you're watching bbc news at nine, with me, annita mcveigh. the headlines: theresa may pleads with european leaders, as she battles to rescue her brexit deal. she's in the netherlands this morning, and in germany this afternoon — a day after she cancelled the vote on her withdrawal deal, citing concerns over the northern ireland border plan. but she's facing an uphill battle as the european commission's president says it's not possible to renegotiate. the deal we has —— have achieved is the deal we has —— have achieved is the best deal possible, it's the only deal possible. applause. there is no reason whatsoever for renegotiation. here in westminster, mps will hold an emergency debate this morning on that decision to delay the vote. the father of murdered backpacker, grace millane, has visited the place where her body was found, on the outskirts of auckland. france's president macron promises to increase the minimum wage and offers tax concessions, in response to weeks

of violent protests. thinning ice in antarctica — nasa says it's worse than we thought, prompting fears of sea levels rising significantly around the world. in sport, it's make or break for liverpool and tottenham in the champions league tonight. napoli travel to anfield, while mauricio pochettino takes his spurs side to barcelona. good morning. the brexit can has been kicked down the road once again. theresa may has begun a whistlestop tour of the eu in a bid to rescue her brexit deal.

she'll meet the german chancellor, angela merkel, and has held a breakfast meeting with the dutch prime minister mark rutte, as she seeks new reassurances from the eu about the northern ireland backstop — the single biggest issue threatening the deal. but in the last hour the president of the european commission, jean—claude juncker, said there is "no room whatsoever for renegotiation". so what do we know and what might happen next? this morning, in the house of commons, mps will hold an emergency debate on her decision to delay the vote. and there's still no clarity on when that vote might finally take place. some mps have called for it to be before christmas. what we do know is that the government must legally report back to the commons by the 21st of january on any no—deal scenario. what — at the moment anyway — is still on the calendar, is that uk will leave the eu on the 29th of march 2019. our political correspondent, jonathan blake,

looks back at events. and just a warning his report contains flashing images. reporter: can you really improve your deal, prime minister? theresa may arrived back in downing street last night after a day of drama in the house of commons. she confirmed the vote on her brexit deal would be delayed, and that she would go back to brussels to ask the eu for changes. the prime minister told mps she had no doubt her agreement was the right one, but acknowledged widespread concerns about a plan to avoid physical checks at the northern ireland border if a trade deal can't be done. it is clear that, while there is broad support for many of the key aspects of the deal... jeering. ..on one issue — on one issue, the northern ireland backstop, there remains widespread and deep concern. the labour leader, jeremy corbyn, accused the government of being in disarray, and later in the evening called for an emergency debate.

it cannot be right that the government can unilaterally alter the arrangements once this house has agreed on a timetable, without the house being given the opportunity to express its will. the public, mr speaker, will look at the behaviour of this government, and how it treats their democratically elected representatives, with despair. the speaker agreed, and mps will have three hours to air their views. then, something you don't see very often at all. one labour mp lifted the mace, the symbol of pa rliament‘s authority, in protest at the government's decision. the eu has suggested it is ready to talk, but the prime minister needs more than words to win over some of her own mps back home, who want changes to the deal itself. jonathan blake, bbc news, westminster. with me is our assistant political editor, norman smith.

we thought the can might have run out of road by now but still it goes on? it is the longest road in political history! it is going all the way up to scotland. mrs may has reverted to her customary strategy, just who fit down the road in a political crisis. there is no sense that downing street is in a rush to bring the meaningful vote back to mps before christmas. speaking to one person this morning in number 10 and they said no decisions had been taken and it would take as long as it would take. i read that well into the new year. beyond the 21st? as possible. mrs may cited the 21st but thatis possible. mrs may cited the 21st but that is not a hard and fast deadline. she could go right up to brexit day. they have given themselves lots of room. i think what the calculation is, is that

fear will kick in. mps, as they see brexit looming closer, will think, we have to go with the deal because there is no time for a plan b. otherwise we are in the land of no brexit or no deal. the backlash though is already beginning. this morning we have a renewed calls from tory brexiteers to get letter writing and to get rid of mrs may. this was steve baker, the deputy chair of the european research group. this vote being deferred is a sign the deal was too bad. it would have failed by a significant margin. i wa nt failed by a significant margin. i want colleagues to wake up to the reality that theresa may can only lead us to failure, and therefore with great sadness people need to put their letters in to serve graham brady and we need to change prime minister. theresa may has merit —— met mark

rutte and as of the meetings today. position has considerably weakened? it has. she is going to european capitals slightly on bended knee now, saying, please give me something on the backstop. they have made clear they will not reopen the withdrawal agreement. so don't expect a legal —— legally binding text. we will give you clarification and window —— reassurance. but basically it looks like it will be pretty much the same deal with some soothing language around it which will not satisfy her brexiteer critics. it certainly won't satisfy the dup. there is a question though about what labour blows. they are also under pressure. to come forward with a no—confidence vote. the other parties have said, come on mr corbyn, you have talked a good game, let's see you do it. listening to rebecca long—bailey this morning, they didn't seem in any rush to

bring forward a no—confidence motion. we are discussing this with various parties around the house and we need tojudge the time when a vote would be most successful. we heard the dup yesterday say they would think about a vote of no confidence after theresa may has returned from brussels and —— in attempt to seek assurances or renegotiate. in terms of timings, is, we're discussing it with various parties across the house. take us through the role of parliament at this point because that has been a very big focus in the last few weeks, hasn't it? a lot of the anger is not just over the weeks, hasn't it? a lot of the anger is notjust over the fact weeks, hasn't it? a lot of the anger is not just over the fact that people are not certain about what is going to happen to brexit, there is a lot of anger as well that having had three days of debate about the deal, mrs may basically pulled down the curtain without mps getting a vote. we will have an emergency debate at around 12:30pm. interesting as well that mrs may clearly not the speaker big—time

yesterday. he got up and said so. normal courtesy would be to allow parliament to have a vote on whether you pull this vote. she basically ignored that. there is a real tension building up between the speaker and the cabinet on this. a lot of cabinet ministers feel the speaker has done them no favours whatsoever. andrea leadsom, this morning, when asked about the speaker, has —— said, he has already made his views known on brexit, implying he was no longer impartial. andrea leadsom was out to put give the idea there will be significant movement on the backstop. what is really important is that it is in all of our interests that we don't leave in march without a deal and the legal default position is that we will leave the eu in march without a deal. therefore, it's really important that the european union do consider what more they can

do to address this very important issue that so many people here in the uk have raised with the prime minister as the uk have raised with the prime ministeras being a the uk have raised with the prime minister as being a deal—breaker for them. it seems to me the only thing we can say with any certainty, and we don't know what sort of deal mrs may will get, we don't know when the meaningful vote will be, the only thing that is certain is this is likely to go on for quite a bit yet. there will not be an early ending to this story. thank you very much, norman. let's speak to adam fleming in brussels. add, eu leaders have made it abundantly clear in public certainty that there is no room for renegotiation. is that their bottom line? yeah, that is very clear. that has been spelt out by european affairs ministers who have been arriving for regular scheduled meeting in brussels. they say the deal is the deal on the table and

they are happy to provide clarification interpretation and reassurance. but the substantial details, the substance of the withdrawal agreement is not going to change. that message was also echoed in strasbourg at the european parliament, which in session today. they were addressed by the president of the european commission, jean—claude juncker. i will see mrs may this evening and i have to say here in the parliament, as i did say before in this parliament, the deal we have achieved is the best deal possible. it is the only deal possible. applause. there is no room whatsoever for renegotiation. but of course there is room, if used intelligently, there is room enough to give further clarification and further interpretations without opening the

withdrawal agreement. this will not happen. everyone has to know that we will not be renegotiating. a few minutes ago the british european affairs minister who sits in the house of lords, he arrived and he confirmed that what theresa may is seeking from fellow european leaders todayis seeking from fellow european leaders today is legally binding assurances, in addition to the withdrawal agreement, that the uk will not be "trapped in the backstop forever". not that much detail about what theresa may is seeking as he travels around europe today. she will be in brussels this afternoon. she will meet donald tusk at 5pm brussels time, 4pm your time. meet donald tusk at 5pm brussels time, 4pm yourtime. if meet donald tusk at 5pm brussels time, 4pm your time. if you want to some up the atmosphere here, it was done six include by michael roth, the german minister, talking in german about how disappointed the eu

is with what is happening in the uk. i asked him if he was sick of us. and hejust went... then he said, yeah, he is very disappointed about what has happened. the eu just once a close relationship with the uk future that works. but the size said it all. adam fleming in brussels. with me now is kelly tolhurst, conservative mp for rochester and strood, who is also a junior business minister. thank you for your time. this is a really difficult day for the prime minister. she is going back to talk to european leaders and she is going cap in hand, isn't she? obviously in the last few days through the debate we have had concerns raised about the backstop. it is quite right she goes to europe and she does explain theissues goes to europe and she does explain the issues that some of our mps have and fight for more consensus, more that can be done on the backstop. she may get more consensus. she may

get a change in the wording. but she is not going to get anything substantive in terms of changing this. eu leaders have made it clear they would not renegotiate, haven't they? european union needs to recognise there are concerns around the backstop across the house from mps. it is right she is going to europe to raise those concerns. and actually, she is right to buzzbomb bad vote. we have got a deal in front of us that is delivering the results of the referendum. she is looking for consensus. it doesn't looking for consensus. it doesn't look as if she will get concessions. let's listen to what the dup brexit spokesperson said this morning. he said reassurances didn't mean anything when put against a legally binding agreement. it doesn't sound like, even at the start of this day when theresa may is talking to bury his people, that she is going to change any minds. what does that

mean? we are back at a date yet to be decided for a vote the prime minister will lose? we are concerns with the backstop. parliament need to accept, whether they want to deliver brexit. we are determined to deliver brexit. we are determined to deliver brexit. we are determined to deliver brexit. i have been talking to small businesses in recent weeks. they wanted this deal to go through. they wanted this deal to go through. they wanted this deal to go through. they want certainty and they want this deal. yesterday i was at a roundtable with 30 businesses from across the country and they were very clear. they wanted a vote and they wanted it to go through. the reason why theresa may has delayed his because obviously there were concerned across the house around the backstop. it is right she is going to try her hardest to get reassu ra nces going to try her hardest to get reassurances and a change to convince mps that really this deal is what we need. we need to get it for the uk.

those businesses and everybody else have got the opposite of certainty, haven't they? they have got a pretty chaotic situation. they don't know if there is going to be a vote on a deal. whether it is the deal as it stands or some tweaks to the wording. they don't know if there is going to be a referendum, a general election. if theresa may cannot get substantial change to the wording or significant reassurances, what do you think should happen after that? fundamentally i am supporting theresa may going back to europe to speak about the backstop. there is no consensus across the house for a no consensus across the house for a no deal. we have been preparing for ano no deal. we have been preparing for a no deal situation as a government and even small businesses to do that. but this is very clear. we can't ignore what business are saying. they are the people employing our constituents. they are providing the incomes for these people. so we do need to get to a

position where we can get a deal through parliament. if there is no consensus for no deal and their ends up consensus for no deal and their ends up being no consensus around theresa may's deal, what next?|j up being no consensus around theresa may's deal, what next? i think mps really —— need to really consider what the next step is good to be. it is all right in the westminster bubble talking about brexit, but the people out there we represent you need job security, who do need to give business that comfort they need to know that they are going to be able to continue to trade and employ our constituents. we need to think seriously about the way forward. what would your preferred way forward be? if there is no consensus forward be? if there is no consensus for no deal, if theresa may's deal is not acceptable, whatever she comes back with as a result of today, what would you have the uk do? stay as it is, decide to withdraw from brexit? what option would you take? we had a vote and

people were clear they wanted to leave. we have a deal on the table that delivers what the referendum wanted. it gives us those freedoms. it is the backstop that is the problem. i do hope she can get some movement on that. but fundamentally, we need to get real, actually. we need to recognise that we have got a dutyjura to deliver for the people that put us here. and for me that is around making sure that we get behind the deal. this position, where we have got mps that are not really coming forward with an alternative, there is no alternative toa no alternative, there is no alternative to a no deal. i'm getting at loud and clear from business, to a no deal. i'm getting at loud and clearfrom business, from my constituents. they want a deal and they want this deal to go through to give them those assurances. delivering the results. should theresa may continue as pm? why would a change of leader make any difference? theresa may has negotiated the deal. it is on the table. it is not perfect but any

deal was going to be a compromise. it is important that we are realistic about what we can get through the house but realistic about what can be delivered. i am not going to, i am not as an mp and a minister, going to take a decision thatis a minister, going to take a decision that is going to put my country at risk. we must leave it there. thank you very much. some mps do want theresa may to step aside. crispin blunt today said today he is the 26th conservative mp to lodge a letter of no confidence in the prime minister. no clear sense that those latters coming in yet in the numbers that would trigger a no—confidence motion. let's head back to the studio and talk to dominic o'connell, our business presenter. market reaction was pretty negative yesterday with the chaos and the announcement they would be no

meaningful vote. however the market is looking? pretty much the same as yesterday. sterling had a big move. 1.496 yesterday. sterling had a big move. i.4% down against the dollar. if you look at the three—month price for sterling, it hardly moved. that tells you the markets don't know what is going to happen. there were too many options to make a meaningful baby born way or the other. the ftse 100 didn't make much. other. the ftse100 didn't make much. if you look into the shares that are exposed to the uk economy, lloyds bank, for example, the big house—builders, they moved down about 2% on the day. the markets are looking at the companies most affected by a no—deal brexit, thinking the chancellor has gone up a little in marking those shares down a little bit. so far the market has been quite quiet. thank you very much. dominic o'connell. with me now is hilary benn, labourmp, who chairs the brexit committee. good morning. good morning. a lot of

conversation yesterday continuing into this morning about whether labour would move a motion of no—confidence against the government. the feeling seems to be this is not the optimum time to do so. you agree? i think that is a sensible decision. the prime minister is touring europe to see if she can bring something back further on the deal. i think the moment to consider such a motion of no confidence would be after this deal is bolted on. —— voter. while she may come back with a piece of paper, a coder so, saying, we don't want to use the backstop, try to sort it out, i'm not sure that would be sufficient to rescue her deal when the vote is finally brought before the vote is finally brought before the house of commons. i have to say we are in a crisis as a country. the prime ministerfaced we are in a crisis as a country. the prime minister faced humiliation yesterday. the nation may face humiliation if we do not find a way forward. if this deal is not going

to pass, the sooner we look at the alternatives, the better for the future of the country. i don't think she can wait until the new year to finally ask parliament to vote on a deal. do you really think she will get any deal. do you really think she will getany sir deal. do you really think she will get any sir viv reassurances? she may get a slightly different form of words as a result of these meetings today. but is that going to change the minds of her critics? in her party, probably not. any words of reassurance will be compared with the legal text in article 20 of the northern ireland ireland backstop. that will remain because the eu has been pretty clear they would not change the words of the withdrawal agreement. i suspect those critics will say, that's all very well and good, but we can't change what we object to. colleagues of yours saying they want to see if she comes back with tweaks to the deal. is that what labour really once? it's not what labour wants as a party, is

it? no. my problem is not really with the withdrawal agreement. we have to protect citizens' rights. we owe money. we need a transition period. since the prime minister created the problem of the border in northern ireland, she is now being skewered on her policy that started the negotiations, which have led to all of the problems she has faced. it is about a lack of clarity about the future. she is asking the country to take a step into the unknown. the brexit select committee, which i chair, in a unanimous report, and we are made up people who campaign for leave and remain, we said this doesn't provide us remain, we said this doesn't provide us with certainty about the future. that is the fundamental problem with the deal. the government has steadfastly refused to be honest with the nation about the choices we face. what do you want? do you want a general election? of course you wa nt

a general election? of course you want a general election. that is obviously labour's policy. but do you think it is more realistic, or is the prospect of a second referendum more realistic? what do you think you can achieve through the parliamentary process? indeed i would like to see an election. is that going to happen? i think it is doubtful. it would depend on conservative mps being willing to vote for one. i don't think that will occur in the current circumstances. i have been arguing for some time the nation should change course and opt to join the european economic area and remain in the customs union, which would ensure the northern ireland border problem goes away and would keep the friction free trade which businesses depend upon so strongly. i think that would be the first choice when the deal is defeated. the second possibility is, if we cannot find a way forward, to put it back to the people. there is one other thing we have to do quickly and that is to rule out any thought that we might leave the european union with no agreement at all. that would be so

damaging for the country. no government and no party could contemplate that. do you think there is enough unanimity or the labour party ca n is enough unanimity or the labour party can pull together sufficiently because there are diverse views in the labour party, to... it's not exactly the right phrase, but to ta ke exactly the right phrase, but to take advantage of this situation, to drive this situation in the way that you want to drive it? or willie splits and divisions in the party mean you cannot do that?” splits and divisions in the party mean you cannot do that? i think we need honesty about the situation we are rain and we have not had that thus far. secondly, we need a willingness to compromise. nobody is going to get anything they want out of the mess. —— everything they want. government needs to reach out, talk to other people, see if it is possible to find a consensus. the story of the last two and a half yea rs story of the last two and a half years is the prime minister has spent her time trying to manage deep divisions in our party, and now is

the time parliament needs to focus on the national interest. hilary benn, thank you very much for your time. let me tell you that coming up at 1130 pm —— 11:30am, your time. let me tell you that coming up at 1130 pm ——11:30am, we will bejoined by coming up at 1130 pm ——11:30am, we will be joined by georgina coming up at 1130 pm ——11:30am, we will bejoined by georgina right, brexit... brexit analyst, georgina wright, and professor anand menon from the think—tank, the uk in a changing europe, who will be answering your brexit questions. so please send them in via text on 611211. so many questions today from the politicians through to all the various interest groups that we have spoken to in the last two and a half yea rs spoken to in the last two and a half years since the referendum, from health care workers to business groups, to parents, to education, to business. so do get your questions

in at this very uncertain juncture in the whole process. joining me at westminster is vince cable, leader of the liberal democrats. you have many questions yourself, i guess? politicians have just as many questions about this as the man on the street. i'm afraid we do. there we re the street. i'm afraid we do. there were questions yesterday about the prime minister and what she is trying to do. is she running away from a defeated parliament? i think there are questions also to the leader of the is in. he is duty bound under the present circumstances to move a motion of no—confidence. that is why opposition out there. he hasn't been willing to do it. so the other opposition parties today will move in that direction. you say he hasn't been willing to do it. there hasn't been willing to do it. there hasn't been a clear of that. they are biding their time, labour, been a clear of that. they are biding theirtime, labour, aren't they? they have been clamouring for an election. they say they have no confidence in the government but when it actually comes to add jeremy

corbyn went dead. he is failing in his duty. he has to give some leadership. the opposition parties will work together today to formulate that the mind. what are your plans for today? the government's authority has collapsed. yesterday we had ministers saying the comment will stand and fight. then later in the morning they ran away and gave up. it was a complete abdication of authority. under those circumstances i think the opposition party has a duty to come forward and said, we have no confidence. the opposition leader didn't. the other opposition parties, ourselves, the nationalists, the greens, we will do that today. if there is a motion then the way is clear to having what we call a the people's vote, a referendum, taking this back to the country and hoping to bring the country and hoping to bring the country together again by drawing a line under it and going back to the

public. you think that is the way ahead rather than waiting for a theresa may to come back for that meaningful vote to eventually happen, whenever that might be. and if the vote isn't passed, if the deal is in the past, to act then, perhaps? well, there is an issue of timing, certainly. what is the government going to do now? the prime minister is in europe. i am sure they are trying to be helpful. they are not being difficult. they can offer her some cosmetic changes, not around the treaty but as a background. this is not going to satisfy the conservatives and the democratic unionists. unless she is willing to give something else on fisheries or gibraltar, which is potentially just as toxic and divisive as the issues she is already struggling within ireland. it is not clear that another few days of rushing back to europe will

solve this problem. if there was a no—confidence motion in the government, if that was passed on to her party and others, maybe, including the dup would rally around the government at that time, but if, for argument‘s sake that was passed, what chaos does it through the country into? no more than we have at the moment. we are currently in an appalling position where the government has no authority, it has a plan that does not support the —— command the support of parliament. the option of an election has to be considered, if parliament does not wa nt considered, if parliament does not want it, and i think it probably would not, as hilary benn hasjust said, the way is open to go back to the public and asked you what theresa may's deal or to stay in the eu? -- theresa may's deal or to stay in the eu? —— and ask, do you want theresa may's deal? in a moment, the weather. but first, let's join victoria derbyshire to find out what she's got coming up in her programme at ten. good morning. laura was 2a when she

collapsed and went into cardiac arrest. she was clearly the dead for five minutes. the emergency services said to live... she was clinically dead. around 1500 people under 25 die suddenly every year from inherited heart conditions like laura's. when she turned around to check on me, i was on the floor. she walked over to me and my lips were blue, i had stopped breathing, my heart had stopped. the brexit bowled delay, what do you wa nt to the brexit bowled delay, what do you want to happen next? join us on bbc two, the bbc news channel and online —— the brexit votes delay. carol kirkwood has the weather. good morning, if you are starting with sunshine you have had a pretty cold start, and frosty foursome. the best

of the sunshine in northern scotland, parts of northern england, the midlands, into the south east, north and east wales. fairly cloudy for the rest of the uk with occasional drizzle. overnight you will see clouds across north—east scotla nd will see clouds across north—east scotland and eastern scotland, we could seed touches of frost. a weather front comes into the west, producing heavy rain at times. later rain pushing further south. tomorrow, some sunshine from the word go, developing across england and wales, northern ireland and scotland, where we have some rain at times in the west. temperature wise, 11 or 12 and western areas, a chilly six, seven or eight into the east. hello, this is bbc news with annita mcveigh at westminster. the headlines... theresa may pleads with european leaders as she battles to rescue her brexit deal. she's in the netherlands this morning and in germany this

afternoon a day after she cancelled the vote on her withdrawal deal. but she's facing an uphill battle — as the eu insists it's not possible to renegotiate. the deal we have achieved is the best deal possible, it's the only deal possible. and so we cannot... applause. there is no room whatsoever for negotiation. here in westminster, mps will hold an emergency debate this morning on that decision to delay the vote. official figures show unemployment increased by 20,000 between august and october. the father of murdered backpacker grace millane has visited the place where her body was found on the outskirts of auckland. france's president macron promises to increase the minimum wage and offers tax concessions, in response to weeks of violent protests. thinning ice in antarctica —

nasa says it's worse than we thought, prompting fears of sea levels rising significantly around the world. let's continue with the brexit coverage, of course, the day after the prime minister's decision not to go ahead with a meaningful votes. we can speak now to iain duncan smith, former leader of the conservative party. good morning, mr duncan smith. what are your expectations of what the prime minister can achieve as she meets european leaders today? i think what the prime minister has to do is conveyed to them the reality that their deal, their deal will no longer be on the table if they don't give her what she is after, and what she is and should be after, and what she is and should be after, i believe, is to say the

backstop that exists right now, the northern ireland backstop, is intolerable. it puts northern ireland separately outside the uk. and it also means we have a problem because we can't leave it, and that would be a constitutionalfirst because we can't leave it, and that would be a constitutional first for us. germany would not accept that, france would not, why should we? they need to resolve that, that does not cost them anything. what will cost them, she should say, is if the deal goes ahead, they will have a huge black hole and they will end up with the process where we will not have an arrangement to suit them and sit their businesses. but after two and a half years or thereabouts of negotiations, why would we do something that places a republic of ireland at a disadvantage?m something that places a republic of ireland at a disadvantage? it will not be. a group including customs

experts and trade lawyers have written protocol and trade chapter for the eu, we them over this, the open borders policy originally started by end kenny, the previous taoiseach and ireland, it was leo varadkar insisted on the ludicrous backstop and the eu went along with it. it will come down to having a commitment to open borders and all the processes which exist at the moment enable that. in rotterdam at the moment, the biggest port in europe, they spot check only 1.5% of all non—eu goods coming in and they don't even do that at the border. there is no requirement for this ludicrous backstop pressed upon the uk. the european union knows it, so does mr varadkar, but he is playing a game for irish politics, it has to start than the uk has to say you're

putting at risk your own settlement and many macro that we were supposed to be giving you, it will not come across to the eu if you don't agree something. it is not a massive, they need to agree they will not go along with this and have an open borders policy. many people who live on the border in northern ireland or the republic of ireland do not see this backstop as ludicrous. they have genuine fears, they do not see it as a game and isn't this about the failure of the uk government to foresee the issues that might crop up foresee the issues that might crop up around the backstop and to sort this out during negotiations and not wait until the 11th hour?” this out during negotiations and not wait untilthe11th hour? i agree that back in december, on bbc news i said publicly do not sign up to the backstop because it will make the end agreement almost impossible. i was right then and i have tried to find a solution since. what the previous taoiseach ender kenny

started, mr varadkar previous taoiseach ender kenny started, mrvaradkarstopped, previous taoiseach ender kenny started, mr varadkar stopped, making agreements for an open border, here is the irony, we have had the eu, ireland and the uk all say there will be no hard border on ireland, mrvaradkarsaid about to will be no hard border on ireland, mr varadkar said about to does jager two weeks ago that there will be no ha rd two weeks ago that there will be no hard border. we need to go to this open borders policy, it is achievable now, it does not need technology, all the customs experts in europe accept it is feasible and we commit to that and line up the necessary conditions. that is not a major concession on the part of the eu because it delivers what they are after, and what was the backstop about? not having a hard border in ireland. that needs to be delivered, but not by this terrible deal which has as unable to leave it if we think the eu is not cooperating, because the eu has a say as to whether we leave it at the last

time. we can leave the un, we can leave nato and even the eu as a sovereign rights, but we cannot leave this backstop on an international treaty, that would be an absolute first. if the prime minister can't get anything more than reassurances and cosmetic changes, as one politician suggested to me this morning, as a result of these meetings, and that does not satisfy the critics of her deal within the conservative party, what do you think will unfold over the next few weeks. i think the prime minister has to take the eu to the wire. we know from the past that the wire. we know from the past that the only time the eu actually stares and put something down is when they are staring in the face of the colla pse are staring in the face of the collapse of an agreement. the 20th of march, if necessary? all timescales are off. she has to insist on this and be prepared to walk away from the table. colleagues

in parliament here are united in one sense that they want the prime minister for the sense that they want the prime ministerfor the first sense that they want the prime minister for the first time in these negotiations to really shows them steal. she has to say categorically to the eu, i mean business here. it is not all one way, it is not that we are desperate for this deal, it is that the eu demand that we pay them some money to fill the hole that leaving will leave them with, amounting to around £39 billion, even more, that is a lot of money coming to the eu and if they do not get that they will have defined that from tax payers across the eu, so my a nswer from tax payers across the eu, so my answer is simple, you risk what you wa nt answer is simple, you risk what you want only to give us something absolutely functional, but you cannot insist on the uk's sovereign right to leave a treaty being dismissed. we have to have that, and in the treaty, notjust words of assurance from a couple of

late—night meetings. that does not work, they know that. for the conservative party iain duncan smith, thank you. time for a little break from duncan smith, thank you. time for a little breakfrom brexit, and the sport with sally. it is not a break from europe, we have plenty of european football to preview! the champions league returns tonight, and it's a big one for tottenham and liverpool. both sides need victories if they are to prgoress to the knock out stages, asjoe lynskey reports. in football, the mood and momentum can change very quickly. liverpool went top of the premier league on saturday, tonight they could be out of the champions league. three defeats away from home mean they now have to beat napoli, but european nights at anfield bring out a different force. we have to create a special atmosphere with the way that we play, and we have to use that atmosphere as well. i'm really looking forward to it. it's a big opportunity for us. well, napoli won the first meeting

between these teams 1—0, and that result could have a bearing on who progresses to the knockout stage, because even if liverpool win tonight it only takes them level with napoli on nine points, and in that case the superior team is decided by their head—to—head record across the two group games. a 1—0 scoreline tonight would be enough to take liverpool through, but if napoli score an away goal, jurgen klopp's side will have to win by two clear goals. it's a bit less complicated for spurs, who know they'll definitely be through if they beat barcelona. but that's easier said than done in the nou camp. when barcelona lost here last month it was their first home defeat in two years. but spurs come here with more to play for. the spanish champions are already through, and that could mean their superstars start on the bench. of course, different names may have different quality to add to the team. but i think they're going to be strong, they are going to try to win. there is little room for sentiment

in this competition. defeat could leave these sides with thirsty nights in the europa league. for spurs and liverpool, this last group match is already knockout football. a late everton equaliser denied watford a premier league victory over former manager marco silva. he was sacked by watford last season before moving to goodison and the two clubs are still in dispute. some watford fans waved inflatable snakes to express their opinion about silva's move. everton went ahead through richarlison before watford fought back through a seamus coleman own goal and an abdoulaye doucoure header. everton then had a penalty saved but salvaged a point with lucas digne's superb free—kick in the fifth minute of stoppage time. the second half, we didn't control.

these moments, you have to be strong in these types of moments when you play against teams doing what they did, we have to keep playing in alloway, faster if you can. we needed that in the second half. chelsea say they've suspended four people from attending matches while an investigation into the alleged racist abuse of raheem sterling takes place. the incident allegedly occurred during city's defeat at stamford bridge at the weekend where sterling said he "had to laugh" when he heard the remarks because he expects "no better." that is a direct quote from him. england have named an unchanged test squad to tour the west indies after their win in sri lanka. they'll play three tests in the west indies starting next month, but they'll need to take their new found confidence as england have won only one test series there since 1968. jess varnish will call british cycling's former chief medic dr richard freeman to give evidence to a tribunal today as she claims unfair dismissal. he's the same doctor who received a mystery medical package

for sir bradley wiggins at a race in 2011. varnish was omitted after the 2016 track cycling world championships in london after her squad failed to qualify for the rio 0lympics. she alleged sex discrimination against shane sutton, then the technical director of british cycling, who was found to have used sexist language towards her. let's have a look at some of this morning's back pages. the times reports on the four chelsea fans banned for alleged racist abuse of manchester city's raheem sterling. that story is still all over the back pages. in a picture that speaks a thousand words, the telegraph has this picture of lionel messi as spurs head to the nou camp. there it is! you couldn't mistake him! and the mirror go with power nap as liverpool take on napoli at anfield. get it?! let's take a look at what's been trending on social media. tommy fleetwood has tweeted his

congratulations to his ryder cup team—mate and close friend francisco molinari for winning european tour player of the year with the hashtag #mybetterhalf. remember their bromance and england have beaten new zealand to reach the quarter finals of the hockey world cup, but not everyone is excited by the idea. barry middleton? caught napping by his team mates. plenty to look forward to tonight. we have full commentary of liverpool's game against napoli at anfield on radio 5 live. commentary sta rts anfield on radio 5 live. commentary starts at 8pm, the programme is on airfrom 7pm and full starts at 8pm, the programme is on air from 7pm and full text commentary of the spurs game is on the bbc sport website. that is just about it from me, so i told you, there is plenty more europe, even

here! studio: thank you, sally. back to europe in the brexit context. with me now is sammy wilson, the dup's brexit spokesman. the dup is integral to the process. ina radio the dup is integral to the process. in a radio interview when asked about what theresa may could get from meetings in europe today by nature free assurances, you said reassu ra nces nature free assurances, you said reassurances don't mean anything when put against a legally binding agreement. is there anything she could come back with that would help you supported deal?” could come back with that would help you supported deal? i don't think she is even looking to come back with anything which will deal with theissues with anything which will deal with the issues in the house of commons, she was not listening yesterday. time and time again, the problem was the legal nature of the agreements and the contents of it, and she said that all she was going to do was going to try to get some reassurances. if you have a legally binding agreement which the government has signed up to, and

every page of it talks about the obligations of the uk government, the responsibilities of the uk government, on the other hand you get some vague reassurances from people who will not be thereafter made, there are european elections in may, they will have to be enacted by uk government the shape of which we do not know, then i think you can see the imbalance and white nobody would ever take that as a way out of the current situation. electorates can only work with the politicians they have at that particular time. we have who we have in the various positions of power. reassurances are clearly not enough for you, but if it came to a move of no confidence against this government, would you back it? we are focusing on getting this deal defeated, if this were to go through, we have made this clear, and the government is going to implement it in legal terms that the

legislation through the house of commons, it would no longer have our support. we are confident we can get this deal defeated because so many people have cottoned on to what it actually means for the united kingdom. if you are a leaver you know it means we will never be able to leave the eu and if you are a remainer means he will remain in the eu without any power. you are not supporting this government at any cost at this point? no, we have a lwa ys cost at this point? no, we have always made it clear that support is conditional on the government delivering on its manifesto and the referendum and ensuring it does that fit the uk as a whole. what do you think theresa may's strategy is in calling of the vote yesterday and going ahead with these meetings today? i haven't a clue, this prime minister just today? i haven't a clue, this prime ministerjust seems to beat her head against a brick wall. she did the same last week with the legal opinion, she resisted it up to the

last minutes, got a bloody nose as a result from parliament and then gave m, result from parliament and then gave in, and she seems to be doing the same again. she has done this time and time again. i can tell you one thing, her strategy is not working. is she pushing this to the point that people are so worried that there might be the prospect of no deal that they think, let's go with her deal? that might be her tactic, but it is as wrongly thought out as her previous tactics, i think, whether an illegal opinion or whatever. if she thinks people will back down because she seeks to blackmail them, running up against a time constraint, i think she is very wrong. many of us are now convinced that no deal is better than this bad deal, and i think we have also made the assessment that once the eu is confronted with not getting our 39 billion, not having the free access to the uk market for its huge trade

surplus in goods, they will be the people who will back down and say let's start talking sensibly. she has to get tough in these negotiations, all along she has rolled over to them, that the eu say that there are consequences for the european union in not having a balance deal. sammy wilson, thank you for your time. the dup brexit spokesman. this morning cabinet minister amber rudd was asked about may delaying the vote. reporter: is the prime ministerjust running down the clock? the prime minister's got my full support, as she has the cabinet's, to try and improve the withdrawal agreement so that we can get this agreement through parliament. it's really important that we deliver what people have asked us to do. we have one deal, it's on the table, i really hope we can get it through parliament. she's not going to get any improvements, is she? don't be a pessimist, let's wait and see. she's putting everything she's got into this, and i think she deserves our full support for trying to do that. thank you. will we get a vote before christmas? i don't know, it will depend

what process she makes... what progress she makes, but i certainly hope so, we'll see. thank you very much. i'm joined now by dawn foster — guardian columnist and supporter of a people's vote — and olivia utley from the article and a contributor to national newspapers who backs brexit. good morning, both. let's look if we can at some of the front pages, give us can at some of the front pages, give us your thoughts as we look through those. the guardian, desperate made, let's see if we can see that image. —— desperate may. desperate may reveals her plan to buy more time. she is buying more time, but it is what she will do with it, dawn? she is buying more time, but it is what she will do with it, dawn7m seems to be delaying the inevitable. europe have been very clear that they will not renegotiate, the backstop is a big sticking agreement and it seems impossible she can get and it seems impossible she can get a deal through without the backstop, but equally with that hair mps will

not back her, so nothing will change, her mps will not get behind her. all she is doing is staving off defeat for a couple more weeks. would you agree, olivia? 10096. defeat for a couple more weeks. would you agree, olivia? 100%. she would you agree, olivia? 10096. she seems to be buying time for the sake of it, she obviously really wants to be in office, who knows why, but she clearly does, because, yeah, the government try to table amendments la st government try to table amendments last week via some backbenchers which would fudge the wording a little bit and try to get an dup mps over, but it has not worked and the eu has said they will not with open —— they will not reopen the withdrawal agreement, it will just get some clarification, which will not cut it, as we saw last week. speaking of what europe may or may not do, here is the times, theresa may in the commons yesterday as she announced that the meaningful vote would be delayed. may pleads for

help from europe is the front page of the times. is europe limited in what it can do at this stage? it has had to get the views of the 27 states who have agreed to that side of the deal. to change would be complicated? ed wood, ithink of the deal. to change would be complicated? ed wood, i think may's problem was that she never prepared for no deal and a like to play. —— it would, i think may's problem. if she could go to europe and sake make these solutions are rabble back—in odile solution, they might have to find a way, but she has no cards at the moment. —— make these solutions ori the moment. —— make these solutions or i will back another solution. facing a humiliating defeat in her brexit vote which could have toppled her, the pm is forced into a dramatic climb—down and a last—ditch tour of europe to salvage her deal, so is this may's last roll of the

dice? a gambling analogy in the daily mail. she does not have many cards that? as olivia said, she is seeking caliphate —— seeking clarification on europe, which implies mps had not understood the deal. everyone in parliament spent a long time reading it and they understand it, the problems remain in the deal. the legal status of the withdrawal agreement remains paramount. people understand the deal, they do not like it, the deal will not change, they are dragging —— she is dragging a can along the roads wanting to stay in office, she can't. will it continue beyond christmas? the sun's own inimitable ta ke christmas? the sun's own inimitable take on it, the pm is stuffed, may turkey, her plan is blasted amid new calls to quit. 0livia, do you think anyone in the

conservative party would want to ta ke conservative party would want to take over as leader at that point, and is that what is keeping theresa may in the job? i always think that mps going to parliament because they wa nt to mps going to parliament because they want to be prime minister, quite a lot of the time, not all of them. 0ften lot of the time, not all of them. often we say no mp would want to do this, because we wouldn't, but they probably do. boris is probably itching for his crack at it. i am still hopeful that the 48 late —— 48 letters will come in and eventually... possibly that is why they have not, who else will take this on, they may be wondering. few have not had the courage yet that this might push them over the edge. i don't see how they can put up edge. i don't see how they can put up with it any longer, they must be curious. the daily telegraph, the lady is for turning, after all the state m e nts lady is for turning, after all the statements insisting the votes would ta ke statements insisting the votes would take place yesterday, she announced yesterday it would not happen. fears

brexit will be delayed after may postpones the vote, furious tory mps say the prime minister has lost the faith and trust of her party. a final thought, dawn, do faith and trust of her party. a finalthought, dawn, do you faith and trust of her party. a final thought, dawn, do you think on the 29th of march the uk will be leaving the eu ? the 29th of march the uk will be leaving the eu? at this point i think they will have to extend the period, nobody knows what is happening, i think may will no longer be imposed and i think we are in such chaos it will be impossible to actually leave. olivia and dawn, thank you for that looks to the papers. a reminder of what else we expect today, that emergency debate, a chance for mps to vent frustration at the fact that the meaningful vote was not held yesterday, as was promised. we will possibly hear from those behind the campaign for a second referendum. victoria derbyshire is here next, but now the weather.

it looks sunny in westminster and in many eastern areas of the uk, we had some clear skies through the night, meaning frost first thing, that is from a weather watcher in norfolk. a few fog patches, but across central and eastern parts of the uk and into the north—east of scotland will be largely dry with sunshine into the afternoon. further west, largely dry with sunshine into the afternoon. furtherwest, more cloud, maybe some drizzle over the higher ground of western scotland, wales and the south—west, temperatures ranging from around 7 degrees in the east to 11 further west. overnight, some rain moves in across western areas, breaking up as it pushes towards the uk. some clear skies towards the uk. some clear skies towards eastern areas, temperatures could drop close to freezing during wednesday there will be breaks in the cloud, a bit more sunshine compared to today and a largely dry

day with temperatures around seven to 10 degrees. hello, it's tuesday, it's 10 o'clock, i'm victoria derbyshire. now what? theresa may looks to europe to throw her a lifeline over her brexit deal — right now she's doing a whistlestop tour of european leaders. but the eu says it will not renegotiate. so what's the point? politicians and voters tell us what they think. and do let us know what you want to happen next. also, lora was just 24 when, on a night out with a friend, she had a cardiac arrest. when she turned around to check on mei when she turned around to check on me i was on the floor. she walked over to me and my lips had gone blue and my heart had stopped. this programme has been told that there could be more that 80,000 young people living with undiagnosed heart conditions in the uk.