa May's commitment to resign before the next stage of the negotiations means the outcome of the UK's negotiations is now going to be "determined" by the next Tory leadership contest.

"It could be a Boris Johnson Brexit, a Jacob Rees-Mogg Brexit, or a Michael Gove Brexit," he says.

The World at One
BBC Radio 4

More MPs will vote for the UK to negotiate a permanent customs union with the UK if it is put before the House of Commons again, the Tory MP who tabled the motion on Wednesday night says.

Veteran MP Ken Clarke's amendment was defeated by eight MPs - suggesting it is one of the more popular of the eight proposals on which MPs voted last night. There was not a majority for any motion that was tabled.

He told the BBC Radio 4's World at One programme: "People decided to vote for their own first choice and not to vote for anything else. And I've got to look at the ones who I know were really quite happy with a customs union."

Another set of indicative votes are proposed for Monday, after a government vote which is set to take place tomorrow.

House of Commons
Parliament

"The House will need to know more about what it is debating, and what it isn't debating," Speaker John Bercow says.

"I would hope that more clarity will be given at the end of the day," he adds.

Labour MP Chris Bryant calls out that the government providing more clarity is "unlikely".

Mr Bercow then says: "I’m not betting on it."

House of Commons
Parliament

Labour MP Chris Bryant says the Leader of the House Andrea Leadsom cannot say what is going to happen tomorrow as she does not know.

He asks for an update later this afternoon so that MPs can vote on whether the Commons should sit tomorrow or not.

The government has tabled a motion seeking approval from MPs to sit tomorrow, which will be debated on at 17:00 GMT.

MPs will vote on the motion after the debate.