this is bbc world news — i'm christian fraser. our top story comes from here in westminster. where theresa may has cancelled tomorrow's crucial vote on her brexit deal. this is why. a little redhead and held video tomorrow, the deal would be rejected bya tomorrow, the deal would be rejected by a significant margin. the uk opposition is not significant margin. impressed. we re were end in an extremely serious and unprecedented situation. the government has lost control as it is and is in complete disarray. the prime minister says she'll now take politicians‘ concerns to eu leaders ahead of a summit later this week. but this is the message from brussels. this deal is the best and only deal possible. we will not renegotiate. the debate is still going in the house of commons — welcome to westminster

and this bbc news special on a dramatic day for brexit. at the 11th hour, the premise that has pulled it. perhaps inevitable. 106 before mps have risen over the past week to give their thoughts on it. today, the plan is to set up how top cabinet colleagues to defend the deal. this morning, it became clear that the chief whip from the house of commons telling her that this note was unwinnable. it has been postponed and the prime minister has built into the house saying that you will go back to brussels. to try and find reassurance on the backstop that would satisfy some of her

critics. this is what she had to say. we've not had three days of debate on the withdrawal agreement —— we've 110w on the withdrawal agreement —— we've now had. i've listened very carefully to what has been set in and out of this chamber. by members of all sides. while there is broad support for many of the key aspects of this deal. on one issue, the northern ireland backstop, the remains widespread and deep concern. asa remains widespread and deep concern. as a result, if we went ahead and held developed tomorrow, the deal would be rejected by a significant margin. we will, therefore, deserve the vote scheduled for tomorrow and not proceed to divide the house at

this time. later in her speech the prime minister called on mps to be honest about their motivations. it is clear that this house faces a much more fundamental question. does this house want to deliver brexit? a clear message from the snp, but if the house does, was it what to sue the house does, was it what to sue the reaching an agreement with the eu? if the answer is yes, i believe thatis eu? if the answer is yes, i believe that is the answer of the majority of this house, then we all have to ask ourselves whether we're prepared to make a compromise because there will be no enduring and successful exit without some compromise on the size of the debate. many of them is

controversial aspects of this deal, including the backstop, i simply inescapable fact of having i negotiated brexit. those who continue to disagree and it showed the responsibility of advocating an alternative solution that can be delivered. and do sue without ducking its implications. if you wa nt ducking its implications. if you want a second referendum to overturn the result of the first, be honest. but this risks dividing the country again. be honest about this is risks dividing the country again, when i was a house, we should be striving to bring it back together. if you wa nt to to bring it back together. if you want to remain part of the singles market and the customs union, the open that this would require the movement. and ongoing financial

contributions, none of which, in my view, arctic compatible with the result of the referendum. if you wa nt to result of the referendum. if you want to leave the party deal, the upfront that in the short—term this would cause economic damage to parts of our country who can this afford to build a burden. i do not believe that any of those courses of action, and a majority in this house. notwithstanding that fact, for as long as we failed to agree a deal, the risk of accidental no deal increases. so, the government will step up its work in preparation for that potential outcome. and the cabinet will hold further discussions on it this week. mrs may of course faces opposition from mps who want the uk to remain in the eu — and from many, in her own party, as for the official opposition — the labour leader, jeremy corbyn, says it's time for a change at the top. people are in despair about these

failed negotiations. the fault for that lies solely at the door of this shambolic government. the prime minister is trying to buy herself one last chance to save this deal. if she doesn't take on board the fundamental changes required, then she must make way for those who can. our political correspondent rob watson is here with me. there is one word that best describes of this, that is — gridlock. the other one that comes to mind is still made. before we get into the drum of the day and the terrible position that theresa may

feigns herself in. as a major used to say, go back to basics. the majority of politicians didn't believe it in 2016. june a half yea rs believe it in 2016. june a half years on, there are still no consensus among britain's politicians about what to do about the result of the 2016 referendum. in many ways, it's as simple as that. but also, as seismic as that. that is what we saw play out in parliament, a stalemate. we saw a treat from the parliament negotiator in europe who said, i'm lost now, i really don't know what the conservatives want. i've been negotiating with them for two years and it's time for them to make some decisions. the question is, is the eu going to give any ground on brexit when it knows that she can't commend any majority in the house of commons? i think they won't and can't. if you're a unique or

official, you're looking at britain and saying, why should we make concessions to what looks like it if you weak leader of a potential and sta ble you weak leader of a potential and stable government. even if we did that, if anybody was through, i go back to their original point, the reason we're where we're the country in the mood is profound political prices is that there is no consensus this point. on much ado about the referendum and how to crowd out brexit, if at all. we also heard from the irish government —— the taoiseach, leo varadkar, saying we can't reopen this because we were every two years and if we do bjorkman, we've to be put everything. is it possible that she can get some legal text added to that that may satisfy some of her

opponents? to see what the prime minister ‘s strategy is, whether it works is another matter. i think it goes something like this. get something from europe, maybe not much, but at least something. that might satisfy some of the people and her government and conservative party. you have all sorts of people on the remain side thinking, there isa on the remain side thinking, there is a chance of is leaving for any sort of a deal at all. how terrifying. she also hope that there will be brexiteers thinking, maybe the premise that will cancel brexit and hold another referendum? on the timing issues, the vice president of the upper now, the prince are

missing the mother get anything out of the third week of january, where does that leave the ratification process that must happen? in this country, it would be on an immensely tighter timetable. it's not just country, it would be on an immensely tighter timetable. it's notjust the question of one vote. britain is to pass legislation on all sorts of incredibly complex issues. it would be immensely tight. even though two isa be immensely tight. even though two is a has ruled it out, she's ruled out what things and changed her mind. you can't absolutely rule of the hearts and extension to the article 50 process which means that britain leaves on the march 29. you wouldn't think it is utterly impossible that it would be extended. it's possible. we will see. the eu has said that this is the deal this is what mps have to

leave it on. the are some ports, somewhere, that maybe the eu always shifts at the last minute. we'll be trying help theresa may? there is a feeling that they would rather have her than one of the brexit alternatives that might replace her as the leader of the conservative party. the decision to postpone the brexit it got eu tongues wagging. they feel that they're everywhere in the brexit deal is done. as president new crusade, this deal is the best and the only deal possible. we will not renegotiate. our work position has not changed. the eu is the main sticking point the uk remains the guarantee over the irish border. it's called a backstop, agreed by

theresa may and you will is judged until heart border between northern ireland and republic of ireland if new eu uk trade deal is in place. critics like that stop because it keeps the uk tied to you customs relations, prevents the uk from making its own trade deals. the uk and the eu's go—ahead to get out of the backstop once it is triggered. ata the backstop once it is triggered. at a meeting in brussels today, ireland's deputy prime minister was keen to point out that neither the uk or eu was keen to trigger the backstop. it is a last resort in if we're unable to resolve the border issues. despite pressure from uk mps and today's barty cancels out in house of commons, there is the evidence that the eu is weaving in its support for eu member, ireland

and the border issue. take a look at this slightly exasperated twigged today. the decision to delay the vote, the dramatic in the uk, actually changes that are little in the a year. readers want to avoid a no—deal brexit, they are now open to hear from the premise that what she needs from the premise that what she needs from them, powerpoint. we're sure backstop shouldn't a problem. irina leashes ——. eighth minute renegotiation? absolutely not. let's get more reaction from brussels. corresponded as they are. what has

been his approach? none of the main leaders of the eu want you to respond until theresa may had finished speaking. that includes taking questions of what we call a halt debate. in the last ten minutes, we've had is from donald bhaskar who has treated, i've decided to call a european console on thursday on brexit. before then, brexit was one of the many issues to be discussed. now it formally will be. he said, we will not renegotiate the deal, including the backstop. but we're ready to discuss how to facilitate uk ratification. as time is running out, which is prepared for even two scenario. theresa may talks about how she was to seek

reassu ra nces talks about how she was to seek reassurances from the european council and your readers on how to make sure britain doesn't end up getting into the so—called backstop situation. what is the difference now between a reassuring and a renegotiation? donald tusk has it that we want renegotiate but we can discuss how to facilitate. —— we would renegotiate. —— we won't renegotiate. i can imagine myjoints on the land and say yes to that. i've spoken to some eu diplomats watching is talking right now, waiting for latest details on the bbc, to work—out when theresa may is coming to brussels. they didn't know

yet, we don't do it. so far, we know it will be before the state is beauty eu leaders. it has been clear from mps that they would be happy with some fine which put into the political protocol. it will not be legally binding, it would have to be legally binding, it would have to be legal text added to the little agreement. it seems there i know from talking to diplomats that some were hoping for a calmer end to the year. we know there might be another vote up untiljanuary 21, thatis be another vote up untiljanuary 21, that is the vague terms we will have in the uk but this side of the water, emmanuel macron, the french president has recently described you as extremely fragile and wanting to deal with brexit with brevity,

quickly, to move on, we have the french protests, the money that is costing, the difficulty for emmanuel macron, his first public statement, sweden have no government, hungary and poland are considered the bad boys of europe, accused of breaching human rights on migration, spain, the concern of the populace, all of these things mean they cannot concentrate on domestic issues with brexit so it is an age they cannot scratch properly when it comes to brexit but it looks like they will just have to deal with it somehow and maybe they will have to deal with that face on. if we get more detail on the prime minister's plans this evening, i will bring them to you. what do you make of what you have

seen today? i think it is a tragedy. right now we have a parliament, the government is already in contempt of parliament for denying them access to the brexit withdrawal treaty and now they have shown even more co nte m pt now they have shown even more contempt for parliament by saying, we know you are going to reject this brexit deal, so that is why we will delay the vote until it is too late to do anything about it. that is co nte m pt to do anything about it. that is contempt for parliament, it is supposed to be sovereign. would you accept the prime minister's promised that the house has to respect the vote and there has to become from eyes on all sides? at the moment, it seems neither is prepared to give away —— there has to be compromise. you lack any brexit deal be brought back would mean —— you lack any brexit deal be brought back would mean -- any brexit deal brought back would mean we have less control over our country, that is why people are rejecting it. it ta kes why people are rejecting it. it takes us out of the european union

but that is why people voted for brexit and the mps who promoted at adenoids. it is no compromise. she would say you can't equally remove yourself from the democratic process and over 70 million people voted for brexit and tasked her with delivering it. if you have those 70 million people, they would reject it thoroughly, so those 70 million people who voted for brexit do not like the brexit deal. there has to bea like the brexit deal. there has to be a way out of it and for me, the only way out of our brexit deal that most people on both sides of the debates do not like is a vote on that deal —— 17 debates do not like is a vote on that deal -- 17 if she found a mechanism where the uk could take a decision on the backstop, with that satisfy people who support eurogroup — your satisfy people who support eurogroup —— yourgroup? satisfy people who support eurogroup -- your group? brexit deal means we

can unilaterally get out of the backstop and trash the good friday agreement but the reason that is in there is to make sure there is never a need for a hard border in northern ireland. at the implementation stage, the deal is most likely going to mean we have less control of the country which will and i brexit voters. you talk about a people's vote, it could be another referendum 01’ vote, it could be another referendum ora vote, it could be another referendum or a general election. the whole spectrum of choices on the table with 109 days to go. if it came to a second referendum, are you confident this time it would go the remain way and with that solve the debate? the process has been thoroughly wrong, we could have had a vote to leave and then a vote to approve or reject the deal because what happened with this was we signed a contract and then they brought the thames two yea rs later then they brought the thames two years later so it is not surprising that people aren't happy with the

deal they've got and so it makes sense we should have a chance to look at the deal because nobody is happy with it. the question would be, me personally, i believe it should be the deal that we have negotiated versus the european union. you havejust negotiated versus the european union. you have just said negotiated versus the european union. you havejust said brexiteers would not vote for that. we do not put no deal on the ballot? —— would you not put no deal on the ballot?|j think you not put no deal on the ballot?” think we've failed as a country if we put no deal on the ballot, that means that 1.4 million british people lose their right to live in their own homes. what is the option for the 70 million people who don't like the deal she has come back with? what is the democratic choice? we cannot treat a democratic brexit out of thin air, the eu has to agree. there are three options, we leave with no deal, we accept the deal nobody likes we stay in the eu.

those are the three available options. personally i don't believe... this is the problem with the people's vote, it is very difficult to pin down the question, not to mention the amount of time you ready for another referendum. they're saying probably it would be by september, in what case, what does britain do through that process ? does britain do through that process? i don't think it would take until september, i think it would be until september, i think it would be until may because of the damage because. we don't have a choice at this point, we leave by operation of law at the end of march we have to look at the situation we're in right now whereas there is no time and the eu is unwilling to negotiate a different deal so we either accepted government accept the deal we have or remain in the european union. young people voted heavily against

brexit. it is our future that are being trashed by it. we are the generation were connected to the outside world than any generation before us and this deal takes away our right to live and work in 31 countries, it is fundamentally against our interests. three movement is by definition three anti—immigration policy would mean that... my firstjob after university was working in a hotel in france. i was not making £30,000. we have removed the ability to export our continent into an elitist system —— explore our continent. our continent into an elitist system -- explore our continent. the uk is subject to a deal, a treaty on the good friday agreement and the father of the house ken clarke was making the point that if you withdraw from

the point that if you withdraw from the backstop, you are withdrawing from the treaty of which the uk is already subject and he has made that point once or twice in the house of commons over the last few weeks. so what other uk's options now? oh deputy political editor has been taking a look. theresa may has been suggested to delay the brexit plan. many suggest and she still is facing a delay in commons, brexiteers who say a deal could leave the eu locked into eu rules along with the dup who also hate the idea of northern ireland being tied closer with mainland britain for avoiding a hard border. remainers do not see a point leaving the eu. theresa may is off back to brussels. so what is next? the

political perils facing theresa may is still there. the cabinet is split. some ministers want and managed no deal. leave the eu but with time to prepare and avoid disruption. critics insist leaving with no deal would carry a heavy economic price. others in the cabinet privately want a softer brexit, the norway solution with shared customs rules thrown in and with free movement of people —— and with free movement of people —— and with free movement of people —— and with free movement of people. there is also the idea of consulting parliament on what deal it would be prepared to support. most mps are pro—europeans prepared to support. most mps are pro—europea ns would make prepared to support. most mps are pro—europeans would make leads to a softer brexit and thanks to the european court, britain could stop the clock on brexit if it decides. the hard brexiteers would absolutely hate that. it would that the tories, maybe labour, two, and there is no guarantee theresa may would survive as prime minister. the controversial

notion of using another referendum to break the deadlock has made both parties think they might get their way in the end. some mps want a soft brexit but the labour party once a general election. could the winner port of no confidence against the government? —— could they win a vote ? government? —— could they win a vote? could there be a vote of no—confidence in theresa may as conservative leader? if she did win that she would be safe in the job for a year that she would be safe in the job fora yearand that she would be safe in the job for a year and some mps would consider that is too long on number ten and some would say it is time for someone else to take on the mission impossible that brexit seems to have become. all those options are still very much alive options. we just heard from a remain supporting group, what

is the views of those supporting brexit? danny savage has been to the north east with a brexit vote was rather large. as westminster tinkered with brexit, engineering stu d e nts tinkered with brexit, engineering students in sunderland felt the newest developments at it —— are creating too much uncertainty. as someone who voted remain, it needs to be resolved, it cannot be put off forever. it has dragged on for too long and i think they're just dragging it out because they don't wa nt dragging it out because they don't want to leave. i'm worried about getting a job so brexit might make it harder for me because i would have to apply for a visa and my employer would have to sponsor that. the cad industry employs thousands around here and some future workers say the current eu trading rules are ideal. frictionless trade purports for components from europe —— at the

ports is crucial to get into the production line on time. a few miles away, this wine bottling plant is running flat out in the run—up to christmas. what is the pro—brexit boss here make of the delayed vote? i think she's going to lose it a nyway i think she's going to lose it anyway but i think they've got to renegotiate the deal back in brussels. they need to take people with them who have some idea how to negotiate. in washington, this woman asa negotiate. in washington, this woman as a decorator frustrated by today. why does it mean to you if brexit is not delivered? that democracy is dead and we have been lied to because if you have a vote and one—way wins, it should go ahead. i don't believe in a second referendum. for now, we all had to watch and wait again. some strong views in the north east. let's go to

the house of commons because andrea leadsom is on herfeet the house of commons because andrea leadsom is on her feet talking about the vote and what will happen next in the parliamentary process. the house has agreed that the recess for christmas is accepted and it is a matter for the house, so christmas is accepted and it is a matterfor the house, so the house will rise for christmas as planned. she asks whether there will be time for debate. i can say to the honourable lady... let's hear what the leader is saying. if the leader wants to repeat the last sentence because it wasn't remotely audible to me. that's not her fault and it is important what is said in this chamber is heard. thank you, mr speaker. i will be dependent on you

to keep order in the chamber so that ican be to keep order in the chamber so that i can be heard. i have no difficulty whatsoever doing that and i will continue to do that. what i am asking the leader of the house to do is to furnish the house with the information that was requested. thank you, mr speaker. the honourable lady asked whether the house will rise from christmas recess as planned and what i said is that the house has already decided that the house has already decided that the house will rise for the christmas recess on the 20th of december and return on the 7th of january. the honourable lady asks about time to