you're watching bbc newsroom live with me, joanna gosling. the headlines at 11: the government is facing a vote of confidence after suffering the biggest commons defeat in history — theresa may's brexit deal is defeated by 230 votes we have tabled that. and it's because we genuinely don't have any confidence in theresa may's government to be able to negotiate the deal that we want. the real issue that i think people might need to focus on today is how devastating a jeremy corbyn government would be for this country. there's fierce debate in the european parliament as european leaders react to the government's commons defeat. we regret profoundly this vote, as presidentjunker has said, and regret that this judgment is also linked to the intense work we have

done together with you. coming up within 15 minutes, we will be live in westminster, where theresa may faces a no—confidence vote in higher government. she has to facejeremy vote in higher government. she has to face jeremy corbyn. vote in higher government. she has to facejeremy corbyn. we will have all the news. stay with us for what is already another busy day in westminster. in other news... kenya's president says a siege at a hotel complex in nairobi has a 26—year—old man has appeared in court in auckland and denies murdering british

backpacker grace millane in new zealand. good morning from downing street where theresa may's government is facing a vote of confidence after mps overwhelmingly rejected her brexit deal. 202. the noes to the left 432. labour tabled the motion after the prime minister lost by 230 votes, the biggest defeat of modern times. the eu's chief negotiator, michel barnier, has said he profoundly regrets the vote to reject the withdrawal agreement. he said the government now needs to explain how it intends

to proceed with brexit. let mejust sure let me just sure you be seen behind me. downing street is busy to date with journalists waiting be a appearance of theresa may, expected to head off to the commons for prime minister's questions at midday. there will be a debate on the confidence motion in the government. the vote will be at 7pm. it is anticipated that the government will not be defeated in that motion. tory rebels and the dup mps say they will support the government. another day of high drama. before christmas, theresa may faced a vote of confidence... there she is. theresa may, do you expect to win today?

saying absolutely nothing to the media as she heads off, knowing she will be facing jeremy corbyn across the dispatch box. in the wake of that defeat in the commons. 230 votes was the margin by which to reason mayfield to get higher withdrawal agreement through the commons. —— theresa may. she wanted to reach out for a cross—party consensus, but the red lines remain in place. that means no customs union and a customs union is exactly what labour want to see happen, they say. she is just what labour want to see happen, they say. she isjust heading down the road. she will be arriving at the

commons for prime minister's questions and another intensive day of questioning for trees that —— for theresa may. she won that no—confidence vote. that meant she could not face another challenge from her party. the challenge is over the whole government. she has told mps she will retire in it to the commons with an alternative plan, providing she survives that vote. can the prime minister really fight on after that colossal commons defeat? absolutely. i look forward to making the case for her today. and getting onto the next matter in hand.

the real issue i feel people they need to focus on today is how devastating a jeremy corbyn government would be for this country. we have difficulties over delivering on brexit. nothing, nothing, would be worse than a jeremy corbyn government. thank you very much. are you still supporting those indicative votes? we will see later today. thank you very much. is there cabinet support for that? what is plan b? meanwhile, reporters also visited jeremy corbyn this morning but the labour leader made no comment about the day ahead, as he greeted journalists before getting into his car. how nice to see you. good morning, however, the shadow chancellor john mcdonnell said he was disappointed by the prime minister's continued intransigence, despite last night's unprecedented defeat. two years on, she never picked up

the phone to say, is there a way we can negotiate a compromise. we thaw at least last night, she would have learnt a lesson and started that conversation. she is not even talking to the readers and she is setting conditions she knows they cannot meet. that is why i have no confidence that she can deliver a deal. let's talk now to our assistant political editor, norman smith at the houses of parliament. she is facing that vote. it does not feel like she is facing the same challenge like she was before christmas. it is almost a distraction, really, as we know what the result is going to be. how far can the prime minister reach out to

get together a fresh brexit deal that has some prospect of getting through the house is of commons. we know the prime minister has not spoken tojeremy corbyn. she has spoken tojeremy corbyn. she has spoken tojeremy corbyn. she has spoken to be first minister of scotland, nicola sturgeon. you spoke to the prime minister on the phone. what did you gleam?|j to the prime minister on the phone. what did you gleam? i did not gleam very much. she was at pains to tell me she wanted to sit down and listen to different ideas. i got the strong sense that she seems to have no clear idea of what the next apps are and it did not seem to me that she was prepared to remove any of her red lines, in order to have new approaches to be brought forward. it sounded as if she wanted to find a minor variation, the one that was

rejected last night, and that seems to me as if she wants to run down the clock. we do not have any more time to waste. as a minimal now, we need to look at the extension of article 50. there is concern in westminster of a no deal outcome. did you have any indication that the prime minister is now prepared to revisit the march 29 deadline?” prime minister is now prepared to revisit the march 29 deadline? i did not get that sense from her. to be perfectly honest, it is hard to get a sense of what the prime minister is thinking. she is playing the cards close to her chest but it is too late for that. she has to open up too late for that. she has to open up to get the parties on her side. the idea that the house of commons could feel to come up with a deliverable plan and then magically do that in a couple of weeks as fans fanciful. she has two rub away the

red lines. she has done the best she can within the red lines and last night she was saying she would plough on as normal and that is not acceptable. if there is going to be acceptable. if there is going to be a cross—party, new deal, everyone has to compromise. what compromises are you prepared to make and reduce be prepared to put aside your call for a second referendum? with the greatest respect, the scottish government has been trying to compromise. 60% of the scottish electorate voted to remain and it has been as putting forward plans that have been rejected. it is too late for that to be in late for that to be negotiated in the we late for that to be negotiated in the - we have late for that to be negotiated in the we have only $555? 5 —55 5: ::: tc: w is to it $555? 5 —55 5: ::: tc: w is to - it back the government the—eregggrageg— ; -§ ezevernéfiw .. x... and we cannot keep hoping for

failed and we cannot keep hoping for the unicorn to appear. you know now thatis the unicorn to appear. you know now that is the argument for a norway customs union arrangement. she might be able to get some support, that could provide a way through. would you support that? that is what i have been arguing but i think that ship has sailed. if she wants to open up any space for discussion, the starting point has to be the extension of article 50. for scotland, the only way to protect oui’ scotland, the only way to protect our interest is by being an independent country. let me ask you about the enquiry you are facing following the court case that collapsed against alex salmond. they have been suggestions that he is weighing some kind of fund debt, do you believe that? i am here to talk about the crisis in the uk. there is

an enquiry into my conduct under the ministerial code. i am confident in the appropriateness of my behaviour and there is also the potential for and there is also the potential for an enquiry in scotland and also a police investigation ongoing. i think the most important thing is to allow those enquiries to take their course. thank you for your time. we are all waiting for the prime minister. what will she do next? reach out or i she minister. what will she do next? in? each out or i she minister. what will she do next? in? thankit or. she minister. what will she do next? in? thank you i she minister. what will she do next? in? thank you very e minister. what will she do next? in? thank you very much, to dig in? thank you very much, norman. we are waiting to see - it norman. we are waiting toseehowitl unfolds. let's speak to our :!! 2'54552; g-a|; ;-. .|.1. business give :!! 2'54552; 9-11; ;-. .|. 1. business give us a reaction. at the flavour of the reaction. at the memg§.— ... flavour of the reaction. at the meme“! things

flavour of the reaction. at the meme” things are fairly quiet. if moment, things are fairly quiet. if you are looking at the stock market, not much reaction. it is not a great indicator of reactions in the city of what is going on in politics. what is interesting in sterling, the currency. let's talk to ross walker, auk currency. let's talk to ross walker, a uk economist. hello, ross. this is a uk economist. hello, ross. this is a dramatic chart. 75’"§': the can energies weakening see the sterling weakening against the us 312» the see the sterling weakening against the us l; the law came around the us dollar. the law came around the us dollar. the law came around the time of the vote. markets were worrying that the prime minister could resign. why did it bounce back so could resign. why did it bounce back so quickly? the realisation came in that there has to be a compromise, it would be any softer brexit direction. the vote tonight, if the

wins direction. the vote tonight, if the remove ins -- - ' direction. the vote tonight, if the remove the -- - ' direction. the vote tonight, if the remove the 7” that 7 ' would remove the uncertainty that has weighed on sterling in recent months. the stock market did not react at all? we saw a muted reaction. at the time the vote was announced, the stock markets were closed. they have been broadly flat today. put it into context where the sterling is. you have another graphic year that shows nicely in relation to where it was before the referendum. —— another nice graph here. we had a sell off immediately after the referendum and a further after thereferenu‘um' and a further off in late 2016. we are sell off in late 2016. we are leaving the city of london because we are going to bejoining andrew neill for it is wednesday, january the 15th.

we live in westminster, with last night's historic defeat ringing in her ears, the prime minister is preparing for prime minister's questions and a vote of confidence in her government. noes to the left 432/ that was worse than anyone expected. the anticipation as she will survive that. we want to hear from parliamentarians who have constructive ideas. his compromise likely? 0ur constructive ideas. his compromise likely? our new negotiations possible? labour mps are wanting

jeremy corbyn to support a new referendum. the music out of brussels this morning is not encouraging. it is hard to detect any encouragement for changes to the agreement. you haven't seen nothing yet. joining me today, brexit supporter ann—marie. liz kendall, she backed remain and still does. peter hennessy and the particle editor of

the mirror. and we will be speaking to plenty of other people during the course of this programme. 230 votes, thatis course of this programme. 230 votes, that is the number the prime minister went down by. a helpful picture of the dodo they are. the guardian says... 0ver picture of the dodo they are. the guardian says... over 100 picture of the dodo they are. the guardian says... 0ver100 tory mps stood against her. the daily mail says... that is the mirror... 0ther than that, it is quite positive. last night was historic for two reasons. one, the government lost by

this massive majority, unprecedented, even by ramsay macdonald in 192a. the other thing that was historic that having lost, the prime minister did not resign. that was historic that having lost, the prime minister did not resignlj sometimes think the constitution has gone into meltdown. when there was another constitutional row, he said he came to the conclusion... i try and avoid it. the only working part of the constitution that is working is the queen. that was meant to be the magical part. we know what she thinks, we know what the monarch thinks. it was in her christmas broadcast, there was this part saying, the best way to respect other people is to treat them as human beings. there it was, in

message from the lady at the end of the mall. message from the lady at the end of ‘ and more than one reason. i think, for more than one reason. i think, andi for more than one reason. i think, and i write, the mood was subdued because everybody knew what the result was going to be. defeat on the brexit deal has been priced in for some time, amongst the opposition, her own backbenchers. at downing street, they have been quite clear, conceding she is going to struggle to get it through. the scale of the defeat made it start just how bad things looked. did downing street expect 230? it was much more than they thought. if you think a defeat might be a couple of hundred, they would expect to get

it that. it was dramatically higher than number they have labour who laboi to who are laboi to do who are them lllllllli ll. lil. l. l'llll l..'l élf;:%~: — — lllllllli ll. lil. l. l'llll ..ll. élf;:%~: — — vote lllllllli ll. lil. l. l'llll ..ll. lllllll: — — vote in the future but they did wa nt want to this time round, whether ll ll.-.!. l .l, .a.. a.."1,""‘:.9.... ll'l‘j...:l!— — that ll ll.-.!. l .l, .a.. l.."1j"‘:.9l.l. ll'lell'lllll! — thatis lil lll-.!. l .il .ll l'"1l'5".:.9l.l. ll'l‘ll‘lllll! — that is true or lil l.-.!. l .il l. l'"1l'5".:.9l.l. ll'll'l‘llll—— — that is true or not. lil l.-.!. l .il l. l'"1l'5".:.9l.l. ll'l'll‘llll— — that is true or not. conservative backbenchers, they - to gt; we to we - minute. that injust a minute. can. you , time when that injust a minute. can. you l time when a remember another time when a government has jumped into remember another time when a government hasjumped into its car and drove that car right into a brick wall, knowing the brick wall was there? no, it was an extraordinary event. why did they do it? for the eu to understand how

unpalatable it was, it had to be put to a vote. it may be a very odd thing to do, but i think with that brutally clear majority against it, the eu can be in no doubt, as everyone said in the speeches, the backstop, this controlled by the eu, it is unacceptable. we hope the prime minister will be robust in _ up _ up for the than... ‘than. .. coming ‘than... coming out rather than. .. coming out of brussels this morning is that in legal terms the backstop is not changing. that's why we have to have that conversation with them. you would expect the commission to say,

fought a hours before there was no shift. they now await the uk to come forward with what it is they want. there was a very strong sense the prime minister has not been speaking in those robust terms as we would explain how we would want to make progress. the reality is the no deal alternative, the default position, if we cannot get there, it is a powerful tool in moving this forward. we could get a deal that functions for the vast majority of parliament. a number of figures this morning concluded given the size of the majority against the government, this is about a lot more than the backstop. can you confirm that? as i was saying, i walked through the

zero lobby last night. we happened to go through with people with different perspectives. is it a lot more than just the backstop? some colleagues would stomach with putting up with stuff they were not happy with if that control was taken away... would you vote for the deal? ifi away... would you vote for the deal? if i felt genuinely comfortable that that was a position, a longer transition so we could get to the other side, that is what i am looking for. you were nodding when i said it was more than the backstop. yes, this is more of the choice than sticking by the rules and giving up

and breaking free, with the risks of having a hard border in ireland. that is the choice that has always been the choice. who would introduce that hard border? i think that is inevitable. that is why the european union has said we have to have the backstop. who would introduce the ha rd backstop. who would introduce the hard border? you do not know where the goods are coming from if there are no checks. the challenge has been it has not been put forward as... we have not fought for that. i think the reason why this is not just about the backstop, it is the bigger issue of our trading relationship and the rules that govern our lives. my big fear is that if there is not a big change from the prime minister, she is never going to get this agreement through. 230 makes it too much,

doesn't it? yes. the backstop gathers the headlines. when i speak to people who voted against the to peoplewhoyoteoagaiost the more l234”. 1’7”’:”’f”’: it isa l234”. 1’7”’:”’f”’: it is a whole range of backstop. it is a whole range of reasons. the backstop has been shorthand for being against the deal. the prime minister was saying yesterday about what the rejection does not show is what direction the houses of commons wants to go in. that is why she might talk to opposition mps. but notjeremy corbyn... opposition mps. but notjeremy corbyn. .. crucially, opposition mps. but notjeremy corbyn... crucially, the red lines, although they are calling them... numberten made although they are calling them... number ten made clear that one of the principles was going to be

sticking to an international trade policy. which means staying in the customs union. going to be european question, it will be 69 years last may... question, it will be 69 years last may. . . that question, it will be 69 years last may... that was the beginning of what became the common market. may... that was the beginning of what became the common marketm has busted us up, our party structure can't handle it because our party structure is left and right and it is not a left and right question. it tends to go to people's individual notions of patches has —— it is the great disrupter of politics. you and i have known throughout our lifetime, we long for the day... my worry is you and i are

running out of time. the difficulty is this is going to be the defining point in our lifetime. is there any hopein point in our lifetime. is there any hope in the prime minister reaching out to the labour party, by far the biggest party other than the conservatives, is there any hope of this leading anywhere?” conservatives, is there any hope of this leading anywhere? i do not think there is any hope that she will change. the reason she has got to where she is in politics is by sticking in. that has served her well in the past but it is com pletely well in the past but it is completely wrong for now. if she does not change and listen and change the policy, she is not going to get this through. i do not see anything so far that indicates she is prepared to do it. do you believe this approach will lead to a breakthrough? anything she is going to be told in these consultations

from any party is going to be for a softer brexit. surely that makes it more unacceptable to you? we will see what the different groups put forward. those of us who want to see a real brexit have been trying to talk to her all year, trying to find solutions for the hard border question so it is not to be there at all and we have found ourselves talking to a brick wall. the challenge all of us have is finding how to engage. would you like some kind of customs union? our manifesto was clear that is not where we were going to be, but we were going to be an independent trading environment. to get to a point where that would happen, we are in different conversations. in order to get something through, the prime

minister may end up splitting her own party. you have signed this letter to jeremy corbyn, own party. you have signed this letter tojeremy corbyn, to the labour party, pushing for a second referendum. there are about 100 labour mps doing this. do you detect, i aske this because i don't, do you detect any movement in the leadership? we have always known we need this vote of no—confidence. i will be supporting that today. if we do not win it, we need to provide the leadership the country needs to get out of this hole. whilst i am open to working with others, if we cannot get an agreement in parliament, i cannot see a way to get us out of this hole unless there isa get us out of this hole unless there is a more honest version of brexit. i asked in our special last night, i

asked the shadow minister, obviously labour once a journal collection, if we we re labour once a journal collection, if we were to have a journal collection, quite soon, would labour's policy still be to leave the european union. her reply was, well, exactly. she is saying that in another election, the labour ma nifesto another election, the labour manifesto would be to leave the european union, not have a second referendum. that manifesto has not been written yet and i think we would have to be clear in our approach and i think it is right to say to get us out of this hole, and because it is right in principle, because it is right in principle, because what is on offer now is so very different from what people were promised, is that the public need to have that here. that is what i would like to see. and what would the public be asked to choose from?” think it will be some form...m

theresa may said i will put my vote to the public, many labour mps would backfire. the tory mps would stop her. this is the honest version. what with the question be?m her. this is the honest version. what with the question be? it is theresa may's deal, no deal, or to remain. three questions? the way that i would like to see it is because i think a lot of the public will think that the question could bea will think that the question could be a stitch up. i've said before i would like to see the question of what questions should be put to go toa what questions should be put to go to a citizen's assembly so that the public feels that it is not a stitch up, the question. what is a difference between the citizen's assembly and the house of commons? well, because it is chosen by random and it is fully representative of different views. it is a lottery? they have been used for lots of things such as house of commons select committees. it is to make it

broadly representative of the country, provide the evidence and allow people to cross examine what it is and come up with a solution. so what is the point of the comments? we are in a party system with all of the tribal loyalties that exist there and... you were elected as opposed to random. but i believe in having a deliberative democracy involving the public. that is important if we are going to try to bring the country together. some of the action this morning moved from london to brussels. its reaction to last night's float and mrs may's statement. let's go over there now. we arejoined by our man in brussels, adam fleming. let's do this step—by—step. am i right in thinking that there is still unanimity in brussels that there can be no movement on the withdrawal agreement itself? you are wrong on

my location, respectfully, becausei am in strasbourg in the european parliament. do you recognise the backdrop? you have the same flags behind you everywhere you go. you should see the size of my suitcase. iam should see the size of my suitcase. i am wrong about the location. you are right about the substance. you are right about the substance. you are right about the substance. you are right on the substance. yeah, absolutely. the message coming from eu leaders, from meps, from michel barnier, the chief negotiator who has been chatting to meps today, is that the withdrawal agreement is not changing. the backstop is not changing. the backstop is not changing. the backstop is not changing. the 585 page treaty text, not a single page of it is changing. where people are talking about changes is the political declaration, the other document that goes along side it that is not legally binding that sketches out the shape of the discussion that is

being had in strasbourg this morning is that if you put all of the pieces together of what people are saying here, they want theresa may to succeed in reaching out across party lines, across the house of commons, and coming to basically a position where she pivots away from what she's looking at now, a sort of basically free trade agreement based future relationship with the eu to a much closer relationship that maybe you could call similar to norway. they think that is what the vote last night in parliament means. then you start to go down the logic chain. you think, well, 0k, you start to go down the logic chain. you think, well, ok, if parliament can create a closer relationship, you can change the political declaration and make that a bit more specific and a bit more likely to be delivered in future, which therefore means you could then opened the door to thinking about some further clarification about the backstop and the withdrawal agreement which would make it even more less likely that that could be

used. now, that is quite a commodity chain of logic. that is me positing what i think might happen. but the main thing is that the conversation here sounds so totally different from the conversation you are having there, where people are still saying, if we could at best get rid of the backstop at worst put a sunset clause in it. totally different. all right, adam in strasbourg, thank you very much for joining us. back here in london, anne—marie and liz have to go now. they are going back to the house of commons. we will be joined at the moment by the justice secretary commons. we will be joined at the moment by thejustice secretary in the shadow international secretary for trade, barry gardiner. the shadow international secretary fortrade, barry gardiner. i the shadow international secretary for trade, barry gardiner. i think we may have some pictures out on couege we may have some pictures out on college green. there they are. that is where the tv networks are based there. there is still quite a lot of people mulling around to. there was a huge crowd there last night of remainers and leaders. a lot of people still there because it is another big day in parliament today with the no—confidence vote on the

government. the debate will start around 1pm and they vote at 7pm. peter hennessy, on no—confidence, the prime minister lost badly last night, very badly, but did not resign. if you were to lose a no—confidence vote, she does resign. she doesn't have to resign directly. they have 1a days to try and put together some arrangement to bring back to parliament to demonstrate that you can get the confidence of the house of commons, where she could do that then someone else has got to do the same. within 14 days? two weeks. and then there will be a great malay. the parliament act is very precise about how this would happen. it is a very unsatisfactory piece of legislation. and after 14 days, nobody can, the house of commons, she resigns or she doesn't resign because she has to remain as prime minister until there is a successor. and then all of the constitutional sensitivities to play with the queen and all the rest of

it. so it would be very dramatic and if she lost it would trigger all of this, two weeks of mayhem, as if we haven't got enough to worry about. 0ne easy enough. we are assuming that she wins tonight because the dup will back and the tory rebels, all of them who voted against her last night, will fall into line today. that's correct. i spoke to some labour whips last night. they said that they had not spoken to a single tory mp or dup mp who are suggested anything other than they would be wholeheartedly behind the pm and the government. it is no—confidence in the government. and there is no suggestion from any of there is no suggestion from any of the cabinet ministers, the shadow cabinet ministers or anyone that i have spoken to that it is going to go any other way than the way of the government. but of course the opposition could move another vote of no—confidence in a week. opposition could move another vote of no-confidence in a week. the government would have to get time,

sol government would have to get time, so i think that would make it tricky. i guess it depends on the circumstances. david cameron, remember him? he was prime minister once. he is now writing his memoirs ina once. he is now writing his memoirs in a hot. he was doorstep this morning to get his reaction and i think we got what he had to say. as isaid,| think we got what he had to say. as i said, i hope that the parliament can come together and find an alternative partnership agreement with the european union. that is the right way forward. that is what the deal was about last night, and she has my support in doing this. do you regret calling the referendum?” don't regret calling it. it was a promise i made and it was included ina promise i made and it was included in a manifesto and there was a legislator for parliament and four parties voted i it. obviously, i we the was we the was leaving 3 - the was leaving 3 l campaign we have been ‘l'i‘llfll‘l' loo l-louo l‘lfl—‘é'? houi—l: gnu-in..- b» l .l. .l lllll l

the result of implement the result of that referendum, but i don't think it is going to be helped by me giving a running commentary. i support the prime minister and her aim and her partnership with europe. that is what needs to be put in place and thatis what needs to be put in place and that is what parliament has to try to think about and she has my support as she tries to do that. thanks very much. there we go. former conservative prime minister backs today's conservative by minister in the vote of confidence. i guess that is no surprise. it is a customs union or the customs union still a red line for you?” customs union or the customs union still a red line for you? i think the position today is, even what happened in the house of commons yesterday, where we were defeated very happily, the prime minister rightly said we need to engage across parliament and we need to do that constructively. when it comes to the customs union, or principle is that we are in favour of leaving the customs union so that we can

enter into trade agreements and no longer on wta terms, but at this stage, what we are doing is engaging with parliamentary opinion. and if you engage with parliamentary opinion, labour will you engage with parliamentary opinion, labourwill urge you engage with parliamentary opinion, labour will urge you to do some kind of arrangement on a customs union if not the customs union. i ask again, is that still a red line that you will not cross, or is it now open for negotiation? well, i don't think we can today be boxing ourselves in. what we need to be doing is engaging across parliament, see what ideas emerge, with the support is for those particular ideas, and at that point we need to make an assessment, is there something which is both negotiable with the european union and something which could have the majority support in house of commons? so it is now open for negotiation? the point i am making

isi negotiation? the point i am making is i think today is about making an assessment of where the numbers are. then we need to decide. and if you find that the numbers are such that if you were to agree to some customs union formulation that you could get this deal through, you would be open to that? well, i think we have to look at that in the round. as i say, our view is that given that we are leaving the european union, the flexibility that that might give so that we are not trading on wta terms with third countries is a potential advantage, and losing that would be not in our interests. i have to say, some of my colleagues who are very keen that we have our own customs policy seem to be quite relaxed about trading on wta terms with the european union, and i don't quite understand the logic of that. let me ask again, if it was the price of getting video across the line, but there was some customs union formulation —— that there was, you

open to that or not? what i would say is that we need to see if there isa say is that we need to see if there is a potential deal there, looking at it in the round, is it viable, is it something that the house of commons can take through, but i don't think... so the customs union is on the table? i don't think we should be boxing ourselves in. we should be boxing ourselves in. we should make that assessment. i'm not asking you to box yourself in. i am asking you to box yourself in. i am asking you to box yourself in. i am asking you whether you are to un—box yourself by putting a version of the customs union or a version thereof asa customs union or a version thereof as a matter that you will now negotiate on? you will listen to opinion and if it looks like it will change the deal, it is a runner. is that what you are sailing?” change the deal, it is a runner. is that what you are sailing? i think the right answer would be to leave the right answer would be to leave the customs union, but given where we are we have to be open to proposals that are put forward and make an assessment. 50 proposals that are put forward and make an assessment. so it is on the table? well, i am using my words, but you can use your words. if we are going to engage, we have to

engage. and we shouldn't be boxing ourselves in. could mrs may preside over a note your departure? -- a double deal departure with yellow thatis double deal departure with yellow that is a question you would need to put to her. and she is not here. you are. and i bet very grateful to have the chance, andrew. it is likely to have very significant and negative consequences for this country where we to leave without a deal with the european union. and i think she is absolutely right to do everything she can to get a deal. but if these consultations she is going to be making with barry gardner and others and so on, if in the end they cannot come up with something that gets a version of the deal across the line, at the moment the legal fallback position is no deal. is that something mrs may will be prepared

to preside over through to the end of march when we are meant to leave? i think it is perfectly fair question. i think the prime minister has been very clear in saying that she doesn't want that and she doesn't want a second referendum, andi doesn't want a second referendum, and i think there was a really important point here for all parliamentarians, not just mrs important point here for all parliamentarians, notjust mrs may and not just the parliamentarians, notjust mrs may and notjust the cabinet and the government. all parliamentarians, if we don't want to crash out without a deal, and i think the vast majority of us don't want that to happen, and if we don't want a second referendum, but i think it is a case that the majority of us don't want that the majority of us don't want that to happen, then we have to support her deal, and all of us have to be working constructively, take responsibility, and accept that to serve the country we have got to work practically together to find a deal that would have that majority support. why didn't you do that if it needs a deal in which all become too can support why didn't you do

that when you started the negotiations? why didn't you have all—party consultations to try and get a bargaining position for britain that commanded widespread support? why didn't you do that? well, i think the prime minister... it has been defeated and to some extent this has happened. but i think the prime minister has got a deal that satisfied the referendum and protected jobs and security and etiquette is a great pity that it has been defeated and defeated in the way it was and so having got a plan, having negotiated something with the european union, many people. it was very difficult to do and having got that i think it is very reasonable but she proceeds. let me ask you this. we are going to go to anna soubry in a minute, and then back to barry gardner. did you preside over an ordeal?” then back to barry gardner. did you preside over an ordeal? i said i would not stay in a cabinet that made a conscious decision to go in that direction. what if it was a default position with yellow well, i

think we should strain every sinew to avoid that happening and having a devastating impact. and if it failed, would you still stay in a cabinet that was presiding over a no deal? i think it would depend on the particular circumstances. i think the country would be in a very difficult situation there and much that i wouldn't want to duck responsibility by walking away and leaving others to clear up the mess, but on the other hand i couldn't support a conscious decision to go down that route. thank you for that. back with barry gardner in a second, but let's go over to the central lobby. we have anna soubry there. she has been waiting for us, a strong conservative remainder. do you harbour much hope of mrs may's consultation, attempts to reach out, perhaps attempts to re—formulate a deal that will be more acceptable? does that have any chance of success in your view? she has used all of

these really warm words, but, and i listen to andrea leadsom on the radio this morning, is that she has said she is not prepared to lose on said she is not preparedttrtose—orr of her red lines, so what is the point? you heard david heard, though. i didn't, actually. point? you heard david heard, though. ididn't, actually. it wasn't my fault. it seemed that he wasn't my fault. it seemed that he was not ruling out. let me put it this way. on top of remaining in some form of customs union, he did not pull that out. that is up to david. he is a very good, sensible man, but with all respect it is not about one member of the cabinet. they have all got to get together, show some courage, and tell mrs may that they are not going to tolerate this any longer. she genuinely wants to reach out and have a copper mines, she has got to meet with all of the party leaders something that andrea leadsom certainly said was not going to happen, and she has also got to be prepared to say,

right, let's sit down, everything on the table but also of the table in terms of red lines, and the other things you have to do, it is quite disgraceful to continue to dangle the terrible threat of an ordeal brexit‘s, which is basically being used as political blackmail and i have bucketloads of respect for david and indeed many other members of the cabinet, but to use that, to blackmail people, is absolutely unacceptable. blackmail people, is absolutely u na cce pta ble. let's ta ke blackmail people, is absolutely unacceptable. let's take the worst possible option off the table now. david, are you using the threat of no deal to blackmail people as your fellow conservatives says? no, i don't agree with anna on this. i think that the default is no deal. she is saying you are trying to blackmail, trying to frighten people in the sense that if they don't back some form of deal, then the fallback will be no deal. i think the problem is that it is not enough to be

against no deal. i am against an ordeal. take it off the table. you have to replace it with something else. well, do that. the country is crying out for leadership. people are fed up to the back teeth with all of this. all of this brinkmanship has got to stop. and you and other sensible people in cabinet have got to make it very clear to teresa that this brinkmanship now must stop. you are right, of course, the default position is leaving without a deal. take no deal of the table. you can do that. you can take the date out of legislation and you can do is make a policy statement on it.“ of legislation and you can do is make a policy statement on it. if i may, i voted to take no deal of the table last night by voting for the prime minister's deal. david... that isa prime minister's deal. david... that is a line that is just meaningless. come on. you are bigger than these lines. these lines have got to stop.

it turns the public off, and they are not daft. the fact is, had the prime minister's deal gone through, then we clearly wouldn't be leaving without a deal. anna soubry, what we re without a deal. anna soubry, what were you trying to say? all of this mess i'm afraid is the creation of the prime minister. if she had reached out at the beginning, she had two opportunities when she became leader, and a second opportunity when she lost our majority after the general election, that was the time to reach out and reach a compromise. people like me who had accepted the result and wa nted who had accepted the result and wanted to, and i actually said to herface, prime minister, the single market, customs union, sort out northern ireland, deliver for british business, reach out over the heads of the labour front bench and work with the moderates on the labour backbench, you can do that and we can deliver on the referendum the best possible outcome. she absolutely has refused to do this. 0k, let david respond. then i have

one final question. first of all, the best way taking no deal of the table is to support her deal. now, the prime minister's deal was defeated yesterday. we should now see to find another deal, a deal that would have the support of the majority of the house of commons. that would take no deal of the table. anything that is the sensible way forward, and i think the prime minister must be absolutely right in the way she responded to the defeat la st the way she responded to the defeat last night, constructive and engaging and trying to find a way forward. i think that is what all of us as forward. i think that is what all of us as parliamentarians, and to be fairto anna, us as parliamentarians, and to be fair to anna, she us as parliamentarians, and to be fairto anna, she has us as parliamentarians, and to be fair to anna, she has a very clear position in terms of a second referendum, the choices are a second referendum, the choices are a second referendum, crashing out without the deal, or finding a deal somewhere. let me come back to anna soubry. 0bvious option that you will be voting for the government tonight.” will, absolutely. so that was the correct assumption. as injanuary, debris, perhaps even into early

march goes on, and it looks like we are heading foran march goes on, and it looks like we are heading for an ordeal under this administration, what would be more important to you, keeping a tory government in power or stopping ordeal? by absolute priority is the national interest, and it is not in the national interest for us to leave the european union without a deal. in all these matters, leave the european union without a deal. in allthese matters, people have got to put our country, not our -a . it party, first. and i know for a fact that good like party, first. and i know for a fact that good - like david, if i that good people like david, if i may say, absolutely sure that view. but this is bigger than any tribal political, party political allegiance. it transcends all the normal divides. and i have looked at this with great care. i don't want a second referendum. i dread such a thing. but it is the only way out of this terrible mess, that i am afraid has been created by our prime minister. if she is only reaching out now on the 11th hour, and frankly i am terribly sorry, it is

notjust me. it isjust too late. now we see the possibility of that why that arm n rlfll! for your time and we will grateful for your time and we will let you go. let me come back. the indication of what anna soubry is saying there is, i will vote for the government tonight. that means the government tonight. that means the government will probably win. but if it were like we really were heading foran it were like we really were heading for an ordeal and if another vote of no confidence came up and labour could introduce another one later on, there could be tory rebels like that may well not fought for the government. i think that is correct but i also think it is correct that the closer you get to brexit, not just mps like anna soubry, but also some senior labour politicians, faced with a choice on the eve of crashing out of that or backing the prime minister's deal, people who are vehemently opposed to her deal publicly now have said to me if it

came to that moment, even they in the national interest might be prepared to back it. there are those who suggest that that was the prime minister's plan all along, to run down the clock to the point that people are not faced with a realistic choice after all, but clearly she denies that, but i think really given that we have 71 days i think ‘until brexit, it really given that we have 71 days i think ‘ until brexit, it is a choice - actually a choice actually more . a choice - actually m and a choice which actually more and more people are thinking about. a choice which actually more and more people are thinking aboutm may not be the conscious policy, but it did end up being the default policy. we know that you have to go. thank you for being with us again. 0ur political correspondent, laura kuenssburg is going to bejoining us. i will turn to barry gardiner. if you lose the vote, which it looks like you will because the dup will vote with the government and there will be no tory rebels now, it may well be that therefore you don't get a general election immediately because you have lost the no—confidence. where does that leave

your policy on the second referendum? 0r your policy on the second referendum? or the option of a second referendum ? referendum? or the option of a second referendum? everything then comes into play. i think what we have seen from the prime minister is that she has said she's going to reach out. she said that the same time saying she's going to maintain her red lines. and that is what makes this business of reaching out rather difficult, because of you say you're going to out and you want to create a fresh deal and that remember is whatjeremy wanted. he actually said that at the labour party conference. he said he would help get a deal across the line if it had protection of work's rights and environmental standards, if it had a close alignment with the single market, and if there was a new customs union in which we could have a say. those were the three things that he offered and said, look, we will do this. but the trouble is the prime minister has never engaged and has always pushed asa never engaged and has always pushed as a way. butjust foundation, all of the things that you mention, that wouldn't touch the withdrawal

agreement, the legally binding part, that would refer to the future partnership. is that correct? and the interesting thing here is that adam, when he was speaking from strasbourg, said precisely that, didn't he? he said that strasbourg was saying that you have to keep the withdrawal agreement in place, intact, and what we are talking about here is very much the future relationship, which is the other pa rt relationship, which is the other part of what we voted on yesterday, andi part of what we voted on yesterday, and i know people have talked of it as one deal. in fact, as you know, it is two. so you would accept the withdrawal agreement, the legally binding part, the 39 billion, the eu citizens, the backstop, you will accept but? let's be clear. that would never have been how we would have negotiated. if i canjust would never have been how we would have negotiated. if i can just say this, we set out very clearly in our ma nifesto this, we set out very clearly in our manifesto the key things that i have outlined to you about the nature of the relationship. that was there in

our manifesto right from the general election onwards. we thought it was a mistake from the government to concede the ground at the very first negotiation because they originally said that what would happen as they would negotiate these in tandem. they would negotiate the withdrawal agreement. i understand all that, i am trying to look forward rather than back. i take everything you are saying. iam not than back. i take everything you are saying. i am not going to quibble with that. i am trying to establish whether or not it has been clear in people's minds until now. although you will not like it, you will take the agreement, the legally binding bit. what you want to change and reopen is the future partnership park, customs union, regulations on workers, single market relationships. is that right? let me say this. we are not happy with what is there on the table. and we would go intoa is there on the table. and we would go into a negotiation with the government about the shape of how we can get something through. the

future partnership. how we can get something to that will be both a cce pta ble something to that will be both acceptable to everyone and we can get some changes and we will look at this. if you were to win this vote of no—confidence tonight and we were for a general election, what would labour's manifesto say in this election? would it be for remain relief? we have a process. if a general election were called, we have a process where we set out what we are going to put in our ma nifesto. we are going to put in our manifesto. you must have an idea. i understand the context of your question. what we set out on our ma nifesto question. what we set out on our manifesto two years ago... would you still be far leave? can ijust

expect? we get that out is what we would do if we became a government at the beginning of this process. we are not at the beginning of this process a ny are not at the beginning of this process any longer, and what we set out at our conference was the process that we would follow if we couldn't get it through. what we would now have to consider, if a general election were to be called, is how we take things from where we are? not going back two years ago and doing what we said we would do then. you are calling for a general election and i think some people will find it surprising that you are calling for it and you can't yet tell us what you would campaign for. laura is here. i am glad we brought you in. nothing to do. anything to update because it is a moving picture since his book? it is very much a moving picture. ithink picture since his book? it is very much a moving picture. i think it is also clear at this stage, number ten does not have any intention of bringing the labour front bench into detox so we will be discussing how labour and the tories might be able

to sit down and come up with some kind of package together. i think we have heard from inside another ten and from other ministers this morning that the plan at the moment is not to havejeremy corbyn taking pa rt is not to havejeremy corbyn taking part in the stocks. i think that there is a belief that they might be able to do business with a number of labour mps able to do business with a number of labourmps on able to do business with a number of labour mps on the backbenches. i question whether they're for this process of time to give the appearance of genuine cross—party talks is actually going to be one that bears any fruit, and that position may have to change rather rapidly, but it certainly seems to me at the moment that there is no intention of bringing jeremy corbyn the tactic is not to get across front bench agreement, it is to try and peal away some labour backbenchers? at this stage. this is not the time for the prime minister to play party political games. it is time for the two major parties to

come together and to look at how we resolve the problem that the prime minister had got us into. we have to now work not on this poor outpaces, we are not speaking to you... we got that. is it government policy not to speak to the labour front bench? as of today, we have a confidence vote in the house of commons. the labour is trying to bring down the government. that is what the opposition does, isn't. if you opposition does, isn't it? if you win it, will you consult with the labour front bench? as the prime ministersaid, we labour front bench? as the prime minister said, we will consult with parliamentarians and that is people in all parties. it may be easier to work with those on the labour back benches. i think that is where we have to start. i think that is where

we have to start. why would you not start with the opposition? in times of trying to reach agreement with the jeremy corbyn, that is something that may prove to be challenging. they are eurosceptic like your government. they are more eurosceptic venue. they certainly are. i think there might be others that are easier to work with. we have got to go straight into prime minister's questions. and in sending my thoughts and prayers to all of those who have lost loved ones. the high commissioner has confirmed one british fatality and we are providing assistance to those affected by the attack. we stand in solidarity with the people of kenya and the government. mr speaker, this morning i had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others

andi ministerial colleagues and others and i shall have further such meetings later today. thank you, mr speaker. may i join meetings later today. thank you, mr speaker. may ijoin with the condemnation of terror. you will know that i first saw collection to this house because i believed in morejobs, lower taxes more jobs, lower taxes and investment in public services. does she agree that since 2010, the conservative government has delivered time and again for the british people? and the biggest threat to that is sat on the opposition front bench with a leader whose policies would bring less jobs, higher taxes, a weaker economy u nless jobs, higher taxes, a weaker economy unless investment in our public services? my honourable friend is right. what have we seen under the conservatives and government? 3.4 million morejobs, more people earning an income, earning a wage and able to provide for their

families. more children in good and outstanding schools, more money into the national health service. what would put that in danger? it government led by the honourable gentleman, fewerjobs, government led by the honourable gentleman, fewer jobs, more spending. jeremy corbyn. thank you, mr speaker. may i start by correcting the record. last night i suggested this was the largest government defeat since the 1920s, i would not wish to be accused of misleading the house. i have since been informed that it is in fact the largest ever defeat for a government in the history of our democracy. so, mr speaker, shortly after the prime minister made a point of order last night, her spokesperson suggested the government had ruled out any form of customs union with the european union is part of a reaching

out exercise. can the prime minister confirm that is the case? the exercise that i indicated last night is about listening to the views of the house, wanting to understand the views of parliamentarians so we can identify what could command the support of this house and deliver on the referendum. what the government wa nts to the referendum. what the government wants to do is ensure that we deliver on the result of the referendum, leaving the european union. army want to do it in a way that ensures we respect the votes. that means ending free movement, if a fear that means ending free movement, if afeara that means ending free movement, if a fear a deal, opening up opportunities to trade with the rest of the world. and keeping ties with our neighbours in europe. my question was about the customs union. the prime minister seems to be in denial about that, as she is

in denial about the decision made by the house last night. the business secretary told business leaders last night, we cannot have no dealfor all the reasons you have set out. can the prime minister now reassure the house and the country and confirm that is the position of the government, that we cannot have no deal? i think the point the business secretary was making is that if you do not want to have no deal, you have to ensure you have a deal. i will give this to... i will say this to be right honourable gentleman, there are two ways of avoiding no deal. the first is to agree a deal and the second would be to revoke article 50. that would mean staying in the european union. that would mean failing to respect the results of the referendum and that is something that this government will

not do. jeremy corbyn. the prime minister has not answered on a customs union, has not answered on zero deal and continues to spend 4.2 billion of public money on a zero deal scenario. cannot she understand yesterday the house rejected her deal? she needs to come up with something different than that. it is not just something different than that. it is notjust on brexit this government is failing. 4 million working people are living in poverty, have a more million people living in poverty than 2010. the rowntree foundation confirms in work poverty is rising faster than the overall employment rate. with poverty rising, can the prime minister tell us when we can expect it to fall for the time she remains in office? i will tell the right honourable gentleman what is happening. we now seek1 million

fewer people in absolute poverty. that is a record low. 300,000 fewer children in poverty, a record low. the record low in the number of children living in workless households. income inequality lower than under the last labour government. that is conservatives delivering for the people of this country. what would we see from the labour party? 1000 billion more in borrowing and taxes. £35 million for eve ryo ne borrowing and taxes. £35 million for everyone in this country. that is labourfailing to labour failing to deliver for working people because working people always pay the price for a labour party. in denial on a customs union, in denial on the no deal, in denial on the money spent, in denial in last night's result. even...

well... mr speaker, it is very telling, very telling indeed, that as soon as i mention the report of the un that said the government was ina the un that said the government was in a state of denial about poverty in britain, tory mps don't during. tell that to queueing up at food banks. the government has failed on children education. can the prime minister tell us what is her greatest failure, education funding being cut by 7 billion, per—pupil funding following by 8%, sixth form funding following by 8%, sixth form funding cut by one sex or the adult skills budget has been slashed by 45% ? skills budget has been slashed by 4596? -- skills budget has been slashed by 45%? —— funding cut by 16. skills budget has been slashed by 45%? -- funding cut by 16. 1.9 billion children in good or

outstanding skills, narrowing the attainment gap for two advantage children, this is a government that is delivering the education that our children need further future. is delivering the education that our children need furtherfuture. the right honourable gentleman talks about being in denial. the only person in denial is home because he has consistently failed what his policy on brexit is. i said to him last week that he might do with a lip reader. i think when it comes to his wrecks that policy, the rest of us his wrecks that policy, the rest of us need a mind reader. -- brexit policy. we want there to be a customs union. she seems to be in denial about that. one of the problems she has is the disregard for facts problems she has is the disregard forfacts and problems she has is the disregard for facts and statistics. the sadistic authority has written to the department for education for times —— statistic authority for the

use of dodgy figures. not to make more cuts to police, that home secretary accused him of crying wolf. with 21,000 fewer police officers and rising crime across the country, does the prime minister accept that the then home secretary got it wrong? of course as we look at what is happening on knife crime and serious violence, we recognise the need to take action. we have introduced the offensive weapon bill and that is why the home secretary has introduced the serious violence strategy. we are also making nearly £1 billion more available to police forces over the next year. i also say to the right honourable gentleman, in all of these questions about public services, he only talks about public services, he only talks about the money that is going in. what matters with the police is the

powers that we give them as well. what was it when we came to the issue of knife crime, when they came to the issue of taking more action of criminals involved in knife crime, when somebody was caught on the streets for a second time with a knife they should be sent to prison, what did the right honourable gentleman to? you supported against. he does not support the police or security. increase the number of police in our streets, it was a labour government that rob elliot funded the police force. it is the tories that have cut it. as anyone on any street, do the feel safer now than they did eight years ago, we all know what the answer would be. it is the home secretary that created the hostile environment and

the windrush scandal. she promised to tackle injustices, she has made them worse. more homelessness, more children in poverty, more older people without clear, fewer nurses, rising crime, less safe streets, cuts to education for children, this government has failed our country. it cannot govern, cannot command the support of the people facing the most important issue at the moment, brexit. they lost the vote last night. is it not the case that with every other previous prime minister field with the scale of defeat last night, they would have resigned and the country would be able to choose the country would be able to choose the government that they want‘s the right honourable gentleman talked about the issue of brexit that is facing this country. later today we will have the no—confidence debate.

he has been calling i as??? for a he has been calling for weeks for a general election yet on sunday when he was asked in a journal collection, witty campaign to leave the european union, he refused to answer. “— the european union, he refused to answer. —— would he campaign? five times he refused to answer. what he describes as the key issue facing this country, he has no answer. the leader of the opposition has let anti—semitism run riot in his party. he would abandon our allies. he would weaken our security, wreck our economy and we will never let that happen. the prime minister will be aware of the serious minerals project in my constituency that is

employing 1000 people and set to boost exports by £2 billion. when she visited china she will know how important this fertiliser product can be around the world. the company is seeking a treasure guaranteed, does the prime minister agreed this is the kind of project the government should be supporting to show our commitment to the northern powerhouse and the industrial strategy? can i say i would like to thank him for raising this issue. i was pleased to meet the ceo during my trip to china. it is exactly projects like those that drive investment and exports in the north thatis investment and exports in the north that is what the powerhouse is all about. i am sure he will understand the discussions are a sensitive and it would be inappropriate for me to comment on the discussions. this is the sort of project which is what

the sort of project which is what the northern powerhouse is about. driving investment for the north. ian blackford. thank you, mr speaker. can i associate myself with the remarks about the atrocity in kenya and the solidarity with the people there. yesterday, the attorney general said that any new deal would be much the same as the one already on the table. we know that the european union will not renegotiate. if the prime minister survives today, will she concede that her second plan will be a re—dressing of herfirst that her second plan will be a re—dressing of her first plan? that her second plan will be a re-dressing of her first plan? as i said in one of my answers to the leader of the opposition, what we wa nt to leader of the opposition, what we want to do following the defeat was listening to parliamentarians and find out the point at which what is it that would secure the support of this house. that is the question we

will be asking. that is against the background of delivering on the referendum result, we leave the european union and we recognise what people were voting for when they voted in that referendum. ensuring we can have our own trade policy, the favour to our farmers and fishermen but maintain that good relationship. —— be feared.” fishermen but maintain that good relationship. -- be feared. i am afraid that does not address the question. the european union will not renegotiate. the prime minister has no answer. she has failed. what a shambles from this government. the worst defeat for any uk government. westminster is in chaos. in scotland, we stand united. scotland voted overwhelmingly to remain and we will not allow our country to be

dragged out of the european union and be dragged down by this tory government. the prime minister knew this deal was dead since chequers, she knew it was dead when she moved the meaningful vote. she knows last night was the last straw. the prime minister must now seek the confidence of the people, not simply the confidence of this house. the only way forward is to extend article 50 and ask the people of scotla nd article 50 and ask the people of scotland and the uk whether they wa nt scotland and the uk whether they want the prime minister's deal or whether they want to remain in the european union. mr speaker, the prime minister must now legislate for eight people's port. —— the people vote. he knows this house legislated for a people vote that was held in 2016 and that was determined we should leave the european union. he talks about our

country, our country is the whole of the united kingdom. england, scotland, whales and northern ireland. it is for the hall of the united kingdom that we will be looking for a solution that secures the support of this house and this parliament delivers on the will of the people. thank you, mr speaker. on of all the of group kenny