you're watching a bbc news special, i'm joanna gosling live from westminster. the prime minister vows to fight for herjob after conservative mps trigger a vote of confidence in her leadership. sir graham brady has confirmed that he has received 48 letters from conservative mps so there will now be a vote of confidence in my leadership of the conservative party. i will contest that vote with everything i've got. the chairman of the conservative backbench 1922 committee says the ballot will be held tonight. the prime minister will come and address conservative colleagues at the 1922 committee meeting at 5pm this afternoon and immediately after that meeting, a ballot will be held between 6pm and 8pm and we will count as soon as we can and provide a result as soon as we can after that. the prime minister needs a majority of 158 votes in her favour to win the ballot. if that happens, she cannot be challenged

for at least another year. and in15 and in 15 minutes i'll be talking to various leading tories about why this leadership challenge has happened and the likely result, including international trade secretary liam fox. of course, we'll ta ke secretary liam fox. of course, we'll take you life to a very special prime minister's questions at noon. welcome to a bbc news special from westminster, and the dramatic news this morning that the prime minister theresa may is facing a challenge to her leadership of the conservative party. that's because at least 48 backbench conservative mps have written to the chair of the 1922 committee, sir graham brady, to say they have no confidence in her.

just before nine o'clock this morning, in a statement outside number 10, the prime minister vowed to contest the vote with everything she's got. so what can we expect later? mrs may will address the 1922 committee at five o'clock, in what will be her last chance to convince any undecided conservative mps to back her as leader. shortly after she finishes speaking, the ballot will be held — that's at some point between six and 8pm — with the result announced soon afterwards. mrs may must win the support of at least half of the conservative parliamentary party to avoid a leadership contest. if she loses she will not be able to stand. if she wins she is safe from a further challenge for a year. senior members of the cabinet have been quick

to throw their support behind the prime minister. the foreign secretaryjeremy hunt said she is the "best person to make sure we actually leave the eu on march the 29th". the international trade secretary liam fox said it was the wrong time for a leadership contest, saying the country expects stability and not damaging division. meanwhile the prominent brexiteerjacob rees—mogg, who was one of the first to submit a letter of no—confidence in the prime minister, said "the country needs a new leader" and that "it's time for mrs may to resign". the former prime minister david cameron has since urged conservative mps to back mrs may in the vote. let's hear some of what mrs may had to say — and a warning, this contains flashing images. we must and we shall deliver on the referendum vote and seize the opportunities that lie ahead. but the conservatives must not be a

single issue party. we are a party of the whole nation. moderate, pragmatic, mainstream. committed to reuniting our country and building a country that works for everyone. the agenda i set out in my first speech outside this front door, delivering the brexit people voted for, building a country that works for everyone. i have devoted myself unsparingly to these tasks ever since i became prime minister, and i stand ready to finish the job. the prime minister absolutely defiant earlier when she spoke. we also heard from graham brady — the chairman of the 1922 committee of conservative back benchers, who talked about the meeting he had with the prime minister last night. this is the scene live in downing street. the prime minister is leaving downing street to come to the building behind me over the road and she is going to be in the

commons for prime minister's questions at midday. said graham brady was speaking about the meeting he had with the prime minister last night and said she was defiant that she wanted to crack on and get the process under way, which is why we saw it all happen early this morning. i think you can draw from the fact that she was keen to move ahead swiftly, to resolve matters, you know, i think she was keen to get on with herjob and get on with the business of government. clearly, having massive speculation about whether or not there would be a confidence vote was unhelpful. also, having a protracted period between the announcement that a vote would take place and that vote taking place would have been a very difficult time, and not conducive to getting on with the job. so i think it is entirely in keeping, i have to say, that she was keen to proceed swiftly and get matters resolved. plenty of reaction this morning

as mps decide how to vote in tonight's confidence vote. here's what conservative party chairman brandon lewis had to say this morning. the prime minister is the right person to take us forward. we need to give her ourfull person to take us forward. we need to give her our full support and person to take us forward. we need to give her ourfull support and i hope colleagues can get back to delivering for the country. you'll be fighting for her tonight? absolutely. that you let your colleagues to do the same?” absolutely. that you let your colleagues to do the same? i would urge them to give her their full support, it's the right thing for the country and allows us to focus on what we should be focusing on. be domestic matters people care about and getting the deal in europe when she goes to the eu tomorrow. let's speak to our assistant political editor norman smith who is in downing street. the prime minister's supporters circling the wagons, what are her chances of survival later? not

surprisingly, mrs may's team have launched a major effort to shore up support for the prime minister. we've seen pretty much every single member of the cabinet tweeting their support and backing for the member of the cabinet tweeting their support and backing for the prime minister. we've had warnings of the risks that if mrs may is toppled, brexit itself could be put at risk. mrs may in her statement dramatically raising the stakes and suggesting that the future of the country could be at risk if she is toppled because of the uncertainty that would follow. we've had key cabinet ministers saying one fate is all she needs to win, she just needs all she needs to win, she just needs a majority of one and that is enough for her to continue. then of course, she's got prime minister's questions 110w she's got prime minister's questions now but more importantly, just before tory mps get to vote at 6pm they will hear from the prime minister who will address the 1922 committee. what a meeting that is

going to be. mrs may will in effect be pitching for her political life. moments after she is finished, tory mps will cast their votes. i think that does actually give her quite a significant advantage because the last thing tory mps will have a ringing in theirears last thing tory mps will have a ringing in their ears is her appeal for support. when you talk to those around mrs may, again, maybe not surprising that they are predicting she will win. we heard from the health secretary matthew hancock earlier predicting there would be a strong majority for mrs may. bear in mind that this is a private ballot, mps may say something in public and then cast their votes quite differently when it comes to the crunch. they will have to be calculating. can mrs may actually deliver? a better brexit deal? looming down the tracks everyone

knows is the meaningful fate on mrs may's deal. unless she can get a significantly reworked package, particularly in relation to the backstop, the danger is the deal goes down and you're back in the question mark about whether mrs may can continue. huge, dramatic moment this evening and the stakes are absolutely enormous. yes, thank you very much. with me is the liberal democrats leader, sir vince cable. this is obviously a matter for another party, an internal party matter on the surface but fundamental as to where this country is going in terms of brexit. do you wa nt is going in terms of brexit. do you want her to is going in terms of brexit. do you want herto win? is going in terms of brexit. do you want her to win? it's not for me to decide, i don't have a vote in this contest. it is extraordinary. the conservative party is putting its own internal conflicts ahead of the interest of the country in a very damaging way. we had five years of coalition government, i was in the same government has theresa may. it was stable and strong at a time of

national crisis, and the contrast between the way the current government is behaving is extraordinary. i suspect at the end she is going to win. i don't know, but i suspect she is. if she does we are back to where we were yesterday with an unpalatable unacceptable brexit deal, and where do we go from there? how do you break the deadlock? the options are narrowing. given the shambolic behaviour of the government, i think the leader of the opposition has a duty to come forward with a no—confidence motion. the key is the various options that are now opening, of which i think there is momentum on the idea of going back to the country to resolve the issue. we are out of time i'm afraid, thank you. there has been a lot of reaction from mps on twitter this morning. the home secretary sajid javid tweeted support for the prime minister with — "the last thing our country needs right now is a conservative party leadership election. will be seen as self—indulgent and wrong. pm has my full support

and is best person to ensure we leave eu on 29 march." former prime minister david cameron urged tory mps to back mrs may in the vote of confidence, tweeting — "i hope conservative mps will back the pm in the vote today. we need no distractions from seeking the best outcome with our neighbours, friends and partners in the eu." meanwhile, labour mp chuka umunna said — "the tory party can change the prime minister but the parliamentary arithmetic does not change. and while we obsess over how many tory mps theresa may can get to back her, the real business of sorting out the mess we're in goes ignored again." conservative mp bernard jenkin tweeted — "the uk changed prime minister in may 19110 — in the middle of a monstrously greater national crisis than this. if it has to be done, it has to be done." conservative brexiteer andrea jenkyns tweeted — "i take it that those cabinet ministers defending the pm this morning, will not put their name in to succeed her if there is a leadership election?" "i hope colleagues will vote the right way this evening. it is time that we had a new leader to save brexit, and unite our country. "

and the former ukip leader, nigel farage has tweeted — "tory mps have one last chance to save brexit tonight by removing mrs may, time to stand up and show some courage." os with me is the home office minister sarah newton mp. supporting theresa may. supporting theresa maylj supporting theresa may. i am very much supporting theresa may. supporting theresa may. i am very much supporting theresa maym supporting theresa may. i am very much supporting theresa may. if she we re much supporting theresa may. if she were to win by one vote, would that be enough? absolutely but she deserves so much more. this is a com pletely deserves so much more. this is a completely unnecessary distraction. parliament has got a really importantjob parliament has got a really important job to do. parliament has got a really importantjob to do. most of us were elected on a manifesto to deliver brexit and we need to get on and do that. something needs to give, because even if she wins, the situation doesn't change. the government without a majority, reliant on the dup, they don't like the agreement theresa may has put forward , the agreement theresa may has put forward, that agreement doesn't have the support of mps. the eu says that is the only deal, so how does

anything change? what all of my collea g u es anything change? what all of my colleagues in parliament need to remember is parliament must deliver brexit. there is no majority for us crashing out of the eu without a deal. there is no majority to stop brexit. the prime minister is right now, well, she's had to come back today but she will be back in europe tomorrow getting those assurances collea g u es tomorrow getting those assurances colleagues are seeking on the backstop. then we must come together and deliver brexit. there is a way out of the backstop and that is to remain in the customs union and to have closer trade ties. that would mean there needn't be a hard border with northern ireland. if she won, what about a grand coalition with the parliamentary majority, the labour partyjoining the parliamentary majority, the labour party joining in the parliamentary majority, the labour partyjoining in to support that? it's absolutely right we should all be looking for what's best in our national interest. and we've spent two years, the government has spent two years getting this extremely good deal and

a very close relationship with the eu that does deliver on brexit. is that something you could see the prime minister doing? what the prime minister can do i'm sure it's come back to parliament and reassure enough colleagues. we are never going to get everybody in the house of commons agree on, but enough collea g u es of commons agree on, but enough colleagues to make sure that we have a good deal. if she loses all be closer to crashing out without a deal? she is not going to lose. if she loses. i don't go on hyper -- hypotheticals. we are going to be covering prime minister's questions shortly after midday. that will be the first of her challenges. we will have full reaction from westminster. well, for the very latest

from downing street and around the uk — plus prime minister's questions — let's join our colleagues at politics live, with andrew neil, from westminster. we live in westminster on the day theresa may faces a vote of no confidence in her leadership from her own side. i will contest that fate with everything i've got. a change of leadership in the conservative party will put our country's future at risk and create uncertainty when we can least afford it. enough tory mps want the prime minister gone to have triggered that fate, only tory backbenchers will get to vote. do they have not have in mrs may? the result should be declared by hpm. the campaigning is already in full swing. it just lead to itjust lead to exasperation at the end that she was determined to follow the wrong horse. we have got the prospect of 12 hours of middle—aged men coming on shows like this, slagging off the prime minister. and before that vote the pm

will of course face jeremy corbyn at prime minister's questions. we'll bring you that live in an hour's time. the consenus here in westminster as of 11.15 this morning is that mrs may will win tonight's vote. but the consensus is not always right these days. and when you're dealing with the self—styled most duplicitous electorate in the world, then all bets are off. joining me: international trade secretary liam fox, conservative peer and times columnist danny finkelstein, daily mirror political editor pippa crerar and the conservative mp nadine dorries. welcome to you all. this is what theresa may told

reporters in downing street just after 8.30 this morning — and a warning that there is flash photography in this clip. i will contest that vote with everything i've got. i spent yesterday meeting chancellor merkel, prime minister rutte, president tusk and presidentjuncker to address the concerns that mps have with the backstop and we are making progress. i was due to travel to dublin this afternoon to continue that work but will now remain here in london to make the case for my leadership with my parliamentary colleagues. a change of leadership in the conservative party now will put our country's future at risk and create uncertainty when we can least afford it. a new leader would not be in place by the 21st ofjanuary legal deadline, so a leadership election risks handing control of the brexit negotiations to opposition mps in parliament. the new leader would not have time to re—negotiate the withdrawal agreement and get the legislation through parliament by the 29th of march.

so one of their first acts would have to be extending or rescinding article 50, delaying or even stopping brexit, when people want us to get on with it. and a leadership election would not change the fundamentals of the negotiation or the parliamentary arithmetic. well, the prime minister giving tory mps reasons why they should have confidence in her and boat to keep her leader of the party and prime minister. i said earlier tory backbenchers get to vote, but it is all tory mps, including everybody on the government payroll. nadine dorries, will the prime minister win 01’ dorries, will the prime minister win or lose tonight? i am putting my neck out. i know cabinet ministers who had been telephoned by the chief whip and they have told the chief whip and they have told the chief whip that the prime minister has their support and privately they do

not. i know people who have been phoned this morning and they said they will support the prime minister and they will not do so. this is why it is the most duplicitous electorate in the world. exactly, eve ryo ne electorate in the world. exactly, everyone is protecting their back on theirjobs. if she survives, and i think she will onlyjust theirjobs. if she survives, and i think she will only just survived, that will be worse because she will be even more mortally wounded and she is now. that statement on the steps was patently untrue. that was afairy steps was patently untrue. that was a fairy story. let me come back to that. fair point. i have heard that from government ministers all morning. when our own research people calculate that around 124 tory mps, including ministers, have come out for mrs may, that figure is not one to rely on in terms of truth? if mps are coming out and

campaigning for truth? if mps are coming out and campaigning foers truth? if mps are coming out and campaigning for mrs may and saying they will keep the prime minister, i will say that is a more trustworthy figure. but there is one fundamental fa cts figure. but there is one fundamental facts about this election and that is when they go into that voting booth tonight and vote, they are voting not to keep the prime minister, but to keep the prime minister, but to keep the prime minister in place for a guaranteed 12 months. a lot of mps have majorities of less than 5000 and that means there is a very strong possibility the prime minister will lead them into a general election. what every mp will do first is want to secure their majority and they know they cannot do that with theresa may. we welcome back to that. does the prime minister win or lose this vote of confidence? however it turns out, she will certainly fight for it and it is quite astonishing how quickly the cabinet came out on twitter and elsewhere this morning and said they would be behind her. but the point that the dean made is can you take

the candidate at their word but 124 names have come up the candidate at their word but 124 names have come up and they publicly declared, but we will never have to opportunity to see if they are telling the truth because it is a secret ballot. but even if she reaches the 158... secret ballot. but even if she reaches the 158. .. she secret ballot. but even if she reaches the 158... she needs 158 secret ballot. but even if she reaches the 158. .. she needs 158 to win. she has made it clear that if she wins by one, she will stick with it because she is determined to see her brexit deal through. however, there is definitely a boundary, a point at which it becomes too difficult for her to continue even if she does win. if she has 100 mp5 voting against her, is it tenable for her to carry on with that degree of resistance? the men in grey suits may come along and say in the end it

is time for her to go anyway. would she win or lose? i think she will win bya she win or lose? i think she will win by a reasonable margin. there will be a large number of people against her but not enough. what would you describe is reasonable?m is possible 100 will vote against and that is a considerable number, but she will still stick it out in my opinion. one rare moment of consensus, my opinion. one rare moment of consensus, it will be wonderful that we will have nine months before people can speculate about the leadership. we will then be on to who is going to run in a leadership race. will the prime minister win or lose tonight? she will win. i think she needs to win by one. it is ironic that people say a referendum in the europe was that a win was a win, but in this people say she has

to win by a certain amount or it will not be valid. the rules say you need a majority out of the 315. by oui’ need a majority out of the 315. by oursimple need a majority out of the 315. by our simple arithmetic that is 158, thatis our simple arithmetic that is 158, that is winning by one. that is the arithmetic, but this is politics. if she wins by one, i suggest to you she wins by one, i suggest to you she cannot survive. it would not be an emphatic victory, but it is a victory. the rules are clear. we have a chance to challenge a sitting leader and i voted for iain duncan smith when it happened to him and i will vote for theresa may. i think she will win. the tory party needs to understand what we have been asked to do. we have got two tasks. deliver brexit, stay in office. does changing leader make those tasks easier or harder? it makes them harder. i think one of the things we have realised about theresa may during these two years of

negotiations is she does not command the respect or the authority of the 27 other european leaders. the sight of her travelling around europe with her begging bowl over the last 24 hours has been a humiliation on the world stage for us. i think the new leader, somebody who has an entirely different approach, who is able to talk and negotiate without a briefing paper before them. somebody who can freelance negotiate, who is a stronger, more determined person to deliver what the country voted for. it is all about changing the policy and getting a better deal. i just do not think theresa may has the ability to do that. and we have to do that because if we do not, we will lose the dup and then we will lose power. the dup's contention is that boris johnson lose power. the dup's contention is that borisjohnson will be a more respected person... i believe... but

you do believe that he would be and i think that is an eccentric contention. ijust i think that is an eccentric contention. i just do i think that is an eccentric contention. ijust do not agree with the idea that if the prime minister was respected more than she is, and there is no evidence that she is not personally respected, that it would make any difference whatsoever to out make any difference whatsoever to our fundamental negotiating position. from the beginning that has been a misconception. i realise thatis has been a misconception. i realise that is a fundamental political disagreement, but the conservative party will now test that and i think theresa may will win that. with all the consequences that you say will follow when you win an election, which is that the result stinks. she had to withdraw the vote on her deal because she finally recognised it would be a big defeat. what has she achieved by her tour around europe yesterday? she was supposed to be

continuing with that today and now we have had an interruption. she saw the dutch prime minister yesterday and she was in brussels as well, what did she achieved? we will find out in time. she achieved nothing. we do not know what she discussed, we do not know what the options that we re we do not know what the options that were looked at. the prime minister is very clear that the house of commons would not pass the backstop and the irish protocol as long as there was the fear that we could be locked into that and she said she understood what the house of commons meant by that and she was taking that message to european leaders. at the very least she should be allowed to compete that part of her negotiation. but what has she achieved so far? she went to see angela merkel, despite fading npower is still the most important leader in europe. after she saw her, angela

merkel went to her party gathering to say, we are not giving in on this, they are getting nothing more. what has she achieved so far? and donald tusk said last night that he understood the problem and they wanted to help, it was a matter of how to do that. the prime minister was supposed to be seen in the irish prime minister today to continue the negotiation. maybe all she will manage to achieve is to make people understand there is nothing else. this is the deal. we either have this or we do not have a deal. in my opinion it was sensible not to do it because a lot of people would have foolishly voted against the only deal on the table so she did the politically wise thing. it is not democratic. if that has not changed, what is the point of postponing the vote ? what is the point of postponing the vote? is this simply clocking up air miles? she might hope to get as you insist that alter people's minds.

time might do that. there was no point in pressing on with the vote. that was pointless. ultimately if it brings home the idea there is nothing else there, it is this deal or no deal at all or no brexit. this typifies the problem because here we are with three conservative politicians in different parts of the party fighting over whether theresa may has got a deal, could get a better deal, which parts of the party will support? ijust wonder how viewers at home, looking at the conservative party right now, lam at the conservative party right now, i am wondering whether they have any idea about how they feel about this. in the public's view the country is teetering on a precipice over the biggest decision it will make in post—war history and here is the conservative party... if labour made its few clear we would not be in this position. your party is in government and you are supposed to

be running these negotiations and you cannot be running these negotiations and you cannot agree. be running these negotiations and you cannot agree. you have got to the point where you're prime minister is about to be ousted as party leader. this massive introspection is more thanjust self—indulgence, it is worse than that. it looks like a dereliction of responsibility. how does the tory peer blame labour for this shambles? you can hardly blame the opposition. if the labour party supported the deal, the deal would have passed. if the labour party supported the deal, the deal would have passedm is thejob of deal, the deal would have passedm is the job of the opposition to oppose. the conservative party is very split, so i do not want to have a position where i am saying they are not. if the labour party came out and told us what its position is ona out and told us what its position is on a second referendum... they are responsible for this country's future as well as the government. responsible for this country's

future as well as the governmentfi is very clear the labour party have been playing politics with us. but the very sensible point that you made, that the public will look at this and say why are you talking about internal politics when the prime minister is out there during a crucial international negotiation? they were looked at parliament also and say why is the labour party that might be true, but the government is in charge. i'm not trying to say that the government is not in charge and the split in the conservative party is a disaster and the position we've ended up in disgrace, but it's also true that the position in the country would be clear if the labour party decides it wants no confidence, a second referendum or support the deal, and until it makes that decision it's difficult for parliament to reach consensus. we will be speaking to the labour party later, but let me show you this tweet from sammy wilson, the

influential dup mp. he then says that the current brexit policy is totally unacceptable to the dup and also things it cannot get through the commons. it's a matter for conservative mps to decide who the leader is but the policy must change. but the policy is not changing, is it? the whole point of the prime minister's visit is to see how we can give reassurance to people like the dup. it seems to me we are in a position where the only thing that can actually command a majority in the house of commons is the current deal if the worries about the backstop are removed. but they won't be removed. the europeans have made it clear that the backstop is what it is. they may clarify it and give you an interpretation of what it means but the substance will not change. we will see but we haven't got to the end of the process. the whole

ridiculous thing and the reason the public think this is absurd and self—indulgent and selfish is that the prime minister is involved in a major national negotiation, having given parliament a promise she would do so and no sooner is she off on those discussions with european leaders when she has to come back to fight a confidence vote that clearly has been timed for a number of different reasons. nadine, have you and your allies, have you triggered and your allies, have you triggered a leadership challenge that you now look like losing? not at all, no. i put my letter in two months ago because the writing was on the wall. one of the issues i have with our prime minister is when she called the general election and the manifesto hit the streets, which are not a single cabinet minister or minister had seen or approved, i called that a bit of a problem. we lost 33 colleagues and some of us have not forgiven her for that, but

then we had a checkers agreement which no minister or cabinet minister approved and then we have the withdrawal agreement that blindsided the cabinet and not a single person had seen or approved. we have a prime minister who does not listen and cannot negotiate and we need somebody who listens not only to mp5 but the country and to the other 27 eu leaders. we need somebody more able to negotiate and to get a better deal. changing the leader doesn't change the basic problem. you say listen to the country on the dup, but if they say different things, for instance? so in the end the prime minister has to provide a judgment. the judgment the prime minister has made seems to be right, that this is the only deal. the moldovans have an exit clause on their trade agreement and we couldn't even manage one. we need the moldovans to negotiate for us. it is about the arithmetic. changing

the leader does not change the basic arithmetic of parliament. hold your horses, we are going to one of your conservative colleagues in the happy family we are seeing live on bbc television this morning. she is in the central lobby, smiling at least. heidi allen, are you voting for the prime minister tonight?” heidi allen, are you voting for the prime minister tonight? i will be a bit i was listening to the noise, and alli bit i was listening to the noise, and all i could hear was the racket coming out of your studio. yes, i will, and i think a significant number of my colleagues, more than plenty, will vote for the prime minister tonight. a lot of us will have questions but there is no doubt in my mind that she will be supported. and would you vote for her deal if it was put before the commons. as soon as it was in a similar condition, i would commons. as soon as it was in a similar condition, iwould not commons. as soon as it was in a similar condition, i would not and commons. as soon as it was in a similar condition, iwould not and i don't know if her trips around europe have don't know if her trips around eu rope have successfully don't know if her trips around europe have successfully achieved anything. for me it was more than the backstop. i think it's unlikely.

let me get this clear, you will vote for the prime minister, but you will vote against her deal? what's the point of that? there are multiple factors at play here. first and foremost factors at play here. first and fore m ost we factors at play here. first and foremost we should all be thinking about the country rather than our own internal petty squabbles and changing prime minister and the person who has been building a relationship with europe at this time is frankly irresponsible and absolutely the wrong thing to do. i don't think the money markets would thank us for doing that, so the prime minister is right to stay for that and she is also most likely having taken this deal as far as she has, she is the right person to listen to colleagues and listen to parliament and the country and possibly recondition it. i know nadine in the studio won't like me for saying this, but it needs to be conditioned on what the people of this country think. you want a

second referendum ? this country think. you want a second referendum?” this country think. you want a second referendum? i don't want one, it's the last thing i do, but i fear not only are the squabbles happening in parliament and within the government, they are happening within the tory party. we need some people with some common sense, the great british public, to tell us whether the prime minister's deal, and we need to have a vote on it, now she has broadly finished her trip around europe, so let's get the vote out of the way, yes or no and then put the deal to the british public. if she doesn't win tonight and there is a tory leadership contest a re and there is a tory leadership contest are there some potential future conservative leaders that you would find difficult or impossible to stay in the conservative party with quest but i didn't think for one minute who you thought i might back or like to see. i think you know the answer to that. tell our viewers what the answer is. firstly, i don't think she's going to lose tonight. but if she does, indulge me. any of the characters who have

beenin me. any of the characters who have been in the media, boris, jacob rees—mogg, i could not back them. been in the media, boris, jacob rees—mogg, i could not back themm you would give up the tory whip if it was eitherjacob rees—mogg or borisjohnson? it was eitherjacob rees—mogg or boris johnson? i think i would have to do and i would not be alone. there would be a significant number of colleagues who would agree with me entirely. neither of those characters, for me, are the right person to pick this mess up, should it come to pass, and lead our country in the future. let me put your point to nadeem doris. country in the future. let me put your point to nadeem dorism country in the future. let me put your point to nadeem doris. it won't happen. there are already people who might say that but there are always people who say they won't tolerate this, but they will not give up their jobs this, but they will not give up theirjobs in the conservative whip. but jacob rees—mogg is absolutely not standing. boris almost certainly will be standing. as the polls showed last week, he has massive support in the country. the party and the country. the polls don't necessarily show he has massive

support amongst voters in the country. while there are people i would like to see going forward are amber rudd, who is under the spectrum, and boris, because i would like to see the tory party membership, and for the first time ina while, membership, and for the first time in a while, providing a leader who has a mandate in the party because theresa may does not have a mandate. she became leader almost by default. i'd like the tory membership to be involved and give a new leader a mandate to lead. the problem is that it doesn't change parliament. the point i was making is that parliament has a natural remaining majority irrespective of what the public voted at the referendum and has a minority conservative government. changing the leader will not improve that. if anything, it will increase the fragmentation inside the parliamentary party and it would be more difficult for any other leader to rule and govern the party in parliament than it is for theresa may today. it doesn't actually change the basic position

which is the numbers in parliament. the lbj first rule was learn to count. unless you understand the arithmetic in parliament, you can't make sense of it. even if a new brexit supporting tory leader got the support back of the dup, there are people like heidi and others i spoke to privately on the remaining wing of the tory party who would resign the whip in protest at that. i would love to see the day that happens. and as liam indicates it would solidify support in the opposition party against whoever was leading the tory party and their form of brexit. there are mps who might resign the whip tonight if theresa may wins the vote. who would they be questioned but there are some people who feel strongly about it. so whatever the outcome, your party is in deep trouble. you're making an empty threat on behalf of other people. i'm absolutely not. as strongly as heidi feels, there are

reasons why the leadership competition is happening because there are people who feel very strongly. it's not a leadership competition, it's a vote of confidence in the leadership. competition, it's a vote of confidence in the leadershipm competition, it's a vote of confidence in the leadership. it all leads to the same thing. once the leader receives a vote of confidence then the leader deserves to have the confidence of a party, people who say democratic elections have consequences, this has a competence —— consequence will stop you cannot call this and then not respect the result. the leader will have a mandate you say she lacks. she is unable to change the policy or get a better deal. if we continue with this leader and lose the dup we will be ina this leader and lose the dup we will be in a general election, in government but not in power. if we continue with theresa may ? everybody makes empty threats but you think the dup threat, in other words the threats you would like to be serious, you regard those as serious. as andrew was just saying, i think they are serious but they

fear the backstop less than they fear the backstop less than they fearjeremy corbyn. they would rather they would rather have jeremy corbyn than the backstop. heidi, back to you for a final word. i like wild and crazy ideas. never mind the dup and crazy ideas. never mind the dup and the hard brexiteers, what about the prime minister reaching out, because this is beyond party politics now, reaches across the commons and finds a deal that everybody can support and collectively involves the general public. it should notjust be about the tory party. it's a national debate and more important than petty squabbling. it needs to involve the whole of parliament and the british people. and what chances would you give theresa may up doing a deal with the labour front bench?” give theresa may up doing a deal with the labour front bench? i don't think it is the front bench, but the party. the labour party are as splintered as we are over this and it said coal mines, calm heads, but

this is the time for grown—up politics and the british people don't care which political party sort this out they want us to just sort this out they want us to just sort it out and dare i say the tory party have put us in this mess and it needs the british public and the whole of parliament to get us out of it. heidi alan, we will leave it there. nadine dorries, we will let you go because you need to get into the chamber 4pm cues. we will be joined now by the former tory party chairman, grant shapps —— prime ministers questions. let me go back to liam fox. many people on your wing of the party are puzzled by your position. and your support for the theresa may deal. your natural soulmates like david davis, dominic raab, other strong brexiteers like yourself, they are all against this deal. why are you so in favour of it? because i think there are only three things that can happen in our

politics because of the points i was making earlier about the parliamentary arithmetic. first of all, the only deal that could go through would be if the prime minister was able to allay the fears on the backstop which you may or may not be able to do, but i think that's the only deal that can go through. the other alternatives are that we end up in a parliament that has a remaining majority that wants to keep us in the eu in one way or another, or we leave without any agreement with the european union. the first of those is democratically unacceptable because the public gave us an unacceptable because the public gave us an instruction in the referendum. i've heard my colleagues say that parliament is sovereign. i don't buy that. i think in terms of the referendum, we contracted out our sovereignty to the people and said we are not going to make a decision on this is parliament, you make a decision for us and give us an instruction. so i can't accept that one. in terms of no deal there are real problems with a real no deal

that does not give us any buffering, for example, our exporters, let's ta ke for example, our exporters, let's take farmers, agricultural exporters, they would face common external tariffs in europe without any chance for us to mitigate that and that would be a real impact on parts of the economy. so when people say no deal is fine and it won't have any consequences, it will have consequences. they may be manageable or bearable mostly to those who wouldn't have to pay the price but there would still be a problem to face. we have to be realistic about what is possible in the parliament we have. what happened to the liam fox that told the today programme in 2017 that a trade deal with the eu would be one of the easiest in human history. the trade deal mother what we haven't done yet, will be relatively straightforward compared to the withdrawal agreement which was always because it's about politics and citizens‘ rights was always because it‘s about politics and citizens‘ rights and money was always going to be the more difficult part. when we get to the trade agreement, because we

begin from the full regulatory and legislative alignment, that should be an easier element than the withdrawal agreement proved to be. the problem here is and i have to raise this a lot with colleagues, is that you cannot get to any model of a european trade agreement, be at the prime minister‘s proposed one or canada plus or norway plus or anything else until you have the withdrawal agreement. that is a prerequisite in terms of article 50 that we reach that withdrawal agreement with the eu. the former chairman of the conservative party has joined the former chairman of the conservative party hasjoined us, grant shapps. how are you voting? i am going to go along to the prime minister‘s questions and also at 7pm. this is when she addresses all the conservative mps? they can have backbenchers and frontbenchers and eve ryo ne backbenchers and frontbenchers and everyone can go along. for me, the

absolute key issue is not theresa may, but the deal itself. and the backstop, which i was about to vote against, had the vote not been stopped, is for me the real issue. no mp should ever vote to hand power away from parliament that it cannot be certain of ever getting back again. if we sort out the backstop, andi again. if we sort out the backstop, and i heard her say this morning that she had made progress on it, andi that she had made progress on it, and i had calls this morning telling me that she would elaborate on this today... have you any idea what that means why she has said that? have you any idea what has come out of berlin, brussels or paris that would lead you to conclude that? a wing on a prayer? number ten have called me this morning. what does she have to say? by the way i was at remainer.

for me the issue is i cannot vote for something where parliament can indefinitely lose the power to withdraw from it in the same way we do when we signed up to an international treaty. what she needs to say is we have found a way of somehow time limiting or providing a unilateral exit to this specific pa rt unilateral exit to this specific part of the agreement that she and eve ryo ne part of the agreement that she and everyone else says we never need to enter anyway. it is not beyond the eu to do that. the signs looked positive yesterday. this morning number ten were on the phone to me assuring me that she has got something interesting. what is the logic of having a confidence vote whilst the prime minister is negotiating this? sure. over a year ago after we lost that majority in the snap general election i went out and said if we change leader to negotiate a different deal, now that theresa may has lost the majority,

that was the time to do it. curiously, the people who were saying not now either people who are now putting in the no—confidence vote. we are aware we are now, whether you wanted it or not, whether you wanted it or not, whether the media step it up or not, we are where we are. why, liam fox, tell grant why he should vote for theresa may? i think doing this in the middle of negotiations makes no sense. the process itself, which grant knows, can take some time. there are party activists who were not given a voice last time and they will want to have full regional hustings and that will take us into the spring. if we do it quickly we might have a leader in place by the end of february. do you agree with that? there are very good reasons

for not changing a leader now, but the argument has to be stronger than the argument has to be stronger than the process. it took several weeks to gather information centrally and that has now been turned into a central database that has now been turned into a central data base and i that has now been turned into a central database and i do not agree it has to take forever. i think the argument made that you cannot do this because you cannot do it in time, if the argument is she has achieved something out of her talks in europe yesterday, and we do not know about that, and she has found some answer to the problem, the middle ground remainers lycos will vote to support her. the argument that it vote to support her. the argument thatitis vote to support her. the argument that it is a time to change leader did not wash with grant. have another go. the public will say he isa another go. the public will say he is a prime minister who has to interrupt the tour she is doing to achieve what both ground and i want to see because tory mps want to

choose this moment bizarrely of all moments to have a confidence vote and they were looked at us and say, are you acting in your party's interest or in the national interest? you do not buy that. i can see the e—mails coming in from constituents saying do not upset the apple cart and that is a good argument. but the basic, principled argument. but the basic, principled argument has to be what is right and wrong for parliament to do. if she can find wrong for parliament to do. if she canfind a wrong for parliament to do. if she can find a way of letting us off the hook, of voting away powers that we can never return in the event of a backstop, she is home and dry. what is the alternative route? what are you proposing? from my point of view isi you proposing? from my point of view is i said i voted for her because i saw this would be an enormous problem. i would saw this would be an enormous problem. iwould rather saw this would be an enormous problem. i would rather remain, saw this would be an enormous problem. iwould rather remain, or leave and leave properly with a

free—trade agreement, but not have this half in, half our model we are in at the moment. so you now want a referendum? we have now passed a law that says we want to leave. you want a second referendum? no, absolutely not. you would remain without a second referendum? let me finish. your argument i heard before i came on that no arithmetic would change in parliament if there was a different leader, i entirely agree, but it works in both directions. the one fact we know is that a law has already been passed to leave at 11pm on the 29th of march, so nothing happening means we end up leaving whether or not there is an agreement in place or not. starting from the position we are at the moment... we have got eight minutes to go until prime minister‘s questions. liam fox still has a bit of work to do on

grant shapps is to get his vote. before you go, a final thought. probably i think she mightjust before you go, a final thought. probably i think she might just win it, whether it is enough to get a deal in the future and after that, we still have all the spectre of her not being able to get her deal to eat or otherwise and it will not be enough to get through parliament and potentially next week no—confidence vote amongst mps across parliament in the government. we will see. pippa, thank you. prime minister‘s questions is minutes away and we will bejoined by questions is minutes away and we will be joined by the questions is minutes away and we will bejoined by the bbc questions is minutes away and we will be joined by the bbc political editor laura kuenssberg. we will also bejoined by the shadowjustice secretary who has been waiting in the wings. whilst that is happening, liam fox, if there is no movement on the backs, will you still support the backs, will you still support the deal? if there is no movement on the deal? if there is no movement on the backstop it is very likely that one of two things happened and that

is, as grant said, we would either remain in the eu without a referendum which would be a democratic front. that brings a whole range of consequences. more likely we will have to up our preparations for no deal and leave the eu without a deal. my question was if there is no change of substance or was if there is no change of substance or even was if there is no change of substance or even clarification of any great meaning to the backstop, do you still support the deal? any great meaning to the backstop, do you still support the deanm any great meaning to the backstop, do you still support the deal? it is very difficult to support the deal if we do not get changes to the backstop. i do not think it will get through. i am backstop. i do not think it will get through. iam not backstop. i do not think it will get through. i am not sure the cabinet will agree for it to be put to the house of commons. why is downing street calling grant shapps telling him about progress on the backstop and not pulling his trade secretary? we were due to have a cabinet meeting today which has been put off because we are in the middle of a confidence vote. but would other cabinet ministers, if there is not

clarification on the backstop, would they not vote for it either? we are not expecting this process to be over. having listened to what the conservative party said, the prime minister is out trying to achieve those changes. they should have been talking with the eu after the cabinet meeting today and we have seen an cabinet meeting today and we have seen an interruption to this. people out there, our supporters, and people in the country will be saying why would the tory party plunged itself into a confidence vote on the prime minister in the middle of a process which is clearly in the national interest and clearly in the party‘s interest. national interest and clearly in the party's interest. all right. laura kuenssberg is with us. bbc research saying about 145 tory mps, including ministers, have come out for her. she needs 158. if you take the number at face value, or take their protestations at face value, she is not far of winning. what are you

hearing? first thing to say it is a secret ballot. second, i have been on college green and number ten in the last hour or so have been doing a good job of flooding the place with loyalists. people are saying do not do this, do not plunge us into chaos. there is a lot of genuine anger by brexiteers. but not only brexiteers have put their letters in. people are extremely cross about the fact it has got to this. a government minister said to me he thinks it will be closer than people expect. if there is a sense she is home and dry, i think it is too early in the day to say that. briefly i want to talk about the fa ct briefly i want to talk about the fact the deal might not get cabinet backing without changes and that is a very serious thing. i have not heard that before. i have not had a cabinet minister be so candid in

public about the fact they do not believe it can fly without changes to the backstop. the prime minister has been engaged in trying to get changes to the controversial backstop. even if she survives tonight, and it seems right now she will, her deal will not survive in its current state. that is clear. to be fair, the cabinet was consulted about the decision to pull the vote and the cabinet view could not be put to parliament because it would be unlikely to pass through parliament. you already have an example of where collective government has worked. you sign of the deal a couple of weeks before. it has been very clear there are deep reservations about that one particular element and there is a debate over that element, the backstop, as i was explaining in parliament. there are strong views in the european union, in fact growing views in the european union that the backstop is not a good

place for them to be. i have heard colleagues in france saying, why should we persuade french voters that if the british end up in the backstop that the french taxpayers are effectively paying for british membership of the single market? there are strong arguments and we have to try to see how our position is perceived. this idea that the backstop is so painfulfor the is perceived. this idea that the backstop is so painful for the rest of the eu, it is like the german car—makers were going to come to your rescue because they needed a deal. we have never heard a word from the german car dealers. it is the dog that does not bark. if this backstop is not acceptable as currently constituted, why did the cabinet let the deal go forward to the commons? the cabinet did not allow it, it wanted the ultimate vote to go to the commons. there have been a number of resignations

and there are reservations from the dup and it is a very dynamic situation. but parliament will ultimately have to decide that what the prime minister is able to negotiate with our european partners, do they find it acceptable ? if they partners, do they find it acceptable? if they do not, they have become to alternative positions. we have to know what the alternatives will be. the cabinet did approve the deal and allowed the prime minister to put it forward for debate and then a vote in the commons. and then we decided not to put it to the people. it is a parliamentary democracy. why did you approve the deal in the first place if you are no setting if it has not changed, we will not vote for it. the cabinet collectively decided it could not be put to the house of commons because it would not get through. the cabinet did a deal. but people will have to accept one of two things will happen. we either

stay in the eu or leave with no deal. would you not have been better today staying at home, putting your feet up, had a couple of day and watch the tories tear themselves apart? i thought i would come and watch it with you, andrew, a ringside seat. what do you think? i have never seen ringside seat. what do you think? i have never seen a ringside seat. what do you think? i have never seen a party have three orfour members have never seen a party have three or four members of one party on tv at the same time putting forward three orfour different at the same time putting forward three or four different views at one time whilst the prime minister is under siege. but the prime minister isa under siege. but the prime minister is a failing prime minister and the root cause of her failure is not her as an individual, it is the fact she leads a hopelessly divided party on the question of the european union. whoever they eventually get as leader, whether it is sooner or later, that will not solve that problem and that is why they are in crisis and the country is in crisis. what is labour's position on europe?

we are now able to put one person on to explain it. there is no reduction in workers' rights, environmental rights or work as protections. that could bring people together who voted leave or remain. the problem is the lame duck government hasn't got any negotiating power. the treaties don‘t allow that option. negotiating power. the treaties don't allow that option. we are not all stupid. len mccluskey. let's not kid each other. the shadow cabinet do not agree, the vast majority of labour mps do not agree, the vast majority of labourmps ? we do not agree, the vast majority of labour mps ? we are politically sophisticated and know that is not true. the vast majority of labour mps note that we will put that common—sense deal forward, the strong single market relationship, the protection we talked about.

strong single market relationship, the protection we talked aboutm the protection we talked aboutm the commons the other night it was said that labour wanted a customs union and would have a say in european trade policy. under the european trade policy. under the european treaty that is specifically excluded. it says only european union members can have a say in european trade policy, and when asked in the house of commons how he could make the policy compatible with the european treaty, he was unable to answer it. what is the answer? we are not the party in a mess. no, the answer to his question. it might be a novelty to attack a labour mp. you can think about the argument. should be a good one today. mr speaker, i know that the thoughts of the whole house will be with those caught up in the horrific incident in strasbourg last night and we stand ready to give whatever support the french authorities may need. today i will have meetings,

possibly many meetings, with ministerial colleagues and others. just a normal day in the office, prime minister. i would also want to share condolences for the tragic events in the beautiful city of strasbourg. last year the prime minister told us there was not going to bea minister told us there was not going to be a general election and this week she told us she was not going to pull the meaningful vote and then she did. can i ask her now if she‘s going to rule out having general election and a peoples vote? can i say to the honourable lady the first of all that i think a general election at this point in time would not be in the national interest ?. and secondly as she will have heard me say before in this house.” and secondly as she will have heard me say before in this house. i think we should respect the result of the referendum that took place in 2016. given what we could call uncertainty

about the future of the withdrawal agreement, could the prime minister give the people some certainty, that eu nationals in the uk, whatever happens to the deal they will be allowed to stay on roughly the same terms as in the draft agreement. my honourable friend raises an important point because i know eu nationals living here in the uk will be concerned about what might happen in the circumstances of the deal is not agreed. we‘ve been very clear, and the withdrawal agreement we have agreed does respect the rights and protect and guarantee the rights of eu citizens living here but in the unlikely event of no deal i have been clear that this government will still protect eu citizens‘ rights and we would wish to know that actually other eu governments would respect the rights of uk citizens living in the eu as well. thank you, mr speaker. i

living in the eu as well. thank you, mrspeaker. iam living in the eu as well. thank you, mr speaker. i am sure the whole house willjoin me injoining the prime minister in condemning the shootings in strasbourg and extending our sympathy to the families of those killed or injured there. mr speaker, i‘m delighted to see the prime minister back in her place after her little journeys. having told the media this morning that she‘s made progress, can she now update the house on what changes she has secured to her deal? can i say to the right honourable gentleman, i did travel to europe yesterday and meet a number of heads of government and the commission and the european union council, that‘s precisely because i‘ve listened to concerns raised in this house and have taken those concerns to europe. and no one that i met is in any doubt about the strength of concern in this house on the issue of the duration of the backstop. but i‘m interested that the right honourable gentleman wants to know what

progress we have made, because actually, the right honourable gentleman couldn‘t care less what i bring back from brussels. he has been clear that whatever comes back from brussels, he is going to vote against it, because all he wants to do is to create chaos in our economy damage, division and society and damage, division and society and damage to our economy, that is labour, that is jeremy damage to our economy, that is labour, that isjeremy corbyn. damage to our economy, that is labour, that is jeremy corbyn. it's very clear, mr speaker, nothing has changed. if she needed any clarification, mr speaker, if you needed any clarification about the temporary nature of the backstop, she needn‘t have gone to europe, she could have just asked she needn‘t have gone to europe, she could havejust asked her attorney general who says it enjoys

indefinitely. as the prime minister may recall, when she left on her journey we were about to start day for of a five—day debate on the deal. since the prime minister has not achieved any changes either to the withdrawal agreement or the future partnership, can she now confirm that we will have the concluding days of debate and votes within the next seven days before the house rises for the christmas recess ? the house rises for the christmas recess? may i say to the right honourable gentleman, i had discussions with a number of people yesterday and have made some progress, but of course there is an eu council meetings and further discussions to be held. he asks about the meaningful vote and that has been deferred, and the date of the vote will be announced in the normal way and the business motion will be agreed and discussed in the

usual way. i will tell members on the other side when we have had a meaningful vote, we had it in the referendum in 2016. and if he wants a meaningful date, iwill give referendum in 2016. and if he wants a meaningful date, i will give him one. 29th of march, 2019, when we leave the european union. it is totally a nd leave the european union. it is totally and absolutely unacceptable totally and absolutely unacceptable to this house or anyone. this house a agreed a programme motion. this house agreed five days of debate. this house agreed when the vote was going to take place. the government tried to unilaterally pull that and deny this house the chance of a vote on this crucial matter. the prime minister and her government have already been found to be in contempt of parliament. her behaviour today

is just contemptuous of this parliament and of this process. mr speaker, the prime minister‘s appalling behaviour needs to be held to account by this house, as indeed the people of this country are more and more concerned about the ongoing chaos at the centre of her government. when she made her lancaster house speech. order calm, on both sides of the house. order. the questions will be heard, however long it takes, and so will the answers. don't try to shout down. all you do is wear out your voices and you won't succeed. amen, end of subject. when the prime minister made her lancaster house speech she set out her negotiating objectives and they are worth looking at and quoting. the first object is crucial. we will provide certainty

wherever we can. does the current situation look or feel like certainty? can the prime minister mark her own homework on this matter? indeed we have at every stage. the right honourable gentleman said we wouldn‘t get agreement in december, and we did. he said we wouldn‘t get the upper mentation period in march and we did and he said we would not get a withdrawal agreement and a political declaration and we did. concerns have been raised about the backstop, and asi have been raised about the backstop, and as i said, we continue those discussions are no one yesterday was left in any doubt about the strength of feeling in this house. we all know what the right honourable gentleman‘s answer to the backstop is, ignore the referendum and stay in the european union. if there is an agreement, why won‘t the prime minister put that agreement to a vote of this house? the federation of small businesses says that planning ahead is impossible. many

other people around this country find planning impossible because all they see as chaos at the heart of government and an inability to plan anything to the future. yesterday, the cross—party select committee, including conservative mps for the committee of exiting the european union unanimously found the prime minister‘s dale, and i quote, fails to offer sufficient clarity or certainty about the future —— deal. will the prime minister give the country at least some certainty and categorically rule out the option of no deal? the way to ensure there is not a no deal is to agree a deal. that‘s the way you ensure there is no no deal. at the right honourable gentleman talks about the impact on businesses. i will tell him what will have an impact on businesses up

and down this country. what we learnt just a few days and down this country. what we learntjust a few days ago, that the shadow chancellor wants to change the law. order. the prime minister's reply must be heard and it will be. businesses will be affected by the fa ct businesses will be affected by the fact that the shadow chancellor wa nts to fact that the shadow chancellor wants to change the law so that trade unions in this country can go on strike in solidarity with any strike, anywhere in the world. that may be solidarity with trade unions, but it‘s not solidarity with small businesses and it‘s not solidarity with the ordinary working people who would pay the price of labour. my question was, with the prime minister rule out no deal? she has failed to do that. can i tell the prime minister this sorry saga is frustrating for businesses, for

workers and many actually behind her as well. many who are trying to work constructively to find a solution. yesterday, her former constructively to find a solution. yesterday, herformer brexit minister said a new customs union with the eu could be the basis for a parliamentary consensus. when is she going to start listening to people that want actually to find a constructive solution to this rather than denying parliament the right to debate it and vote on her deal? well, we all know one group of people who don‘t want to find a constructive solution, it is the labour party front bench. and that is what we see on the other side of the chamber. no plan, no clue, no brexit. mr speaker, the time for dithering and delay is over. the prime

minister has negotiated her deal. the right honourable gentleman will be heard. jeremy corbyn. mr speaker, the time for dithering and delay by this government is over. the prime minister has negotiated her deal. she has told us it‘s the best and only deal available. there can be no more excuses, no more running away. put it before parliament and lets have the vote. whatever happens with her conservative leadership vote today, it is utterly irrelevant to the lives of people across our country. it does nothing to solve the government‘s and ability to get a deal that works for the whole country. —— inability. she has already been found to be in contempt of parliament. will she now put this deal before parliament anhalt this escalating crisis which is so

damaging to the lives of so many people in this country? we all know from the multiplicity of changes in plan we have seen from the labour party there is one thing we can be sure about. whatever u—turn comes nextin sure about. whatever u—turn comes next in the labour party policy, he will send out. order. i said the leader of the opposition must be heard and belatedly he was. and the prime minister will be heard. the prime minister will be heard. the prime minister. whatever change in labour policy we see, he will send out his henchmen to reveal it to the world. the inconsta nt out his henchmen to reveal it to the world. the inconstant gardener. cani can i say to the right honourable gentleman, i think it‘s time, and somebody will explain it to the leader of the opposition a little bit later

cani can i say to the right honourable gentleman that he should be honest to people? he should be honest to people about his position. he could not care less about brexit. he wants to bring down the government, create uncertainty, so division and crashed our economy. the biggest threat to people and to this country is not leaving the eu, it is a jeremy corbyn government. paul masterton. paul masterton. thank you, mr speaker. a few weeks ago people from

eastwood high school took his own life, having been the victim of bullying on social media and his mobile telephone. he was just 13 yea rs mobile telephone. he was just 13 years old. nearly £10,000 has been raised in his memory for a scottish charity that supports the families of victims of child suicide. can the prime minister set out what this government will do to tackle cyber bullying to deter and prevent children who may be engaging in these acts, not realising the consequences they can have? no family should be going through christmas without their child due to suicide. can i say to my honourable friend he has raised an extremely serious issue and i am sure the thoughts of the whole house and the condolences of the whole house are with the family at this terrible time. as i say, he has raised an incredibly serious issue because the question of cyber bullying is one we need to address, both working with

the internet companies in relation to what is put out on their platforms, working with schools to help people to be able to recognise this material and to deal with it, but also to support those children who could, as my honourable friend said, be the victims and those children who might be carrying out these attacks. our consultation last year showed that despite a range of volu nta ry year showed that despite a range of voluntary initiatives and good work bya voluntary initiatives and good work by a range of charities, and i commend the work of beautiful inside and out, this remains a serious issue for millions of people. i know the scottish government has been addressing this with their respect for all approach and we are funding the uk safer internet centre. the government will continue to work on this. can i associate myself with

the remarks of the prime minister on cyber bullying and indeed on the terrible tragedy yesterday in strasbourg. mr speaker, we were promised strong and stable. we were promised strong and stable. we were promised a vote on the brexit deal. this prime minister cannot even do her ownjob this prime minister cannot even do her own job because of the tory civil war. this government is an embarrassment. christmas is just civil war. this government is an embarrassment. christmas isjust two weeks away. will the prime minister bring forward her meaningful vote on the brexit deal next week? as i say, there are discussions we are having with european leaders and others and those discussions will continue. what matters is that they are in no doubt about the strength of feeling about this issue on the duration of the backstop. they are in no doubt about the strength of feeling in this house that that should be addressed in a way that has legal force and that is what we are discussing and continuing to negotiate with the european union. the date of the deferred vote on

this, the date of the vote on theirs will be announced in the normal way. parliament voted for a meaningful vote and we should be having it and it should be happening next week. this government is a farce. the tory party is in chaos, the prime minister is a disgrace with her actions. people across scotland and the uk are seeing this and saying, prime minister, take the responsibility and do the right thing and resign. can i say to the right honourable gentleman that he makes the remarks he does about deferring the vote, but it is precisely because i have listened and colleagues in government have listened to the views of people across this house that we are pursuing this issue further with the european union. that is being respectful of the views that have been raised in this house. thank you, mr speaker. many businesses up

and down the country have put their future plans on hold, waiting for us here in parliament to agree our future trading relationship with our biggest and closest neighbour. does the prime minister agree that their interests and those of their workers and their suppliers, and the country asa and their suppliers, and the country as a whole, are best served by concluding the agreement with the remaining 27 and on this side supporting her in a vote this evening? i thank my honourable friend for his comments and agree with him, particularly that we need to ensure that we do not increase uncertainty and create more uncertainty. the public voted to leave the eu, they want us to secure a deal that delivers on that result and we should not risk handing control of the brexit negotiations to opposite, opposition mps in

parliament because that could result in delaying brexit or even stopping brexit. none of that would be in the national interest and we have to get on and deliver a good brexit for the country. when i stood for election i vowed not to vote for any brexit deal that was not in the best interests of lewisham west. by pulling the brexit vote the prime minister must now concede that her deal is doomed. the house and her own party appear to have no confidence in her. but will she have confidence in her. but will she have confidence in her. but will she have confidence in the people and give them a say with people‘s vote, including an option to remain the eu? i say to the honourable lady that we have deferred the vote on the agreement and on the issue she raised about putting the vote back to the people, can i say to her, as i have said to the honourable member from bristol, and have said in many

occasions in this house, this house put its faith in the votes of the people of this country when we gave them the referendum in 2016. people voted to leave the european union, it is now our duty to deliver on that. mr speaker, this house has a duty to make sure that the next generation lead better lives tomorrow now we live today. how does my right honourable friend response to the royal college of obstetricians and gynaecologists‘ ordered that found that three quarters of the hundreds of babies who died or suffered brain damage each year could be saved by better care? what steps is the government taking to ensure that every expectant mother and unborn baby receives appropriate monitoring? can i thank my honourable friend for raising what is a very important issue and one that is close to the hearts of many members of this house. every death or injury of a child is a tragedy and we have a

commitment to having rays of stillbirth, neonatal deaths and brain injuries after birth by 2025. that is supported by a systemwide action under our national maternity safety strategy. we are increasing midwifery training places, investing millions of pounds in training for staff and a new safety equipment to ensure the nhs can provide first—class care for mothers and babies. but we recognise we need to continue to do all we can and i give my right arm or friendly assurance that we will do. as she reflects on her premiership, can i ask the prime minister which of the following misjudgements she regrets? laying down red lines before the brexit talks had begun, wasting precious time on the general election, consistently failing to face down the hardliners on her own ventures and reach out for a consensus in this house and the country? the judgment that was the right one was

to a cce pt judgment that was the right one was to accept the vote of the people on the referendum, to deliver on the vote and to deliver a good brexit for the future of this country. small businesses are the backbone of my surfboard constituency. the chancellor announced in the budget revitalisation fun for our high streets. can i ask when that will be made available as it will prove a vital lifeline to my constituency because of the anti—business policies of labour—controlled sefton council? can i thank my honourable friend for highlighting the help we have announced for the high street. he is right, the leader of the opposition may stand up and claim to be interested in small businesses, but so often we see the actions of labour councils up and down the country doing the opposite. we have provided £675 million in the future high—street fund so plans can be

made to help high streets become fit for the future. we will be publishing a prospectus shortly. can the prime minister confirm which is worse, no deal, or no brexit? can i say to my honourable friend i think it is important we deliver on brexit for the people of this country. i believe we should do that with a good deal with the european union, i believe that is what we have negotiated. i do believe that the worst thing for this country would bea worst thing for this country would be a labour government. mr speaker, ata time be a labour government. mr speaker, at a time of grave national crisis on an issue which we all agree was hugely important to future generations, can my right honourable friend think of anything more unhelpful, irrelevant and irresponsible than for the conservative party to embark on

weeks of a conservative leadership debate? well, can i say... can i say...? my debate? well, can i say... can i say... ? my right debate? well, can i say... can i say...? my right honourable and learning friend has raised an important issue and i think it is the impact that those weeks of that campaign would have on the decision that the house has to take and the decision we have to take as a country in relation to leaving the european union. there is no doubt that would go beyond the legislative date of the 21st of january and it would mean if there were a new leader, one of the first things they would have to do would be to either extend article 50 or rescind article 50 and that would mean delaying or stopping brexit. away from the madness of her own mps, can i welcome the prime minister back to

the real world. last week, marion was forced to queue outside st george‘s hospital tooting with a badly infected left leg because a&e was full. knowing my constituent, can the prime minister tell me how long will that qb should the local nhs get its way and move the a&e at st helier hospital to leafy, wealthy belmont? can i say to the honourable lady that i am concerned to hear the case she has raised offer constituent. it is right that decisions on delivery of services should be taken by local clinicians because they are best placed to assess local need. i understand what the local nhs is doing is looking at the local nhs is doing is looking at the considerable challenges being faced by epsom and st helier trusts and looking at options, but these are ata and looking at options, but these are at a very early stage. knowing the honourable lady as i do from past experience when we both sat on

merton council together, i am sure she will continue to raise the concerns of her local constituents andi concerns of her local constituents and i would encourage her to do so. surely 34,000 copies of your money matters, a free, personalfinance tax book will wing their way to every secondary school in the land. will we extend our thanks to the broadcaster martyn lewis, the organisation behind it and the department for education, making this fantastic resource for our young people happen? can i say to my honourable friend that i think he has done an important thing today for raising people‘s awareness of this booklet which will be important for secondary schools. it is a really good piece of work and i congratulate all those involved and i know this is an issue that my honourable friend has taken very

seriously and has been championing for a long time. i am sure he will wa nt to for a long time. i am sure he will want to carry on to ensure there is that financial education taking place so young people are prepared for their future lives. the economy is stalling, business investment is falling and we have the grotesque... order, order. icould falling and we have the grotesque... order, order. i could not care less what somebody chuntering from a sedentary position says. what i care about is the honourable lady will not be shouted down any more than any other member in this house be shouted down. be quiet, listen. the economy is stalling, business investment is plummeting and we have the grotesque spectacle of tory mps putting party interests before the public interest. if she survives tonight‘s vote, will she finally

roll out no deal, face down her hard brexiteers, let displays vote down her deal and put it back to the public in people‘s vote? first of all, if she wants to ensure no deal, the way to ensure no deal is to agree a deal. that‘s the best way to ensure there is not a no deal. but she talks about the economy. employment is at a record high. wages are growing and we have had 23 consecutive quarters of growth, the longest run in the g7. that is a balanced approach to the economy and conservatives delivering for this country. can i ask my right honourable friend to take her mind back to september 1997 when a referendum was held in wales. the result of that referendum was 50.3%

in favour of result of that referendum was 50.3% infavourofan result of that referendum was 50.3% in favour of an assembly and 49.7% against. and that was a turnout of 50%. nobody questioned whether we should accept the referendum. does that hold any future reference for us? can i thank my right honourable friend who‘s made a very important point and friend who‘s made a very important pointand an friend who‘s made a very important point and an important point about the principle accepted at that time which was however small the margin in the vote, it was the overall result that should be accepted and acted on. last week i hosted an event to raise money for radio hallam‘s fm mission christmas, a charity doing fantastic work doing things for children in need in my constituency and for the local food banks. children living in poverty in my community will really need help this christmas. what message does the prime minister have for those who are working hard to make ends meet that will find themselves

forced to rely on food banks for theirfamily‘s forced to rely on food banks for their family‘s christmas mail and mission presents for their children? cani mission presents for their children? can i first of all obviously say how good it is that radio hallam has been doing this work. there are many charities up and down the country who do work to ensure they can provide a better christmas for many children than they would otherwise have. that is important. we don‘t wa nt to have. that is important. we don‘t want to see people relying on food banks but the way to ensure that people are able to provide for themselves without relying on food banks is to make sure people are in goal —— work, that it is well paid, and that is exactly what we are doing. residents are clear that we need a strong government to deliver brexit on the domestic agenda. does my right honourable friend agree that it my right honourable friend agree thatitis my right honourable friend agree that it is doomed to reunite on these —— trying to reunite on these

benches because the real threat to our country as the labour politicians on the opposite bench? cani politicians on the opposite bench? can i echo the comments my friend has made. many members of the public wa nt has made. many members of the public want us to get on with brexit and actually ensure we are delivering for them on the domestic agenda, like the record number of new homes we have seen built, the best number bar one year we have seen built, the best number barone year in we have seen built, the best number bar one year in the last 31. it is important that we unite as a party and bring our country back together again, and she‘s absolutely right. the greatest threat to the jobs and futures to her constituents and around the uk would be a labour government. last month, in my constituency, a 16—year—old boy was tragically killed in a knife attack. this came as knife crime has almost doubled in coventry over the last five years. i know that some good multi—agency work is happening in this field, but does the prime minister still think that we have

enough police officers on our streets to be able to fight crime and the fear of crime? can i first of all extend my condolences to the family of the constituent that the honourable lady has referred to and has suffered from this terrible attack. and can i also say there is obviously a concern, and i recognise the concern about the rise in violent crime, which is why the government has produced a serious violent strategy and the serious violence task force has people from across the house sitting on that, on across the house sitting on that, on a cross—party basis and it‘s why we are given extra powers to the police to tackle knife crime through the offensive weapons bill and we have strength in firearms control through the policing and crime act. and this is not just about the policing and crime act. and this is notjust about police action, we have announced a £200 million youth endowment fund which will be about working with young people who might find themselves drawn into gangs and the use of knives to prevent them

doing that and prevent the crimes and taking place in the first place. does my right honourable friend share my concern and my constituency concerns about the further delays and increase costs of crossrail and the failures of tfl and the labour mayor of london. i absolutely share my right honourable friend‘s concerns and his constituents concerns and his constituents concern and indeed my constituency is affected also by the delay of crossrail. and, yes, we should recognise the role that tfl and the labour mayor of london have played in this. we want to see crossrail and it will be a benefit to his constituents and mine, and the labour mayor needs to get his finger out on this. in 1997 the british prime minister issued an apology to the people of ireland for an historic role in the great famine, famine that1 million people died

and a million people displaced from their homeland. that sent out a powerful and important message. will the prime minister condemn any notion or suggestion that food shortages in ireland will be used to strengthen written‘s negotiating hand? can i say that i am happy to absolutely give that assurance. we would not use that issue in any sense in the negotiating strategy. we wa nt sense in the negotiating strategy. we want to work with the irish government to make sure we are providing a good brexit for the uk, a good brexit for ireland and i believe that will be a good brexit for the european union. one of my constituents has written me to say that i voted for brexit and i urge you to support the prime minister unreservedly and vote for this brexit deal. another says that the prime minister has done a terrific job in trying circumstances on the head—bangers from all sides and the superfine attitude of the labour party as men she has had an impossiblejob but

party as men she has had an impossible job but she party as men she has had an impossiblejob but she has done party as men she has had an impossible job but she has done so well —— supine. and thirdly, another person writes i am an employer of 30 people, and to vote against the deal will cause political chaos and open the door to the worst possible scenario for this country, a far left labour government. does the prime minister agree with me that my constituents have got a lot more common—sense than the members opposite who want to stop brexit and fundamentally damage our democracy? i think, fundamentally damage our democracy? ithink, mr fundamentally damage our democracy? i think, mr speaker, fundamentally damage our democracy? ithink, mr speaker, this fundamentally damage our democracy? i think, mr speaker, this can be an occasion where i give a very short answer. yes. mr speaker, the self—serving chaos unleashed on this parliament this week is emblematic of the way this government has consistently treated the people of our country. in the light of the prime minister‘s conduct the pound has fallen 2% in the last 48 hours

and her budget equivalent of running the entire nhs for six weeks. does the entire nhs for six weeks. does the prime minister believe this is a price worth paying for her brexit deal? may i say to the honourable lady she talks about what the government is doing for the nhs and it is this government establishing a ten year plan for the sustainability of the nhs and it‘s this government putting the biggest cash boost in its history into the nhs to ensure its history into the nhs to ensure it is therefore all of our constituents, now and in the future. does the prime minister agree that we all owe a huge debt of gratitude to our police officers, prison officers and probation staff who are in the front line of keeping us all stave. the first duty of any government —— all safe. in that regard can i ask the prime minister to ta ke regard can i ask the prime minister to take a close and personal interest in the 2019 slash 20 police funding settlement? can i agree with my honourable friend, and i think we

do owe an enormous debt of gratitude for all of those who are on the front line putting themselves potentially at risk for us, that is police officers but he also referenced prison officers and probation officers as well. and i can assure him that i have been looking, with the home secretary, at the 2019 slashed 20 police funding settlement. the plotters behind her know that any replacement prime minister would face any replacement prime minister would fa ce exa ctly any replacement prime minister would face exactly the same party arithmetic and exactly the same deadlock on brexit. this deadlock can only be changed by going back to the people. the times newspaper today also said it is her only chance of saving herjob and saving her deal. so can she tell the house what exactly is she afraid of? may i say to the honourable lady, the issueis say to the honourable lady, the issue is that this house overwhelmingly voted to give the choice to the british people as to

whether or not to leave the european union. the british people chose to leave the european union, and i strongly believe that it is the duty of members of this house to deliver on that vote. what does the prime minister considered to be most important? playing parliamentary parlour games in this place or protecting jobs and businesses by going back to the negotiating table and thrashing out a deal that will pass through this house? can i say to my honourable friend, i think it is in the interests of employers and in the interests of people whose jobs are at stake in this to make sure we get a good deal with the european union and that is why it is important that i was in europe yesterday and will continue to be in europe doing exactly as he says, negotiating the deal that i believe can get the support of this house to make sure we can move forward and deliver a good brexit. does the

prime ministerjudged that it is more welcome or more appropriate to face a no—confidence motion from her backbenchers or from the leader of the opposition? may i say to the right honourable gentleman that that we have one of those that is going to ta ke we have one of those that is going to take place, but what i think is important for everybody in this houseis important for everybody in this house is to recognise that we have, i believe, a solemn duty to deliver on the result of the referendum in 2016. i believe the best way of doing that is with a good deal, a good brexit deal with the european union that protects jobs and honours the referendum and i believe that is the referendum and i believe that is the deal we have negotiated. the referendum and i believe that is the dealwe have negotiated. order. we were about to come out and he ended prime minister is questions

anyway. we have been watching it all as it unfolded with the international trade secretary, liam fox and richard burgon from the shadow cabinet and laura kuenssberg. while we were at prime ministers questions, the bbc research says that she has got over 158, and that is how much he needs in the vote tonight, she has got over hundred and 58 votes to keep her in position. but we are quite jaundiced and sceptical of what politicians on this front will tell us. i think thatis this front will tell us. i think that is right. one senior tory mp said to me that there are vertebrates, invertebrates and tory mps in terms of trusting what people say about how they might vote. that tally does go along with what the mood is right now this morning at westminster, that the prime minister will probably make it through this vote but it is a secret ballot so we will never know and it‘s notjust

prime ministers questions, there is another important appointment later on as she will have to appear in front of her backbenchers at 5pm and she will speak to them at that moment and there might well be people going into that meeting who have not made their minds up. grant shapps said that earlier. so if she does a tub thumping performance she mightfind does a tub thumping performance she might find that she has more of a swell of support and ends up winning quite comfortably but if it does not go well and her colleagues think, when they are being honest about it, she is not always the best perform under pressure, then the votes might fall away. as of where we are today, it looks like she is safe tonight, but then the questions will come about about what is the margin and how much damage does the mere fact of his confidence vote do, and what does she do next? if she does survive, it‘s not that suddenly the conservative party will agree on what to do about brexit. liam fox. angela merkel reported minutes ago

in the french press, that the existing agreement between the london and the eu will not be changed. well, we will see what the other leaders have to say as the prime minister has those discussions. of course, it depends whether the text will be changed or whether the text will be changed or whether the text will be clarified. one of the issues that we had was that initially the european union said on the backstop that it had to be temporary or it wasn't a backstop. we all remember that part. now we have a text saying that both sides agree it would be a temporary element, so it would be a temporary element, so it would be a temporary element, so it would be a temporary element, so if both sides agree, what is the mechanism for determining that? . but you don't get the dup, your ulster allies, you don‘t get them back unless the backstop comes out. they are not wanting tinkering. sammy wilson, as we showed earlier, he said the policy must change. it‘s totally

unacceptable, he says. that is the difference. we will see where that goes and we will have to see where other mp5 we will see where that goes and we will have to see where other mps in the house go. no change in the agreement can be expected, says the german chancellor, at the eu summit on thursday. i am not sure what her other comments were, sol on thursday. i am not sure what her other comments were, so i will not comment on bits of the comment that come out in the foreign press. if it is going to be a temporary backstop, if both sides accept it will be temporary, what is the mechanism of determining that? for a lot of my colleagues that is a very key element. when the dup come to look at it they will have to look to see what the alternatives would be. if it is not possible to get it through, what do we do? do we stay in the european union or end up with no deal? for mps they ultimately have to decide. it is not take it or

leave it, it is what are the alternatives that are available. during prime minister's question, one of the labour mps, during prime minister's question, one of the labour mp5, i cannot rememberwho it was, one of the labour mp5, i cannot remember who it was, said that there needs to be a consensus in the house. the consensus in the house of commons, which is to remain, is not the same as the consensus in the country, which is to lead. that is the essential problem we have. the prime minister‘s strategy as she faces this confidence vote tonight is to try and make progress on the existing agreement as it affects the backstop. angela merkel has ruled it out. emmanuel macron has otherfish to fry. can you name one of the other 27 who has given any indication that the eu might be prepared to move in this direction? it is very clearly understand what the british concerns are, they want to be able to help, the question is

how? that is what donald pask said tonight. can i ask a different question. if this is a moment to pivot, and the prime minister must ta ke pivot, and the prime minister must take a new approach if the backstop cannot be resolved, some of your collea g u es cannot be resolved, some of your colleagues said this might be the moment where she says there is no way i can do this with support from the conservatives and the dup so i must compromise. it has been suggested to me that this is the moment where she would tack to a softer brexit if you want to call it that. something that looks much closer to the eu in perpetuity. others are saying it would be a pivot to say we have to go for a no deal. i would be very comfortable with something like the european economic area. of which norway is the leader in that. and the plus option which is being looked at. that means we stay in the customs

union and the single market. in many ways for me that would be worse than being in the eu itself because we would have to end up with three movement and we would have little chance of making independent, if any, trade agreements and we would have no say in any of the regulations. let me come back to you, richard burgon, once again. were you not surprised that on the day that the prime minister faces the biggest political challenge in her career, a vote of confidence from her own side, that the leader of the opposition made only passing reference to that? he focused on the most important thing to the british people, which is sorting out this crisis in relation to her bungling negotiations. he made an important point when he did make reference, which is whatever happens to the prime minister tonight is by and

large irrelevant to the problems people face across this country day—to—day. this prime minister is a failing prime minister, she is not the root cause of the problem, the root cause of the problem is a government that is hopelessly divided over the eu. it is the job of the leader of the opposition when the prime minister is in a precarious position to make life as difficult as possible for them. it is her majesty‘s opposition, that is theirjob. as i understand it‘s what labour really wants is a general election. you are more likely, surely if the tories moved to second prime minister without a general election, you are more likely to get it? surely it is in your interest to sow dissension, cause problems, get rid of this prime minister? our priority is to vote then theresa may's botched deal, our priority is to stop a disastrous no deal and our

priority is to get the general election to put forward a new deal with europe, a new deal for people right across this country who are being attacked by the conservative government. jeremy corbyn lost the confidence vote amongst his backbenchers two years ago. that was at the beginning of his leadership of the political party. he has moved on to success since, that was the opening chapter. he did lose it and he remained as leader. with theresa may there is a consensus she is entering the final chapter of her premiership. how long that lasts is a matter for speculation. if she wins tonight, the final chapter could be another year. she cannot be challenged again. she has lost all credibility as a negotiator and a prime minister. she is on her way out sooner or later. our preference is she leaves by weight of a general election. if i may take

is she leaves by weight of a general election. ifi may take up is she leaves by weight of a general election. if i may take up a is she leaves by weight of a general election. ifi may take up a point, it almost goes without question, the labour party talk about a failing economy. we have added 11,000 jobs since the referendum, we have added billions of pounds of exporters and we had more direct investment in the first six months of 2018 than any other country in the world except china. real wages are other country in the world except china. realwages are rising other country in the world except china. real wages are rising at the fastest rate. which of those things does labour believe is a failure? we believe the explosion in zero—hours contracts, the explosion and expansion in insecure, low—paid work isa expansion in insecure, low—paid work is a real problem. if it were as you we re is a real problem. if it were as you were saying, if the picture where rosie and people across the country we re rosie and people across the country were celebrating the record of the conservative government, you know andl conservative government, you know and i know they are not.” conservative government, you know and i know they are not. i have never known the people to celebrate the record of any government. usually they end up picking the one they least disliked rather than any celebration of it. i want to show

you a clip from philip hammond, the chancellor. you were talking to him, laura. a colleague was. in a scale of 1-10, laura. a colleague was. in a scale of 1—10, one being horrified and ten being really enthusiastic, where would you fit on that scale of the prospect of mrs may leading you into another general election?” prospect of mrs may leading you into another general election? i am very happy for the prime minister to lead us into the general election. i will vote for her tonight because i think she deserves the chance to continue the work she has done. i know her personally, i think she is resilient, honest and decent. despite the shambles of the last general election you would be happy she led you into another one? of course i would. on 1-10. andrew, you will know i am not going to answer a question like that, or i say ten. bit like the conservative mps telling bbc researchers how they will vote. let‘s see this interview

with philip hammond. it might not be his most helpful interview. one book clearly is enough in an election competition. it is first past the post. i am clear the prime minister will have the support of the great majority of parliamentary colleagues. what this vote today will do is flush out the extremists who are trying to advance a particular agenda which would really not be in the interest of the british people or the british economy. flush out the extremists, liam fox, who could he possibly be talking about? i take the ronald reagan view it is not wise to criticise your fellow conservatives and my colleagues are entitled to hold their opinions. we are a broad church but it is clear that increasingly the prime minister will win the vote tonight and her premiership will go unchallenged for another year. in many ways this may settle down the parliamentary party.

ona settle down the parliamentary party. on a scale of 1—10 in helpful interventions, ten being incredibly helpful, where would you place that? i think helpful, where would you place that? ithinkl helpful, where would you place that? i think i would forget to vote on that one. peace and harmony. you have got previous on that, that seems to be the tory default position. why did he say that? flush out the extremists? he is talking about jacob rees mogg out the extremists? he is talking aboutjacob rees mogg and out the extremists? he is talking about jacob rees mogg and boris johnson and iain duncan smith. he is talking about the people trying to unseat the prime minister. we can assume that he is saying that because he is saying what he and many conservatives believe, there is a group of eurosceptics for whom nothing will ever be enough. every time, including other conservative leaders, comeback with a new proposal, it is like we do not like that, we will fight for something more. there is deep frustration

amongst remainers in the party that although theresa may has tried to accommodate the european foreign group and other brexiteers, nothing for them will be enough and they will scream blue murder whatever. we are running out of time, but as well as talking to mps and ministers i have been talking to members of the public who have turned up at westminster, wondering what is going on. british politics turns into a tourist attraction! any members of the public are dumbfounded at what is going on, this is like a pantomime without any jokes. is going on, this is like a pantomime without anyjokes. even if theresa may survives, it is pretty clear the tory party right now at this moment is fundamentally, deeply ina this moment is fundamentally, deeply in a moment of crisis where they are struggling to get on with anything other than fight with each other. downing street treated this is not about who leads the tories into the next election, it is about who lead the tories now. not all the tory party is as sanguine as you about

that prospect of ten. we have not got long. i want to clarify something you said, liam fox, that you said before. if this deal cannot be amended in some way on the backstop, it cannot be so you would not support the deal?” backstop, it cannot be so you would not support the deal? i will not make the prime minister'sjob more difficult by speculating what might happen. it is very clear the task she has. iwill happen. it is very clear the task she has. i will not make the prime minister's job she has. i will not make the prime minister'sjob more difficult, it is difficult enough as it is, and given that degree of difficulty it is very important we give her that support tonight. a question that liam fox asked you, since it is labour policy to have a customs union in which we get all the benefits of the customs union but i still able to do our own trade deals, that is not allowed under eu rules, so how will you get

around that? we have talked about a permanent customs union which allows usa permanent customs union which allows us a say in trade deals that the eu can strike. it is not allowed. it is also, as barry gardner says it allows us to remain in the trade deals the eu already has. since the eu rules do not allow anybody to have a seat at the table except members of the eu, why would they give you that power? this is why it is about negotiating and giving as a bespoke deal. we would have more negotiating strength with the eu than the prime minister who has, as laura said, is saddled with extremists... michel barnier would tell you that that is not negotiate will. that is not the eu position. lots of things are said in negotiations. the lisbon treaty by

example, the former president of the european commission said he believes the european union will negotiate again. i think we need a change in the negotiating team. that does not mean seeing the back of theresa may, that means getting a labour team into negotiate. is there any labour figure in europe who supports your position? our position, we believe, isa position? our position, we believe, is a position people right across the 27 countries will listen to because we will have more negotiating strength than this lame—duck prime minister. negotiating strength than this lame-duck prime minister. so, you cannot blame anyone. i‘ll be back with a bbc news special at 7.30pm this evening on bbc one as we find out whether theresa may will win or lose that no confidence vote. i hope you canjoin us tonight, bbc one, 7:30 p:m., i bbc news special. until then, goodbye. a challenge to the prime minister

as conservative mps trigger a vote of confidence in her. of confidence in her leadership. theresa may says she‘ll fight with everything she‘s got to keep herjob. sir graham brady has confirmed that he has received 48 letters from conservative mps, so there will be now be a vote of confidence in my leadership of the conservative party. i will contest that vote with everything i‘ve got. at least 48 tory mps sent letters of no confidence required to trigger a ballot. the vote will take place tonight. a ballot will be held between six and eight o'clock and we will count as soon as we can and provide a result as soon as we can after that. i will have all the latest from here in westminster and also reaction from brussels. also this lunchtime: france is on the highest state of alert, as police hunt the man