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 debate brexit. i can

assure her, as she will know, that the government has a very good record in making sure the house has plenty of time to debate brexit during passage of the withdrawal act both houses played a central role in improving the legislation with 37 days of debate spanning 11 months with over moo amendments debated and almost 280 hours given for time to debate. we have ensured regular debate on government time including the two—day debate on european affairs in march and the debate on legislating for the withdrawal agreement in september sol legislating for the withdrawal agreement in september so i can assure all honourable and right honourable members that the government will make sure there is plenty of time for further debate on brexit, including on a meaningful vote. the government is under a statutory obligation to have the

little agreement approved by a motion in this house. in such circumstances, the business agreed on the 4th of december only to be greeted the youth that. half an should any plans me make it be for the first week in january? is as i listed to the honourable lady officer, the house has a review decided that it will return on the 7th of january next year. its absolutely no wonder that this statement was given the streets of laughter by those in these benches. this is the ultimate humiliation for the leader of the house and the prime minister. harvey, this house

in the eye and how to suggest that this is business as usual is insured americans i worked as a choose are watching this with gordon brown were i'io watching this with gordon brown were no idea how this country is run. this is the most extraordinary women in our political life. a moment that people will ask, why would you on brexit crisis day? we've now reached the single biggest political crisis since suez, the biggest capitulation says the polling's retreat from moscow. i asked the leader of the house last week if this vote would go ahead regardless of what emerged and how might they feared defeat. she says, it most definitely would. even one word for this huge u—turn, the government was still beating that there would still be a bit. there is no, of course no undermine not be warm until the 21st of january. a monumental act of

political cultures. we want to hear from the leader of the house tonight that it will be this house and this house loans to determine whether we've that vote tomorrow. it must be numberone of we've that vote tomorrow. it must be number one of what the speaker setup and how we address this. there must be immense that vote tomorrow. it must be number one of what the speaker setup and how we address this. there must be immensely coming about this matchbox and asking for this mission to be adjourned. it is up this mission to be adjourned. it is up to this house that it decides if it goes ahead or not. 167 people have spoken to far. i have as many we re have spoken to far. i have as many were due to speak tonight or tomorrow. it is a huge this respect tomorrow. it is a huge this respect to all tolerable colleagues in this place. and to be one other thing we need to see on a business mission is an opportunity to assess the confidence of his house in this government. they must not be a motion put forward, after all the humiliation, after saying been left on, that is what this country now expect us to do. a vote of confidence in this government that

was certainly should be defeated. the honourable gentleman suggest that this is alike of respect. what this demonstrates is that the prime minister has carefully listened to the many hundreds of colleagues who have already expressed their grave concerns. myself included. the prime minister has taken these views on board and has ensured that she will now go away and seek further reassu ra nces now go away and seek further reassurances from the eu before coming back to this place so that she can seek an agreement that this house can accept. i believe that that shows absolute respect for this parliament. when the come to resume this debate, whenever that will be? ... apologies. this debate, whenever that will be?

apologies. we seem to have what the live feed of the continued debate after theresa may made it clear that she was going to delay but meaningful vote on her brexit do. you're watching bbc news. that is our top story. the chaos and confusion seems to be a pardon for theresa may's, and plans from the eu. the prime minister has announced that the deal due tomorrow has now been debate. mrs may said that she would not consult with fellow eu leaders of the next few days to seek further assurances on this could backstop. but on the insurance policy that guarantees that there would be no checks on the border between northern ireland and the republic of thatis northern ireland and the republic of that is no trade agreement between

the uk and the eu. the news comes as the uk and the eu. the news comes as the european court ofjustice ruled that the uk could unilaterally revoked article 50 of the permission of the other 27 eu members. the uk could effect cancel brexit if it chose to do so. in the last few minutes the european council to do so. president donald tusk has tweeted to say. i have decided to call a european council meeting on brexit on thursday. we will not renegotiate the deal, including the backstop, but we are ready to discuss how to facilitate uk ratification. as time is running out, we will also discuss our preparedness for a no—deal scenario. our political editor laura kuennsberg reports. these landmarks at the same but these are extraordinary days that this place will never. when the premise that's most important plan that's taken more than two years, theresa may simply didn't have the mps to back out. instead, the prime

minister back down. if we better head and held the data model, it would be rejected by a significant margin. we will defer the vote scheduled for tomorrow and not proceed to divide the house at this time. in other words, she knew she would lose so there will be no vote tomorrow. instead, she is appealing tomorrow. instead, she is appealing to the rest of the eu to look again at the most controversial part of the agreement — the backstop.|j spoke to a number of your readers over the weekend and in advance of the european council, i'll get to see my counterparts in other member states and the leadership of the council and commission. i've discussed the clear concerns that this house has expressed. we also looking closely at new ways of commons to ensure that any provision for a backstop has democratic legitimacy. the cabinet can not one that was the common belief that the commons, glistening? is it realistic

to think that she can get the support that she needs?|j to think that she can get the support that she needs? i still believe that there is... that is what my focus will be in the days ahead. if you take a step back, it is clear that this house faces are much more fundamental question. does this house want to deliver brexit? that the sound of the divide in here. dozens of mps which none of this was happening. dozens on the other side are wishing that we left already. if they've those, was it what to sue the reaching an agreement with the eu? if the answer is yes, then we all have to ask ourselves whether we're prepared to make a compromise? i'm determined to do all i can to secure the

reassu ra nces do all i can to secure the reassurances this house acquires. to get this deal over the line and deliver for the british get this deal over the line and deliverfor the british people. i commend the statement of the house. but the government's efforts to compromise have let them do a crisis. the government has lost control of events and is in complete disarray. it's been evident for weeks that the premise of's deal could not have the confidence of this house. yet, she piled on regardless reiterating, this is the only deal available stock this is a bad deal for britain, our economy, oui’ bad deal for britain, our economy, our democracy. our country deserves better than this. even mr speaker, furious, but the government is dropping imagery bit like this. halting a debate after the fuel than 164 colleagues have taken the trouble to king that that contribute will be thought by many members of

this house to be deeply discourteous. but, that procedural mess was nothing compared to the onslaught on the prime minister on all sides. but she not realise that every time she comes back yard of hertail every time she comes back yard of her tail between her legs, she humiliates the british people?|j humiliates the british people?” predicted that schiavo was the trust and credibility of the house and the country. most about me, she has lost the trust of the eu. but she not realise how chaotic this makes of control that? the fiasco to date, the government has removed was all before it here. the prime minister has been forced to pull tomorrow's vote in a stunning display pathetic colleges. it is time now to get this back to the people and have the people's vote. mrs thatcher had a word for it. what she's done to day,

she is... i think this prime minister has great courage in coming back. this afternoon, all the more agonising for the prime minister because of this morning, cabinet ministers were making the case for tracking on. is the third 10096 given to happen? yes. the prime minister has been clear that the vote is going ahead and i believe it should. the premise has confirmed its going ahead. leaving many angry and stuck for explanation. it of moving so quickly. as far as we understand it, leave it has been that way.” quickly. as far as we understand it, leave it has been that way. i can see the logic of it. we all need to work out what that least it. i keep oi'i work out what that least it. i keep on saying to my copies identified conceited enough, the way of stepping into an abyss of chaos. it's the premise that pushing things

into chaos. she's the one to leave vote after saying it was good to happen. even this morning, cabinet minister saying it will happen. every time she has tried to negotiate something, the she has been boxed in by her own party. narrowing down her options. there are the ones that have made the ground for what we're seeing now. are the ones that have made the ground for what we're seeing nowm the prime minister is back to the eu countries. the withdrawal agreement, including the irish backstop, is the only agreement on the table. it took over a year to negotiate and has the support of 28 comments. it is not possible to open any aspect of that without reopening of aspects of it. for weeks, the charter in this circus has been about winning arguments. tonight, theresa may's enemies might claim that she's losing her nerve. vicki young is at westminster. where to begin? after what has been

an incredible day at westminster. first of all, the removal in this meaningful vote might take place? first of all, the removal in this meaningfulvote might take place? we don't. it's not just meaningfulvote might take place? we don't. it's notjust that we don't know but ministers don't know. mps don't know. i think that is part of the many problems here. the premise that has had to admit that her main policy that should be working on for two years would be defeated by the house of commons and defeated badly. at the moment, there is nothing in its place. she said that sugar that is bt group you readers try and get clarification, some sort of reassurance. but there aren't many people in the house of commons think that will be enough to bring the dup and some conservative mps. —— to bring them onside. the problem she's got is that people in her own

cabinet are talking about planned the. they're not just cabinet are talking about planned the. they're notjust talking about her deal. they are looking at what is going to happen. two is a ball that movie even though it clear to lots of mps that this cannot get through the house of commons, even if she comes back from the draft week in january. if she comes back from the draft week injanuary. we're left in this strange limbo with the clock ticking. another minister i spoke to say that the still feel that they've enough time if the conflict in january to get a bit three. —— to get a vote for you. it feels as if she's backing down, yet, she's sticking to that one path that she has been on since the beginning. to be clear, that is no plan b? that oui’ be clear, that is no plan b? that our plan b is being cooked up by

other people, but not by the prime minister. we note in her cabinet, others are thinking about alternatives. also, in the house of commons. one thing that theresa may has in our favour is that the largest grouping of mps are behind that. no one enough to get it through the house of commons. the other options, another referendum, for example, simply don't have enough support behind. people are still talking about this halfway house of the european economic area. again, that cabinet ministers and others because they feel that would bring in enough labour mps which will be crucial here because if the government can bring in the dup, then they don't have a functioning majority, to look elsewhere. that is the kind of thing people are discussing. when you say, how will it happen? you need a prime minister that will deliver that change. at the limit, theresa may is not

looking that. today, she has managed to buy herself more time in the job of prime minister but it doesn't ta ke of prime minister but it doesn't take as much further forward than that. it also saying that there is a lot more talk about those 48 litres. with header before, so we don't know what that is what some are talking about. but she cannot be the person to change tack. if you tried as she tried her international trade secretary liam fox, talking to the bbc‘s huw edwards earlier, says the vote shouldn't be rushed. doctor fox also said not leaving the eu would break trust between the electorate and parliament. meanwhile a no—deal would be disruptive for the economy. it has been clear for some time that there is no majority in the house of commons for any other solution than the one the government has been putting forward but while the

withdrawal agreement contains the irish protocol as it does at the moment, a number of mps unhappy so it seems very clear that if we're to an agreement, to withdraw in an orderly way, the only way to do it is to stick with the future agreement that the prime minister has but to get some changes to the way in which the withdrawal agreement is interpreted by my colleagues. it is the talk of the reassu ra nces colleagues. it is the talk of the reassurances that changes, that lots of your colleagues don't want any mention of this backstop, they wa nted mention of this backstop, they wanted taking out —— they want it taken out. wanted taking out —— they want it ta ken out. they wanted taking out —— they want it taken out. they want reassurances, highly likely to get that or not? both sides agreed on one thing, that we should not return to a hard border of any sort between the republic of ireland and northern ireland, given the history of the problems we have had with security. the prime minister has

said she has interpreted the house of commons as having a clear view that we would not be able to get that we would not be able to get that through the house. if we don't get a withdrawal agreement which model we want to look at whether the government's proposed model or basic fta model, we would not be able to get those with the european union and less get the withdrawal agreement which has to have some assurance for the question of the irish border. it's not something we can act to get away from. the prime minister's case has not been given, so could you give us an example of the kind of extra reassurance that you think will bring lots of your collea g u es you think will bring lots of your colleagues on board ? you think will bring lots of your colleagues on board? what my collea g u es colleagues on board? what my colleagues are worried about is the fa ct colleagues are worried about is the fact that britain could be legally locked into a backstop against its

will. they could extend the implementation period to avoid getting into the backstop on the fa ct a getting into the backstop on the fact a lot of eu countries themselves have said they will never wa nt to themselves have said they will never want to get the backstop because it doesn't fit with what they see as a proper exit from the european union for britain, so the question would be, are there other ways in which my collea g u es be, are there other ways in which my colleagues forget those reassurances and that is what the prime minister will be taking to the eu 27 in an open and transparent way. that leads me to the question in a different way, do you think there is a form of words or indeed changes to what has already been agreed that is possible and that would be enough to bring people on board ? and that would be enough to bring people on board? because until now, as you know, there are dozens of your colleagues who simply aren't prepared to back this even with the assurances that the prime minister has offered them. both sides will have to