here at westminster, the government in turmoil as the prime minister faces opposition to plans for brexit, she is due to make a statement at any moment. this is the scene live inside number ten downing street, where theresa may is due to speak to members of the press and media in the next few minutes. earlier, a series of ministerial resignations, including that of the brexit secretary, dominic raab, who said that the prime minister's plan had fatal flaws. said that the prime minister's plan had fatalflaws. in said that the prime minister's plan had fatal flaws. in venice, said that the prime minister's plan had fatalflaws. in venice, i think she needs a brexit secretary who will pursue the deals he wants to put to the country. i cannot do that in good conscience, but i hold her in high esteem, i think she should continue, but we do need to change course on brexit. one of the architects of the leave campaign, michael gove, has reportedly been offered the job but would want to change the plan. the prime minister faced relentless criticism in the house of commons today as she warned of the consequences of rejecting the d raft of the consequences of rejecting the draft withdrawal agreement. of the consequences of rejecting the draft withdrawal agreementm of the consequences of rejecting the draft withdrawal agreement. it would mean more uncertainty, malt

division, and a failure to deliver on the certainty of the british people that we should leave the eu. if we get behind radio, we can get the country back together and seize the country back together and seize the opportunities that lie ahead. and more conservative mps, including the leading brexit supporterjacob rees—mogg, have now submitted letters of no confidence in theresa may's leadership. i think a coup is when you use a legitimate procedures to overturn somebody in office, this is working through the procedures of the conservative party, it is therefore entirely constitutional and there i say it's to newsnight, coup is the wrong word. —— dare i say it to newsnight, coup is the wrong word. welcome to this bbc news special

broadcasting across the uk and around the world. we are live at westminster, where we expect a statement from theresa may in the next few minutes following another turbulence day for the prime minister as she tries to secure support for her controversial plans to ta ke support for her controversial plans to take the uk out of the european union. earlier today, she spent three hours in the house of commons trying to persuade mps to back her approach following the resignations of two cabinet ministers. well, it all of two cabinet ministers. well, it a ll started of two cabinet ministers. well, it all started at nine o'clock this morning, when dominic raab became the second brexit secretary to leave thatjob, the second brexit secretary to leave that job, saying that the second brexit secretary to leave thatjob, saying that there were fatal flaws in the draft withdrawal agreement. it is understood that the environment secretary, michael gove, has been offered the job but has not accepted because he wants assurances that he can pursue a different kind of deal. dominic raab‘s departure was followed by the work and pensions secretary, esther mcvey, who said that she could not support the draft agreement either. a number ofjunior ministers the draft agreement either. a number of junior ministers have the draft agreement either. a number ofjunior ministers have also

stepped down, including one from the department for exiting the european union. at 1030 this morning, theresa may went to the house of commons to defend the plan but was widely criticised, not least from many mps on her own side. following the prime minister's statement in parliament, the leading brexit supporterjacob rees—mogg submitted a letter of no confidence in mrs may's leadership. some other colleagues have followed his example, we will have the latest development and reaction at a time of great uncertainty here at westminster. as i mentioned, we are expecting a statement from the prime minister in downing street in the next view minutes, and what i would like to do now is go straight to downing street to talk to vicki young, my colleague there, our chief political correspondent. any idea what to expect in this statement, vicki? if you look back at the couple of years and the whole of theresa may's premiership come at the most likely thing is that she will come out fighting, not much

chance that she would have called a press c0 nfe re nce chance that she would have called a press conference to take potentially an hourof press conference to take potentially an hour of questions and then quit, that doesn't really follow the pattern of how she has behaved since the time that she became prime minister, despite the many challenges that she has faced. so i think the other question about the policy, does she come out and say that the deal i have got is the best deal, as she did for three hours in the house of commons today? that you come out and say, look, we have had thousands of hours of negotiations, this is the best we are going to get? this is in the national interest to do so? 0r get? this is in the national interest to do so? or does she somehow signal a change in direction? feeding into that is the news that the environment secretary, michael gove, a leading brexiteer, offered the job brexit secretary, said he would only do it if there is a change of direction. is that something that she is willing to go along with? is it something that she thinks is even feasible with the eu, would they allow that to happen? and

with so many ministers, not the brexiteers, tory backbenchers have said to me today, even if you try to change the leader, the parliamentary arithmetic does not change. you could bring in someone else, they could bring in someone else, they could want a different direction, but is there a majority for that in the house of commons? it doesn't seem the house of commons? it doesn't seem that way. vicki, we will be back with you straightaway when the prime minister appears inside number ten, but back on the green outside parliament, i am ten, but back on the green outside parliament, iam pleased ten, but back on the green outside parliament, i am pleased to say that the education secretary damian hinds hasjoined me, the education secretary damian hinds has joined me, secretary the education secretary damian hinds hasjoined me, secretary of the education secretary damian hinds has joined me, secretary of state, thank you for coming along. what can we expect from the prime minister? it is not long to wait to hear what the prime minister will say. look, you know, this has been an important day, the prime minister has come back with the deal negotiated with the european union, it has been a lot of discussion already in parliament, a big cabinet meeting yesterday. these are very, very, you know, very important matters to deal with, the biggest change in our sort of international relationships in our lifetimes, it is important to

get this right. but i think people increasingly will come to see that this is a good, balanced deal which delivers on brexit, stops free movement, stops the addinson item sending money to brussels, but does it in sending money to brussels, but does itina sending money to brussels, but does it in a way which is good for trade and jobs. so she's going to reinforce that message, a message we heard in some detail in the commons earlier. the purpose of this news conferences to reinforce the message? that is your sense, yes? we will hear when it comes, it is not far away, but yeah, will hear when it comes, it is not faraway, but yeah, it will hear when it comes, it is not far away, but yeah, it is a good package, and i expect, as i say, we will have plenty of debate in parliament, there have been debates on your channels, all sorts of analysis, and i think people will come to see more and more that we have to compare this deal to any available alternative, and it is better than those. how dismayed are you that some of your colleagues, including jacob rees—mogg, have seen fit to come out and say they have no faith in the prime minister to deliver a valid brexit? i'm

disappointed that it happened, because i think the prime minister has been doing an outstanding job with great drive and resolution to make sure we get a solid deal that works for the uk, and works for the other 27 countries, but critically delivers on brexit and does so with a good trade deal with europe and being able to strike over deals with the rest of the world. a point about leadership, because this is about strength and purpose of leadership — there are colleagues of yours who are saying, 0k, notwithstanding the pros and cons of the deal, it now requires a new prime minister, a new leader to deal it through. what is your answer to that? it requires all us your answer to that? it requires all us standing together, batting for britain, remembering that this is a negotiation with the european union, not with each other. so we need clarity, we need unity of purpose. we also have to have the debate, discussion and analysis of the deal, but as i say, people will come to see this is a good deal for britain,

better than any available alternative. what is your level of confidence in getting this through parliament? it is high, because people will have to say, it is not just whether you like this deal or not, you know, and anybody will be able to find some line items somewhere in those hundreds of pages of text that they do not like, but the point is, what is the alternative? you cannot just the point is, what is the alternative? you cannotjust not like stuff, you have to propose something else, and we do not want a no—deal situation, we can't let the people who want to thwart brexit do that, and this deal that the prime ministerand that, and this deal that the prime minister and the team have negotiated is the best deal that we can have. as you say, not long to wait, we'll see what the prime minister has to say. thank you for joining us, very kind of you joining us on joining us, very kind of you joining us on the green. let's look inside downing street, in the room where the news conferences about to take place, goes the rostrum is ready, there are people gathering already as we speak, and just outside, of course, as we know, is vicki young, oui’ course, as we know, is vicki young, our chief political correspondent. some thoughts, then, minutes away

possibly from the prime minister's appearance, just picking up on what's damian hinds was saying, reinforcing what we think the message will be, as he was saying earlier on, basically the prime ministerfights on, earlier on, basically the prime minister fights on, regardless of the criticism today. yeah, i think in this case, that is all she can do, you know, carry on as usual. she will be looking, as we have done, at the huge document which represents those hours and hours, months and months of work, trying to thrash out that compromise, she will hope that she will bring it to the house of commons, and she clearly believes that it commons, and she clearly believes thatitis commons, and she clearly believes that it is the best deal that she can getand that it is the best deal that she can get and it is the only alternative. what was interesting in the house of commons today was the number of people getting up to praise her personally for her determination, her doggedness, her sense of duty, the fact that she has persevered against all odds, but the trouble was, alongside that, there wasn't much support for the deal

that she wants to put before mps. so, you know, even if she gets through this, even if there is maybe some challenge against her and she survives a confidence vote, the numbers in the house of commons are, at the moment, not looking good. now, behind the scenes there are ministers saying, look, when it comes to it, when this dies down in a couple of weeks, when it comes back to the house of commons, people will have a different view, because they will be having to look at the alternative, which they say is a no—deal scenario, which hardly anyone in the house of commons wa nts, anyone in the house of commons wants, and they think that will focus their minds enough to get it through. but it is very hard to see that turning into reality. just a thought on the timings here, vicki, because we are already a few minutes over what we expected, and just thinking, what is likely to be going on in terms of preparing for this statement, because given what has happened today, and yesterday, the sta kes a re happened today, and yesterday, the stakes are even higher now in terms of the message that the prime minister delivers in this statement

in the next few minutes. yeah, the fa ct in the next few minutes. yeah, the fact this morning, obviously, that she had to leave here, having heard that two of her cabinet had resigned, other ministers were resigning around, and she had to go to the commons to face three hours questions, again, i have spoken to labour mps who say it was pretty remarkable to watch are standing there, seemingly so calm. i am sure she won't be, but i think she sees that there is only one alternative route, that she has this deal, she wa nts route, that she has this deal, she wants people to understand the deal, and to recognise that, yes, it is uncomfortable, that is the work he has used. part of that are very uncomfortable, but just for the has used. part of that are very uncomfortable, butjust for the uk but the eu as well. the idea of not being able to get out of this customs arrangements, according to the brexiteers, that is how they see it, she would say that is not the case, that it is a temporary arrangement, that it delivers on all

sorts of things, on ending the freedom of movement, such a huge issue in the referendum campaign, it means not handing over billions of pounds every year to the eu, but on the other side, the government would say it protects jobs. the customs arrangements, which is causing so much pounced amongst conservatives, they say it is there to protect the economy and jobs. —— so much i missed. she will be urging people to look beyond this small area in westminster and think about people elsewhere in the country whose jobs depend on businesses that can trade ina depend on businesses that can trade in a frictionless way with our biggest trading partners. so i think the message will be about pragmatism, as it has been all the way through, saying to those people, even the number who are saying that they don't want her as their leader anymore, what is your alternative, what do you propose, what on earth do you think you can get from the eu, what do you think you can get to the house of commons when the parliamentary arithmetic? we will pause, vicki, the prime minister clearly still not there, so i would

like to hop over to brussels and talk to damian grammaticas, if i interrupt, it is because the prime minister has appeared, so let's just be ready for that. but this thought here, today, that somehow the prime minister's critics are saying there is another deal to be done, a better deal to be done, the eu would respond if, let's say, another leader turned up in brussels demanding a different kind of deal — how is that scene there? well, huw, i understand any events are moving at your end, but this has taken months and months and months of difficult negotiations to reach this deal, and what we have heard eu source as saying today is that they believe that they have exhausted their room for manoeuvre, both sides have,in their room for manoeuvre, both sides have, in this negotiation, so unless something was going to fundamentally change in the uk's position towards this, i think the eu would find it very difficult to make anything more than two weeks. and we heard a

similar thing from angela merkel, speaking in germany today — she said that both sides had agreed this text on the table, both sides had walked away saying it was the basis for a deal, and that she said she saw no... the question of further negotiations does not arise at all, and then she added a rider, she said, if you sit further negotiations, you have to ask yourself, the worst—case outcome would be a disorderly brexit, a brexit with no deal at all, and you should bear that in mind if you seek to reopen all of this. damian, thank you very much for your thoughts from brussels. still awaiting the prime minister's appearance, vicki young is in downing street, and they thought that once again, vicki, that is another answer from the brussels point of view to lots of those people, the increasing number of conservatives mps who seem to be saying we can get a better deal — if only we had taken a different approach, and it is still possible, they say, to get a better deal. the

prime minister will surely have to address that issue. yeah, i think she will say that it is not on the cards. i mean, ithink the she will say that it is not on the cards. i mean, i think the only question might be whether they could give her any more now so that there is maybe not a change of leader. i mean, to be doing this four and a half months before we are due to leave the european union, i think, is what is going to raise so many eyebrows, and which is a problem for any section of the conservative party that wants to try and change the direction. now, of course, others will say that people who want theresa may to go now, who are not happy with this deal, they have a lwa ys happy with this deal, they have always been perfectly happy to leave with no deal at all, and that is what they were aiming for, they were never going to back any kind of agreement which involved a compromise. you know, the remain side of the argument in the tory party says this is the moment where brexiteers are having to realise that their dreams the kind of brexit they wanted, was never going to happen. so i think that is what they

are contending with here, and i think on a broader note for the conservative party, of course, as we know, deeply split over this issue of europe, and you know, just talking to ministers, to mps on different sides of the argument, some of them openly arguing on the cameras today, you know, in the end bringing this party together again, a party that is in government, is going to be incredibly difficult. and that is what people say you just wa nt to and that is what people say you just want to stick with theresa may, because they just feel that want to stick with theresa may, because theyjust feel that bringing someone else in at this point, presumably jacob rees—mogg, he someone else in at this point, presumablyjacob rees—mogg, he would one day brexiteer, of course, when asked what kind of leader he would want, he was naming people on the brexit side of the argument, but many others think that is not going to help at this stage, because the vision that they have, the kind of brexit they won't simply would not get through the house of commons. and of course there is the question of what good happen, what are the

alternatives? i have spoken to the snp about this, labour mps about this, and they don't have the answer, but they feel very strongly that no deal would be staffed by parliament. they can't say how, but they say they would not sit there and permit this catastrophe, as they see it for the uk economy, there is no winner parliament would allow that to happen, they say. that is not how jacob rees—mogg sees it. let's ta ke not how jacob rees—mogg sees it. let's take another look inside a room to see how full it is, because i think it has filled up pretty comprehensively, and we are waiting for the prime minister to arrive. if you have just joined us for the prime minister to arrive. if you havejustjoined us in the uk and around the world, we are expecting a statement by the british prime minister, theresa may, on the latest difficulties and challenges, if you like, in this brexit process. the prime minister appeared in the house of commons earlier today, a nswered house of commons earlier today, answered questions for three hours on the detail of the draft withdrawal agreement that she has put before mps, it is very

controversial, lots of their own side are deeply opposed to it, and the prime minister was appealing earlier today for people to read it in detailand to earlier today for people to read it in detail and to consider that, in her view, it is the best deal that can be achieved right now with the european union, a point underlined by our colleague damian grammaticas just a short while ago. so we expect the prime minister to underline that message once again, she may have something else to say, she may indeed talk about what has been happening today in terms of cabinet resignations. there are still a vacancy, resignations. there are still a vacancy, of course, for brexit secretary after the resignation of dominic raab earlier, the second brexit secretary to leave and that job since the process started. so there has to be an appointment in that respect as well. and mrs may may well feel that she needs to address the deeper questions around her leadership which have been pointed out today by people such as jacob rees—mogg and the very prominent brexit supporters on her backbenchers who are very opposed to

the deal she has put forward. so this news conference, which was due to start some 20 minutes ago, clearly they are putting some final details to the statement. let's stay on these images, bring vicki in once again, justa on these images, bring vicki in once again, just a thought on the last minute details here, because getting this message on all of those points is going to be absolutely crucial, lots of her mps, if not all of them, will be studying this in great detail. i think the interesting calculation they will be having to make inside downing street is whether she comes out and makes the case for her deal and go into the detail of that, as she did in the house of commons, or is she going to have to address the fact that she has lost two cabinet ministers today, and several other ministers. i think that is going to be the difficulty for them, and of course it isa difficulty for them, and of course it is a press conference, not like the statement we had last night, when she came out into the street, i can't believe that was only yesterday evening! she came out and made a statement, no questions. this

is different, this is a press conference where she will be quizzed by journalists who will conference where she will be quizzed byjournalists who will be asking how she can carry on if she has got all this anxiety in her own cabinet, and obviously the details coming out of what happened at that cabinet meeting with the unhappiness and doubt that people had about various different issues and various different issues and various different parts of it. is she going to tackle that head—on and explain how she thinks she can get this through the house of commons? that point was put to her by a tory backbenchers saying your deal is deadin backbenchers saying your deal is dead in the water, there is no way you can get this through, and she really didn't answer that apart from saying that she felt she could persuade people. we will have to see if she has other arguments to deploy, but i think she will come out and be determined about that, saying to mp5, you have to look beyond, you know, the small house of commons chamber, you have to look at your constituents, as businesses, explain that she has got this deal because she is trying to make sure

that there isn't a huge negative impact on the british economy, that the whole reason for the customs arrangements which some people do not like is because she wants to make trade carry on smoothly and businesses allowed to operate without a negative effect. now, i think the problem the brexiteers would say is that her approach all along has been about damage limitation, rather than some bold vision for the uk's future in a world outside the eu, and that is why some people wanted a brexiteer as prime minister the referendum, because they thought it needed somebody who had enthusiasm for the project, which they feel she has never had, despite constantly saying she felt the uk's best days were ahead of them. so we will have to see whether she comes out, if she comes out to say that she is carrying on regardless, or, crucially, whether she feels she has to change tack. 0ne former conservative minister said to me today, she will not change tack until she is defeated in the house

of commons. they feel that her determination can sometimes be seen as being too stubborn, and even when the writing is on the wall, she doesn't move, and so people have talked about pivoting to a different kind of arrangement, but as we have heard from damian in brussels, hard to see at this late stage how that could happen. and worth saying to you as well that there are others, conservatives and labour mps even talking about the possibility of some kind of unity government. this is not something that is in detailed or planned, but there are some talking about that, because they just can't see how they get out of this impasse, where the house of commons doesn't seem to have a majority for any approach, and so people speculating about that. as i say, it is an ill formed thought at this point, but people are struggling to see how politicians here, having got that result of the referendum, trying to deliver on what people wanted, they have seemingly not been able to do so, and they are trying to work out how

they can do it. we are told, vicki, that we are expecting the prime minister any moment. i know it has slipped a little, obviously, from the start of the other...” slipped a little, obviously, from the start of the other... i have heard that before, huw! 0f the start of the other... i have heard that before, huw! of ice i knew you were going to say that! yes, apparently, it is within seconds, or at least a few minutes, so we will stay on these images, if we may. it is probably the sensible thing to do. i will ask you one other thing about reaching out, you mentioned reaching out there, the prime minister clearly, looking at those figures in the commons, will have a task notjust to reach out to her own side, but as you alluded to earlier, to reach out to opposition mps, labourmps who earlier, to reach out to opposition mps, labour mps who might be tempted to support this deal under some circumstances. now, that in itself must be a pretty daunting thing for the prime minister to contemplate. yeah, and conservatives like jacob rees—mogg have warned her in the sta rkest

rees—mogg have warned her in the starkest terms that using labour and opposition votes to get something this important through the house of commons, well, they say it would be the end of her premiership. now, they haven't waited for that to happen to try and launch that attempt to depose her, but, yes, those conversations are happening. i saw one party leader heading towards whitehall a little bit earlier to speak to a cabinet member, so these talks are going on. but it is hard to see how she can change this deal that she has got in order to get them onside. now, ithink that she has got in order to get them onside. now, i think it is interesting, the labour point of view on all this, we have heard... the prime minister has arrived, vicki, thank you very much. let's listen to. serving in high office is an honour and privilege. it is also a heavy responsibility. that is true at any time, but especially when the stakes are so high. and negotiating the

uk's withdrawal from the eu after a0 yea rs, uk's withdrawal from the eu after a0 years, and building from the ground up years, and building from the ground upa new years, and building from the ground up a new and enduring relationship for the good of our children and grandchildren, is a matter of the highest consequence. it touches almost every area of our national life, a whole economy and virtually everyjob. the livelihoods of our fellow citizens, our integrity as a united kingdom four nations, our safety a nd united kingdom four nations, our safety and security, all of these are at stake. my approach throughout has been to put the national interest first. not a partisan interest, and certainly not my own political interest. i do notjudge harshly those of my colleagues who seek to do the same but to reach a different conclusion. they must do what they believe to be right, just asi what they believe to be right, just as i do. what they believe to be right, just asido. iam

what they believe to be right, just as i do. i am sorry that they have chosen to leave the government, and i thank them for their service. but i believe with every fibre of my being that because i have set out is the right one for our country and all our people. from the very beginning, i have known what i wa nted beginning, i have known what i wanted to deliver for the british people, to honour their vote in the referendum. full control of our borders by bringing an end to the free movement of people, once and for all. full control of our money, so we decide ourselves how to spend it on priorities like our nhs. full control of our laws, by ending the jurisdiction of the european court ofjustice in the united kingdom. getting us out of the common agricultural policy and common fisheries policy for good. that is exactly what this agreement will deliver — free movement ended, vast annual payments stopped, the jurisdiction of the ecj over, out of the chb, out of the cfp. this is a

brexit that delivers on the priorities of the british people. in achieving these objectives, i'm also determined to protect the things that are important to us, protect the hundreds of thousands of manufacturing jobs that put food on the tables of working families right across the uk. thosejobs rely on cross—border trade in goods, with parts flowing easily in and of the uk, allowing for integrated supply chains. this agreement protects that, protects the close security co—operation that keeps us safe, this agreement does that. protect the integrity of the united kingdom and the peace settlement in northern ireland by leaving the united kingdom and having no hard border. this agreement does that as well. yes, difficult and sometimes

uncomfortable decisions have had to be made, i understand fully that there are some who are unhappy with those compromises. but this deal delivers what people voted for and it is in the national interest, and we can only secure it if we unite behind the agreement reached in cabinet yesterday. if we do not move forward with that agreement, nobody can know for sure the consequences that will follow. it would be to ta ke that will follow. it would be to take a part of deep and grave uncertainty when the british people just won't us to get on with it. they are looking to the conservative party to deliver, to deliver a brexit that works for the whole uk, a strong economy that keeps jobs safe and wages rising, and first—class public services we can rely on, and nhs there for all of us, great schools for every child, and for homes that families need. that is what the people we serve expect, and that is what we owe it

to them to deliver. goodness me, you normally put your hands straight up after the... ! normally put your hands straight up after the...! laura? thank you very much, prime minister, laura kuenssberg, bbc news. it is very clear that you want to stick to your plan — isn't it the case, though, that others are seeking to ta ke though, that others are seeking to take that decision out of your hands? and is it not the case now that you are in office but not really in power? no, when we bring the deal back, what is can to happen now is that there will be negotiations particularly focusing on the future framework and filling the details of that out, and a eu council meeting, and that will be brought back to the house of commons and toa brought back to the house of commons and to a vote in the house of commons. i am going to do myjob of getting the best deal for britain, i am going to do myjob of getting a deal that is in the national interest. when he vote comes before the house of commons, mps will be

doing theirjob. they will need to look at that deal, they will need to consider the vote of the british people to leave the european union, and our duty to deliver on that vote, and of course they will be held to account by their constituents for the decisions that they take. thank you, prime minister. sun. if there is a confidence vote held in your leadership of the conservative party, do you think it's in the national interest for you to fight it? if you win by one vote, will you continue as prime minister? leadership is about taking the right decisions, not the easy ones. as prime minister myjob is to bring back a deal that delivers an the vote of the british people, ending free movement and everything in my statement. making sure we are not sending vast annual sums to the eu any longer, ending the jurisdiction

of the european court ofjustice but also protecting jobs and livelihoods, protecting our security, protecting the union of the united kingdom. i believe this isa the united kingdom. i believe this is a deal that does deliver that, which is in the national interest. ami which is in the national interest. am i going to see this through? yes. next question dropped?. —— next question. do you want a microphone? surely now even you have to admit this is not strong and stable. what i think people will see is that what i and the government have done has been sticking to the job of making sure we are delivering for the british people. we are delivering in the national interest. mps have been debating the best way to deliver brexit ever since the referendum in 2016. there has been much criticism of the government approach since then and people have been ready to point out what they

don't like, but one simple fact remains — nobody has produced any alternative proposal that both delivers on the referendum but also ensures there is no hard border between northern ireland and ireland. i understand some people feel uncomfortable about the details in the backstop, particularly, in the withdrawal agreement, and i share some of those concerns. but there is another inescapable fact— there is another inescapable fact— there is another inescapable fact— there is no deal that can be agreed with the european union that is not work without a backstop. all the other approaches, galway, canada plus, etc, they would all require a backstop. repudiating that backstop would not only mean reneging on a promise to the people of northern ireland but it would also collapse the negotiation and end hopes of getting a deal. the government has been absolutely clear on focusing on delivering what is in the interests of the british people.

sky news. prime minister, are you not in denial about the chances of getting this deal through parliament? and for the critics in your own party who have been sending in letters very publicly, is it time for them to put up or shut up? as you may have heard me say in the house of commons earlier today, i have just reiterated here, house of commons earlier today, i havejust reiterated here, i'm going to do myjob of bringing back the best dealfor to do myjob of bringing back the best deal for the united to do myjob of bringing back the best dealfor the united kingdom. that will then be put before the house of commons, it will be put before members of parliament in a meaningful vote. theirjob before members of parliament in a meaningful vote. their job is before members of parliament in a meaningful vote. theirjob is to look at the deal, consider the interests of their constituents and theirjob will be to consider how we can deliver on the vote of the british people to leave the european union. i think most people watching this or listening to this will recognise that this is not an easy thing to do. this is a complex

negotiation. but i think what most people want to know is what we will deliver will be in their interests. it will protect jobs, deliver will be in their interests. it will protectjobs, protect security, it will ensure a great future for this country. yes. rob hutton from bloomberg. isn't it time to say what you clearly think, which is that the brexit campaign for something that was not on the menu? it offered very easy trade negotiations, and offered... there would be no problem at all with the irish border. it was all going to be fa nta stically straightforward irish border. it was all going to be fantastically straightforward and the european union would give us everything we wanted because of bmw and protect her and everything like that. isn't it time to say that some of the things that were promised we re never of the things that were promised were never there? i think most people in this country recognise that after a0 years of membership of the european union, delivering brexit, dealing with how

we are going to withdraw from the eu and our future relationship we are going to withdraw from the eu and ourfuture relationship is not and ourfuture relationship is not an easy negotiation. these are convex issues. i think what most members of the public want, those actually voted leave and many of those who voted remains is for the government to get on with it. that is what we are doing. and for the government to deliver a deal that is in the national interest that will protect their jobs and in the national interest that will protect theirjobs and make sure we have a great future in this country, and that is what you're doing. yes. abc news. prime minister, what would you say to britain's friends and allies abroad watching this and seeing what is increasingly looking like a government in chaos? i think what people in brussels will be seeing is the government has agreed the withdrawal and draft political outline, political declaration. john cole junker has

political outline, political declaration. john colejunker has —— jean claude junker has written to donald tusk. we are committed to delivering a good dealfor the british people. a good dealfor the uk is british people. a good dealfor the ukisa british people. a good dealfor the uk is a good dealfor the eu as well. robert. prime minister, you have said that your deal is in the national interest but your party is deeply divided on it. perhaps more divided than any of us have ever seen. are you prepared to risk the break—up of your party to deliver the deal you believe in? as i've just believe in? as i'vejust said in believe in? as i've just said in answer to an earlier question, mps have been debating how best to deliver on the results of the referendum ever since the result took place. i think what the result took place. i think what the british people want us to do and what mps will do when it comes to

the vote in the house of commons is focused on the fact that people have voted to leave and focus on how we do that in a way that is good for the united kingdom. i am committed as prime minister to bringing the best deal that for the united kingdom. that is what i'm going to be doing, and i expect members of parliament across my party will look at that deal, will recognise the importance of delivering on the vote of the british people and recognise the importance of doing that in a way that does protectjobs, our security and our united kingdom. george dockrell gordon rideout from the telegraph. sorry. it's all right. there are reports tonight that michael gove has been asked to become the new brexit secretary but that he will only take thatjob on the

secretary but that he will only take that job on the condition that he can try for more concessions. will you allow whoever becomes the new brexit secretary to do that, to try and get more concessions? there have been no announcements yet on any replacements for the people who have resigned. are you struggling to fill those rules ? are you struggling to fill those rules? i have had rather a busy day, as you might have seen. three hours in the house of commons. seriously, michael has been doing an excellent job at defra and particularly in his defence of the fishing industry. as you will see, there are some important elements of the outlying declaration that recognise the united kingdom will be an independent coastal state in the future. fishing is a matter that matters to people and michael has been doing an excellentjob in terms of ensuring that we are delivering on that commitment to come out of the common fisheries policy. i haven't appointed a new secretary yet and i will be making appointments in due course. jason. jason from the daily mail. to follow

up jason from the daily mail. to follow up the question, we've seen several colleagues today declare that they no longer have confidence in your leadership. what will you do if there is a vote of no—confidence? asi there is a vote of no—confidence? as i said earlier, leadership is about making the right decisions, not taking the easy decisions. as prime minister myjob is to get the best dealfor britain prime minister myjob is to get the best deal for britain and bring that to steal back to the house of commons, and that is exactly what i am focused on doing. i think members of the public want the government to get on with delivering an brexit for them and as i said earlier, and i going to see this through? yes. who shall we have? in front. prime minister, thank you very much. nick robinson from cnn. you've talked about leadership as being the position of taking hard decisions, the right decisions. some of the choices have not been easy. would

you share with the country now some of those decisions that you personally have found have been the hard, tough, not easy decisions to take? well, in relation to the deal that we are looking at, as i've said before i recognise there are concerns about the backstop. that is an issue, and i share many of those concerns. and the decision to go forward on the basis that we have was not overall an easy one. there was not overall an easy one. there was a good and impassioned debate that took place in the cabinet yesterday over these issues. 0verall, looking at the national interest, we agreed as a cabinet and a government that the deal that we haveis a government that the deal that we have is the right one to proceed with to go to the next stage of negotiations and they will need to the eu council on the 25th of november. thank you, prime minister. the daily

express. ever since you've been in thisjob you've express. ever since you've been in this job you've been adamant that the country will leave the eu in march next year. over the last couple of days you talked about the risk of new brexit. do you think given the forces that have lined up in opposition to your deal, that is now becoming a definite threat? there were a number of members of parliament who stood up in the houses of parliament today who said in their view staying within the european union was the right thing to do. i disagree. we gave the vote to do. i disagree. we gave the vote to the british people. parliament overwhelmingly gave that vote to the british people to decide whether or not to stay within the european union. people voted to leave and i believe it is our duty as government and members of parliament to deliver on that vote of the british people and we will be leaving on the 29th of march, 2019. 0n the edge there. sorry. by the johnson from lbc. i'm wondering to

what extent this crisis is to some extent of your own making, in the sense that it is a failure of expectation management and not bringing people like the dup and ha rdliners bringing people like the dup and hardliners within your party along with you? we have been working on this deal and negotiating on this deal. there have been staging posts where we have been staging posts where we have made clear to people the approach we are taking in relation to these issues. it happened in december. then there was further information that we put forward in the spring and then injuly our approach was clearly set out for people. we have of course been discussing with colleagues and with people in the house of commons, as we have been discussing with business and others as we progress through in putting this deal together. what has been the focus, asi together. what has been the focus, as i said earlier, is making sure that the deal we deliver is a deal that the deal we deliver is a deal that delivers on the vote of the

british people, and does so in a way thatis british people, and does so in a way that is in the best national interest, that protects jobs and livelihood and security but also ensures that we are able to move forward outside the european union, asa forward outside the european union, as a global britain and negotiate trade deals? i will take a couple more questions. george. paul. i've done it again! anybody who thinks i've got george parker on my mind is... you know! lots of reporters with no hair, prime minister. reminisce, if the house of commons voted for by a majority for another referendum, for a people's vote, would you see that asa a people's vote, would you see that as a resignation matter or would you see that as you having to implement the will of parliament as prime minister? i have taken a clear view on the question of a second referendum,

making that clear to members of parliament. across the house of commons, most members of parliament recognised that they gave a vote to the british people and the british people voted, so it is up to us to deliver on that vote and not have a second referendum. as far as i'm concerned there will not be a second referendum. we asked people their view, they said we should leave the european union and we will leave on the 29th of march, 2019. look, if you look across the house of commons, yes, there have been some voices for a second referendum but i believe that actually when people come to look at the deal that we bring back from the european council, they will look at delivering the vote of the british people and doing so in a way that protects the interests of their constituents, and i believe that is the question members of parliament will be asking themselves at that point, not about a second referendum. i will take a couple.

hannah from birds feed —— online news. do you regret calling a general election last year? no, i don't. there will be a decision for mps to take a. i'm going to do myjob, bringing back the best deal for the going to do myjob, bringing back the best dealfor the british people and mps will then do theirjob and be held to account for it. so the last question. thank you. the independent. prime minister, you are a cricket fan. from the outside it looks like at the moment you are a long way off from getting the number of runs that you need that your batsmen are dropping like flies. is there is a numberof dropping like flies. is there is a number of wickets that can fall before you resign as captain?

you might recall from previous comments i have made about cricket that one of my cricket heroes was a lwa ys that one of my cricket heroes was always geoffrey boycott and what do you know about him? he stuck to it and he got the runs in the end. thank you. prime minister theresa may facing questions from the audience. she believes, she says, with every fibre of her being that the deal that she is currently constructing is the right one in the national interest. she repeated that phrase several times, that this is something that she has decided to pursue in the national interest, not in terms of partisan interests. she rejected the lot of the criticisms that were relayed in terms of her own mps in terms of leadership and the shape of the deal and she gave a very clear message that she was going to see it through, so anyone expecting the prime minister to sound in the least bit deflated in that news conference

will come away thinking, well, she sounded very determined. she looked tired but then she has had a very exhausting day. she took three hours questions in the commons earlier today and the news conference as well. the message was clear, let's pick up the game with vicky young in downing street. for anyone who doubted whether she would carry on, that was the answer. if you are wondering why she should do this press conference on today of all days, you can see why. this turmoil around her with people resigning, people checking their phones every two minutes to see whether the next one has gone or not has been going on all day. people have said all day they will challenge for the leadership, they've lost confidence in her leadership and what she has done is to try to go there in that calming, stately room, to go there and say she is effectively getting on with thejob. i think she is effectively getting on with the job. i think there will be split opinion on what she has done. some

will say she sounds deluded, she has her head in the sand. she can't possibly get through this. there will be others who will say she is taking a responsible, mature attitude. she is doing this in the national interest. that was her argument. i thought a pretty strong swipe their at her critics who she said people were very ready to point out what they don't like in this agreement and not quite as quick to say what they would like to happen. she is saying she has the best deal that she can. she is trying to say to mps who are going to be faced with a vote in a couple of weeks if she has her way to think about their constituents, the people and businesses who rely on a smooth trading relationship with the european union and saying we won't be sending to the eu anymore, ending freedom of movement. that is what the british people wanted. whether her party will allow her to get to the position where she puts that vote to the house of commons is another matter. whether she has the

numbers to get it through the house of commons, many will raise eyebrows. i want to go to one of our other westminster studios because former home secretary kenneth clarke is joining us. what did you make of the prime minister's message? it is very resilient and determined. she is driven by a great sense of duty and i think everybody admires the way she is sticking to it. today is actually quite a deadlock. i very much doubt whether she's got a majority in the parliament that she could carry to approve this deal. i think she's got to try to put a majority together. i think it majority together. i think it majority could be put together for a softer brexit because this smoothness for our trade, investment, lack of barriers at the borders is key to our economy,

particularly manufacturers. if you stopped making concessions to the brexiteers, that hasn't worked, and actually decided that we stay in the single market, customs union, until and unless we negotiated some satisfactory alternative, i think she could appeal to pro—european labour backbenchers, which is the majority of labour backbenchers, and get a cross—party majority going on. she is working in the national interest but it might be agreed upon if shejust interest but it might be agreed upon if she just makes it a little less convoluted and stops trying to make concessions that were tracked to reconcile extreme cities. what —— extreme brexiteers. reconcile extreme cities. what —— extreme brexiteerslj reconcile extreme cities. what -- extreme brexiteers. i think it could be done. nobody knows what is going to happen next. anybody who

tells you they know what is going to happen is deceiving themselves. if she does show her commendable stubbornness and resilience and goes on with what she said today, she will then some people back. the exchange has shown she is not going to have a parliamentary majority. parliament is going to have the right to amend it anyway. the amendments might have some chance of getting through and they would be to say let's cut out the convocations, let's leave the new politically. —— the eu politically. as far as trade and investment are concerned, let's stay with the status quo until we know what we are changing to. let's stay in the supermarket or the customs union. several labour mps today who might followjeremy corbyn got up and said they would be attracted by the single market and customs union, so would the scottish nationalists. ken clarke, on party politics, what

would be the impact of a no—confidence motion in the prime minister right now? it would probably help her. the brexiteers don't know what to do because they area don't know what to do because they are a small minority at the moment. if they do defeat the government proposal and they rely on the vote of confidence, she will win it. it would be disastrous if she didn't. of all the stupid things to introduce in the present crisis, to have a conservative leadership election going on for six weeks to have a whole load of silly arguments about europe between the various contenders, i can't think of anything more useless. i think they would get in the necessary number of letters, would they keep threatening her with, if they put the letters m, her with, if they put the letters in, ithink her with, if they put the letters in, i think she will win the vote of confidence. i think with any luck they will save us from that rather

embarrassing few days before she wins the confidence vote. the vast majority of the parliamentary party would vote for her. i think they would vote for her. i think they would because i don't see any alternative to make a job of it at all. extreme brexiteers would lose most of the party. here on the green i have hilary benn, chair of exiting the eu committee. thanks for joining benn, chair of exiting the eu committee. thanks forjoining us. your reading of things this evening now that we have heard from the prime minister who gave a forthright message about her determination to carry on? anyone was in the house of commons earlier today felt the mood moving away from the deal that she was trying to persuade the commons to support, and she has used this evening to say she will carry on but in the end it will be parliament who decides whether or not it is acceptable. judging by what we saw earlier, i don't think they notes will get it through. which would lead to what? we need a change of approach. the

whole problem of two and a half yea rs whole problem of two and a half years is the impression has been given we have all the things we want and that was never on offer. it was never possible. that truth has finally hit home of the deal has returned and it is time for some really honest plain speaking to each other, to the british people to say, there are choices. and if we want to ensure that we have the kind of trading relationship in future that are going to protectjobs and the border open in northern ireland, there is no good saying we are leaving the customs union and the single market, because that is what created the problem in northern ireland in the first place. the predator has spent all this time trying to solve it through the backstop. the first stage is parliament saying to the prime minister, i'm sorry, this isn't going to work. is labour's message clear enough? you have said what is your opinion. do you think that clarity is there from the leadership? i think so because we are in favour

of staying in a customs union, full access to the single market. i objection to this agreement is not actually the withdrawal agreement that got everyone agrees we have to protect citizens‘ rights, pay the money we owe, have a transition period and a backstop in the case. it is the lack of clarity over where we will go in the future. if you read the declaration, which i did last night and this morning, it is basically full of aspiration and if you are a business, someone who works in business, yourjob depends on it. someone ask me, what is our trading relationship going to be when we get beyond the transition period? the when we get beyond the transition period ? the honest when we get beyond the transition period? the honest answer is we have absolutely no idea and parliament cannot take a decision to launch us off in the dark. thank you. hilary benn, for labour. you have been watching a bbc news special from westminster. here we are at the end of another

turbulent day and it has to be said that the prime minister has put in quite a few hours today and gave a forthright message but the response from ken clarke and hilary benn suggest the questions around the deal are pretty serious and nobody seems to be convinced that if this plan is put to the house of commons that the fruits of their right now to carry it through. the questions there are profound and compelling. christopher with the weather. it has been a mild day across the board today. we have seen variable amounts of cloud. cloud in the south—west of england with the best of the syndrome across northern england. this was the sunset and hour or so ago england. this was the sunset and hourorso ago in england. this was the sunset and hour or so ago in the wakefield area. we will see some big changes over the next few days with southerly winds, meaning the temperatures reach 17 celsius. warm for this time of year. it will be

moving up to the heart of the arctic over the next few days. the arctic response by emptying cold air into northern europe and ultimately towards the middle part of next week, that arrives across our shores. temperatures around six or seven celsius. a real change to colder weather around the corner. this evening and overnight we have the rain working in, getting lighter and beginning to fade in northern ireland. it will ultimately ease off. this lump of cloud you can see now across the south of scotland and the far north of england could be big enough for some drizzle. a few for patches further down through the thames is to be. kate murphy start to the day on friday across england and wales with a combination of mist and wales with a combination of mist and cloud. —— a foggy start. a chilly start to the day in scotland.

the coldest areas probably starting off with a touch of frost. it is across the north of scotland we have the best of the day‘s sunshine but there was extensive cloud that will be reluctant to break up. brighter spells coming and going across western areas. still on the mild side with 12—50dc but perhaps those temperatures not quite as high as they have been today. into the weekend, high pressure begins to shift and moving into scandinavia. fracking in easterly winds across the weekend. saturday, a lot of grey weather around but those temperatures will be coming down close to normal for this time of year, between ten and 12 celsius. a similar weather forecast for sunday. dry weather. it is into next week when that cold weather begins to arrive and as we look at the forecast for cardiff and london, those temperatures struggling around 6 degrees, so it will get it will get it. colder next week. tonight at six,

in the past half—hour, theresa may has stressed her belief in the brexit agreement. i believe that this is a deal which does deliver that, which is in the national interest, and am i going to see this through? yes. it comes after a morning of ministerial resignations, the brexit secretary, dominic raab, who negotiated the deal with brussels, quit the cabinet. her own leadership position is also under threat, leading brexiteerjacob rees—mogg submits a letter of no confidence in the prime minister and says he expects there will be a vote on herfuture by her own mps.