let's bring in chris mason. strong language in that statement, chris.ian is like with us, chris mason may be on later. the language in that statement, very strong stuff. we will come back to that in a second. the tellers are coming back with the result on the government amended motion. order! order. the ayes to the right, 327, the noes to the left, 300. the ayes to the right, 327, the noes to the left, 300. so the ayes have it, the ayes have it, unlock. order. point of order, mr jeremy corbyn. thank you, mr speaker. on a point of order i would like to congratulate the house were taking control. the government approach has been an abject failure and this house must now find a solution. so i pay tribute to the honourable member for west dorset and a member for honourable member for west dorset and a memberfor leeds honourable member for west dorset and a member for leeds central and others who work to achieve the result tonight. mr speaker, the government must take this process seriously. we do not know what the house will decide on wednesday. but i know

let's pick up with chris mason in westminster. chris, i'm looking at that list.she will not revoke. it doesn't sound like she wa nts to revoke. it doesn't sound like she wants to extend but she doesn't want to be in the european elections which me —— which leaves and deal or no deal. it does. framing heri commence around wanting to put her deal forward commence around wanting to put her dealforward or the prospect of commence around wanting to put her deal forward or the prospect of the uk either leaving without a deal or certainly not leaving in a situation where she is still prime minister. she linked to getting a deal and getting out with how long she might stay in office. it is worth repeating these key dates. step back and look at the result of these news conferences in the last 30 minutes. the european council summit concluded there is an extension until the 22nd of may if the prime minister can get her deal through the commons next week for an extension until the 12th of april, about two weeks on the end of next week, if she (n0 audio) hate out and drop i

chris mason wraps up prepared to give. chris mason wraps up another hectic day.s rather late when the prime minister offers this greeting at the end of a long evening. good morning. yes, agreeing adelaide to brexit had gone on. i hope we can agree we are at the moment of a decision and i will make every effort to ensure we are able to reach a deal and make a country move forward. the eu saying if the uk does not want to sign up to the withdrawal agreement it has until april 12 to work out what it wants. what this means in practice is all options will remain open until that date and the cliff edge date will be delayed. the uk government will still have a choice of a deal, no deal, along extension or revoking article 50. revoking article 50 means cancelling the brexit process, an idea which has attracted more than 2 million signatures on the parliament website but the government has flatly rejected the idea. for the prime minister this morning, a series of dilemmas have been postponed but not resolved. there are still no easy answers for her. chris mason, bbc news.

chris mason reports.o downing street this morning with one question to answer. can she persuade enough mps to finally back her deal? i think the mood in my constituency is changing very quickly. they voted for brexit, they are worried that if this issue is protracted, if there is a major extension to article 50 we could lose brexit. so there is one who has changed his mind. here just maybe is another. so no deal is better than a bad deal? no deal is better than a bad deal but a bad deal is better than remaining in the european union in the hierarchy of deals. jacob rees—mogg says he is waiting to see what northern ireland's democratic unionists decides to do and so far today they are keeping quiet so they are not persuaded yet. there are others who appear unpersuadable. if it is rammed through parliament at the last minute, everyone will have buyer's remorse. you have got people saying they will hold their noses against the stench of this deal and vote against it. how can this deal be the path of the futu

chris mason, bbc news, at westminster. all 157 people on board. it came down soon after take—off. among the seven british citizens on board, one of them has been named asjoanna toole, a un worker from devon. mps are told to back theresa may's deal in the vote in two days' time or risk losing brexit altogether. sport and a full round up, from the bbc sport centre. good evening. jack grealish recovered from being attacked by an intruder on the pitch to score aston villa's winnerat birmingham. the game was stopped briefly as a spectatorjumped out of the crowd and appeared to aim a punch at the villa captain. the person in question was led away by stewards and arrested by police. grealish was ok and able to continue and got the only goal of the game. after the game grealish said: manchester united have lost their first game in the premier league under ole gunnar solskjaer. the defeat to arsenal came in his thirteenth game in charge since taking over from jose mourinho. his side drop out of the top four. but the norwegian felt

that was chris mason picking through the details.to get through when it comes to brexit. and you can find analysis of theresa may's agreement with eu officials, on what they've described as "legally—binding changes" to the brexit withdrawal deal on our website bbc.com/news — or download the bbc news app. let us leave brexit there. us aviation authorities say they believe the boeing 737 max aircraft, of the type that crashed in ethiopia on sunday, is airworthy. both black box recorders have now been recovered. the aircraft was flying to the kenyan capital, nairobi, when it crashed minutes after taking off from addis ababa, killing all 157 people onboard. our correspondent emmanuel igunza sent this report from the scene. it's a slow, delicate process of recovering pieces of the plane that might offer clues on why flight et302 came down. more remains of those who died have been recovered from the rubble, as rescue efforts enter the second day. the main focus for the investigators has been that huge crater that was made when the plane hi

chris mason, bbc news.grow. —— this row is likely to grow. with the sunday times reporting that two more british women have had their citizenship taken from them. i asked our news correspondent john mcmanus what we knew about the two women. well, the sunday times says that the two sisters travelled from london to syria to join so—called islamic state a few years ago. now, one of the sisters, zara, had already had a son in london when she travelled to syria. she gave birth to two of the children subsequently, while reema also has two sons, one of whom was born in britain. that means between them they have five children. now, if this story is correct, that the british government has stripped them of their citizenship, the question is what happens to the children. stripped them of their citizenship, the question is what happens to the children. the home secretary, sajid javid, has been very clear that when he makes this decision to revoke citizenship of those who have gone to join islamic state, he says their

i think crisis is a justified word and that was chris mason in westminster.e a look at some of the day's other news. a bus carrying 51 schoolchildren has been hijacked and set on fire by its own driver near the italian city of milan. a driver of senegalese origin. a video has been released of footage. and you can see the bus ramming into the back of other cars and it is then satellite. you can see children escaping, screaming and shouting as they do. the driver then, according to authorities, poured petrol into the bus and set it alight. authorities were able to get all the children out. no—one was seriously hurt although some of the children have been taken to hospital suffering shock and smoke inhalation. witnesses, local reports say the driver was shouting out that he wanted to kill himself and he wanted to stop the deaths at sea. this, of course, in the background of italy's migrant races at a time when the populist government here has closed italy's ports to ngo boats that have been trying to rescue migrants. that was bethany bell with the update. also m

chris mason, bbc news. from prison after paying more than $160,000 in overdue child support. the singer has previously spent three nights in jail after being charged in four sex abuse cases. allegations the singer denies. i promise you we're going to straighten all this stuff out. that's all i can say right now. i promise you. i love my fans. thank you, guys. his lawyer also spoke to reporters outside cook countyjail in chicago. so, we're going to focus on the evidence. we're going to fight the case in the courtroom. the state has yet to give us one single piece evidence. we haven't seen an interview, we haven't seen a police report, we haven't seen a videotape. when we get those things, we're going to fight this case like we fight any other case — in the courtroom, based on the evidence. a hospital in california has come under criticism for the way it informed a patient that he was dying. the granddaughter of the patient, ernesto quintana told the bbc she was shocked when a video screen was rolled into his

chris mason, bbc news, at westminster. of how social media platforms are being used in political campaigning. last year, the british data firm cambridge analytica collapsed — after claims of improper behaviour during the us presidential election and the brexit referendum. recognise any of these? they're facebook ads about brexit, and some encourage you to lobby your mp. with a simple click, you can send a templated e—mail. anyone placing an ad can target the facebook user by categories such as age, gender and location. we asked the organisation who targets me for some background. the way i research this is that you open up facebook‘s political ad library, and then you can search for any keyword or party or individual or name and see what ads are running related to that person. so you open up the library, type in brexit and then you'll get the results for that particular search. so what can we glean about this particular ad, which is being sent to constituents of andrew mitchell, mp? this ad has been shown between 10,000 an

chris mason has been following events from westminster. game. how many people can do is persuade here in westminster? letters be absolutely brutal about it, it could be tremendously successful in persuading an awful lot of people and still fail, because this is a hung parliament, the prime minister does not have a majority to call the own on so many does not have a majority to call the own on so many matters relating to brexit, she has to persuade northern ireland's democratic unionist party to prop up in westminster, and lots of conservative mps as well. tonight, plenty of them, including the influential and noisy brexiteers, who we have heard rather a lot of in recent months, people like steve baker, jacob rees—mogg, and others, they are saying let's give this a serious look. we should be fairto them. give this a serious look. we should be fair to them. as things stand, or they have heard is a statement from david lidington, the cabinet office minister, and a press conference between the prime minister and jean—claude juncker of the comm

with all the details of what happened in strasbourg here is chris mason.of truth, mrs may? a last-minute hurdle to strasbourg to meet the eu, and then late last night an announcement. first aid drawings instrument with probable legal weight to the withdrawal agreement will guarantee that the eu cannot act with the intent of applying the backstop indefinitely will stop if they do it can be challenged through arbitration and if they're found to be in breach the uk can suspend the backstop. the backstop is the insurance policy designed to ensure that the border on the island of ireland remains open in all circumstances by keeping the uk in a customs union with the eu. lasco's talks resulted in a wealth of documents, legal instruments, statements, and declarations, some of them legally binding about how the backstop could be avoided and how the uk might suspend it in some circumstances in the future —— last night. so what does the eu make of this new agreement? let us speak crystal clear about the choice. it is still brexit might not happen at all. faced with

chris mason, bbc news. let's take a look at some of today's other news.nded in custody by magistrates in east london, charged with murdering the teenager jodie chesney last week. the 17—year—old was stabbed in the back while listening to music with herfriends in a park in romford. manuel petrovic, who's 20, will appear at the old bailey on monday. a second suspect remains in custody. the supermarket chain asda has said it will remove all single kitchen knives from sale because of concern over the use of knives in violent attacks. the company says it has a responsibility to try to help in the work to bring violent crime under control. this is bbc news. the headlines: thousands of anti—government protesters have ta ken to the streets in venezuela on a day of rival demonstrations. police used pepper spray against supporters of the opposition leader, juan guaido. dozens of civilians have left the last stronghold of the islamic state group ahead of a final assault by western—backed forces. a hospital in california has been criticised for its use of a video lin

chris mason, bbc news.tish mountaineer, tom ballard, and his italian climbing companion, daniele nardi, in pakistan. contact was lost with the pair almost two weeks ago during an ascent of one of the world's highest mountains — nunga parbut, in the himalayas. mr ballard is the son of alison hargreaves, who died on the mountain k2 in 1995 — the same year she became the first woman to conquer everest unaided. sarah campbell reports. tom ballard was among the world's best and most fearless climbers. he specialised in taking on the most dangerous ascents in winter. joining him on what would be his final challenge — italian climber daniele nardi. they had waited weeks for a weather window before setting off to climb nunga parbut, also known as killer mountain. an international search was launched after contact was lost, with the pair two thirds of the way up a particularly treacherous route. almost two weeks after they went missing came news that their bodies had been spotted. tom, as a youngster, looking for a

chris mason, bbc news.four lorry loads of people have been evacuated from the village of baghouz in syria where a final assault is expected soon. these pictures have come from near the enclave where hundreds of civilians were evacuated after sunset. over the past six years, the so—called islamic state caliphate has shrunk from the size of britain to less than a square mile on syria's border with iraq. once all civilians are out of baghouz, the syrian democratic forces will resume their final assault on the area. many civilians travel to camps for the displaced and those facilities are now overwhelmed with people. earlier, i spoke to dr fran equiza, the unicef representative in syria. he says harsh conditions in the camps are having deadly consequences. so far there are 106 people dead. it isa so far there are 106 people dead. it is a very, very harsh winter with cold and not the proper at support in the camp. some of them are so wea k in the camp. some of them are so weak that any compensation in the health

chris mason, bbc news.o isjessica trisko darden — assistant professor at the school of international service at american university and author of the book, insurgent women. thank you for coming to speak to us today. first of all, in certain women, what was your most striking research into women who went to join groups like islamic state? thank you for having me. i think one of the mainfindings for having me. i think one of the main findings that is a feature of insurgent women is that women plasma controls within groups like the islamic state or hugger and more —— bowed to —— boko haram and in colombia is that it varies over time. one of my concerns for women sitting in detention camps in syria is how are we going about establishing what roles they played in islamic state and what support they provided to that organisation? talking of those roles, where they crimes? because one of the argument is that if returnees were to come back to their country, that they should face justice. their roles within these wa

chris mason, bbc news.n custody by magistrates in east london, charged with murdering the teenagerjodie chesney last week. the 17—year—old was stabbed in the back while listening to music with friends in a park in romford. manuel petrovitch, who's 20, will appear at the old bailey on monday. a second suspect remains in custody. the supermarket chain asda has said it will remove all single kitchen knives from sale because of concern over the use of knives in violent atacks. 41 people have been fatally stabbed so far this year, and asda says single knives are the most frequently stolen. the company says it has a responsibilty to try to help in the work to bring violent crime under control. negotiators from the eu and the uk are continuing technical talks on brexit as the two sides struggle to break the deadlock over the issue of the irish border. the government has rejected a proposalfrom the eu's negotiator, michel barnier, that the uk would be free to leave a proposed customs union provided that northern ir

chris mason, bbc news.n remanded in custody by magistrates in east london, charged with murdering the teenager jodie chesney last week. the 17 —year—old was stabbed in the back while listening to music with friends in a park in romford. manuel petrovitch, who's 20, will appear at the old bailey on monday. a second suspect remains in custody. 0ur correspondent jane—frances kelly gave us an update from outside court a 15—year—old boy has been charged with the murder of a teenager, who was fatally stabbed in west london. ayub hassan, aged 17, was found with wounds to his chest — in west kensington on thursday afternoon. he died later in hospital. a teenager is in a serious condition in hospital after being stabbed in the chest — while on—board a bus in north london. the incident happened on the route 134 bus in the muswell hill area, just before a quarter to five this afternoon. the 19—year—old man was flown by air ambulance to an east london hospital. no arrests have been made. the supermarket chain asda has

chris mason, bbc news, at westminster.say they're "desperately worried" for her safety. catherine shaw, from witney in 0xfordshire was last seen on march 11th in the lake atitlan area of the country. her parents said her disappearance was of "great concern". a foreign office spokeswoman confirmed it was supporting the family of a british woman and were "in contact with the local authorities". a 17—year—old boy has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a man was stabbed in the chest in north london. police were called to reports of a stabbing on a bus near muswell hill yesterday afternoon. the 19—year—old is in a critical condition in hospital. another 19—year—old is in hospital after being stabbed in south london this afternoon. police were called to an address in east dulwich at about 3.20pm. the man's injuries are not thought to be life threatening. no arrests have been made. the headlines on bbc news. a passenger plane crashes in ethiopia, killing all 157 people on board. it came down soon after take—off.

chris mason at westminster, thank you very much.ng changes that strengthen and improve the withdrawal agreement and political declaration have been secured. he said the documents provide confirmation that the eu cannot trap the uk in the backstop indefinitely, and he confirmed that the house will vote on what he described as an improved deal. talks could break down if the eu thinks the uk is deliberately prevaricating in order to get a better deal. all of this is happening in the detail of these documents. david lidington said the documents. david lidington said the documents provide confirmation they cannot trap the uk in the backstop indefinitely. the prime minister and my right honourable friend the secretary of state for exiting the air you have secured legally binding changes that strengthen and improve the withdrawal agreement and political declaration. the house spoke clearly on 29 january when it voted in favour of honouring the decision of the british people and leaving the european union with a deal that works for the uk,

letsjoin our colleague lets join our colleague chris mason. filing out of the chamber in the last couple of minutes. business still going on but not as high octane as it has been, a dozen mps still in there towards the end of business for the series of votes we have been reporting on the last hour, now coming to a conclusion. we heard from a conservative mp a couple of minutes ago. let's bring in andy mcdonald, leader —— labour mp. good evening to you. your reaction to what has just happened. so parliament taking control of business on wednesday, but i guess the question is can it coalesce around anything that it can agree on, as far as brexit is concerned, as opposed to just rejecting stuff? well, i mean this is momentous, that parliament has wrested control of the process away from the prime minister, who is completely rudderless. she is not even here to respond to points of order and process on this hugely important day, she actually beetles off. let's see what comes out in this process later in the week. we will have these indicative votes

chris mason, bbc news, westminster.n across parts of the country. fallen trees have caused damage, while these cars were crushed — after winds knocked scaffolding into a road in west london. meanwhile, gusts blew part of the roof off this supermarket store in broadstairs in kent. it's emerged that two more british women who travelled to syria to join the islamic state group have been stripped of their uk citizenship. reema and zara iqbal, who are sisters, left their home in east london in 2013 and married is fighters. they are now living in detention camps in syria with their children. our home affairs correspondent dominic casciani reports. the latest scenes in syria as flee the chaos, the humanitarian crisis deepens, and some of those seeking sanctuary are foreign—born women who supported is. now the bbc has learned that more of the british women who went to syria has been stripped of their citizenship. they are called remake pal —— zara iqbal and reema iqbal, they left for syria in 2015 and have five children between

chris mason, bbc news.tish women who went to live in islamic state—controlled areas have also been stripped of their citizenship. according to the sunday times newspaper, reema iqbal and her sister zara travelled to syria in 2013, and are now in the al—roj refugee camp. with me is our news correspondentjohn mcmanus. john, what do we know about these assistance? well, the sunday times says that the two sisters travelled from london to syria to join so—called islamic state a few years ago. now, one of the sisters, zara, had already had a son in london when she travelled to syria. she gave birth to two of the children subsequently, while also has two sons, one of whom was born in britain. that means between them they have five children. now, if this story is correct that the british government has strip them of their citizenship, the question is what happens to the children. the home secretary, sajid javie, has been very clear that when he makes this decision to revoke citizenship of those who have gone to joi

chris mason, bbc news, at westminster.r hour have caused disruption across parts of the country. fallen trees have caused damage, while these cars were crushed, after winds knocked scaffolding into a road in west london. meanwhile, gusts blew part of the roof off this supermarket store in broadstairs in kent. the family of a 23—year—old british woman missing in guatemala say they're "desperately worried" for her safety. catherine shaw, from witney in oxfordshire was last seen on march 4th in the lake atitlan area of the country. her parents said her disappearance was of "great concern". a foreign office spokeswoman confirmed it was supporting the family of a british woman and were "in contact with the local authorities". a 17—year—old boy has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a man was stabbed in the chest in north london. police were called to reports of a stabbing on a bus in north finchley yesterday afternoon. the 19—year—old is in a critical condition in hospital. a climber is seriously ill in hospit

chris mason there, is there any reaction to what has been published in the draft conclusions? aid that the one from chris morris about no one having the faintest idea of where we will be in a week's time. very much the sentiment here. speaking to people about those draft conclusions, there is a kind of world weariness really. the place has thinned out compared with yesterday, given that it is a thursday, some mps returning to their constituencies, but a real sense of anxiety, a collective sense of anxiety amongst mps, regardless of anxiety amongst mps, regardless of their perspective on brexit, that this is it, that the crunch point has been reached, that next week they are going to have to make some pretty profound decisions whatever happens, whether that is formally changing the law here in the uk so that brexit doesn't happen at the end of next week, or accepting that ano end of next week, or accepting that a no deal outcome is a reality. for some, if you mps, that would be something they would embrace, most would find that a pretty grim prospect. more entertaining on monday

chris mason, bbc news, at westminster. so that is the assessment from chris mason.ification about the deal that was done last year —— the eu. but jean—claude juncker, who did was done last year —— the eu. but jean—claudejuncker, who did the deal last night, said this compliments the withdrawal agreement to the brexit treaty. he doesn't use the word that theresa may uses, which is that it amounts to changes to the withdrawal agreement. he was also happy to give what he calls a second chance to the deal, but he says they will not be a third. in other words, if mps vote the deal down again tonight, then the eu will not make any more changes, not make any more clarifications or provide any more clarifications or provide any more clarifications or provide any more interpretations. and if you speak to officials and diplomats in private, they say they are not convinced that theresa may has the numbers to get the deal through, and that any of this has made any difference. thank you for that. 0ur political correspondent ben wrightjoins me now. numbers are huge, aren't they?

chris mason, bbc news.al votes are due on brexit, with the current deadline now just three weeks away. but both the government and the eu are still struggling to agree on changes to the prime minister's brexit, because of mps' objections to the irish backstop. yesterday, the eu's chief negotiator, michel barnier, said that britain would be free to pull out of the proposed single customs territory, designed to avoid physical checks on the irish border — as long as northern ireland remained within it. the government has rejected this. we can cross to brussels and talk to our correspondent, adam fleming. it is no longer about hard brexit or soft brexit, it just it is no longer about hard brexit or soft brexit, itjust seems to be an place down at endless brexit. over the weekend that is one official civil service from both sides of sat around the table into the detailed technical work. it is not ministers 01’ technical work. it is not ministers or the prime minister coming to do a deal. what they are looking at

chris mason, bbc news.e'll get the reaction from parliament injust a moment with our political correspondent, ben wright. but first, our reporter adam fleming is in brussels. it is kind of almost pathetic fallacy when you are trying to sort of see through the mist of all of this and backs it, good morning, how's it going? yeah, hi there. i love that the weather of brussels a lwa ys love that the weather of brussels always delivers a perfect metaphor. it is ok to bea always delivers a perfect metaphor. it is ok to be a little bit confused about what is going on, even donald tusk, the president of the eu council, chaired the meeting, when he announced that yesterday, he got one of the date so many had to correct it, so thatjust tells you a little bit about the shenanigans that went on in the room last night. what happened is that there were lots of discussions among the other 27 presidents, prime ministers and chancellors about what to do with the date of the extension, some thought that the date on the table

chris mason is in the lobby. what is happening? i've just walked chris mason is in the lobby.bars in westminster of which there are quite a few and it is fair to say it was doing a good trade because members of the parliament are waiting for the division bell which will come in the next eight or nine minutes for the sequence of boats we have been talking about. the chamber has been ticking over, with passionate speeches from a huge range of arguments from all sides of the chamber about what needs to happen and a collective sense, we had this last week, of mps recognising that this is it, this is crunch time, they've got to try to find a way out of this impasse with no deal, the prime minister still having been rejected, no deal been rejected by mps as well, so the logic is for the mps to try to find some alternative mechanism, but the government has said it will not be bound by anything it comes up with, and any suggestions from the chamber could be contradictory or something that the european union couldn't live with, so it is possible after all of this process that the sense

chris mason, bbc news, at westminster. prime minister's statement from downing street last night, what happens next? today, theresa may will go to brussels to meet eu leaders and make a formal request to delay brexit for three months. if an extension is offered, mps will vote on the withdrawal agreement for the third time in the commons next week, assuming it's approved by the speaker, john bercow. if the withdrawal agreement is passed, the prime minister plans to leave the european union on the 30th ofjune. if she doesn't get an extension, or mps reject her plan, the legal default is the uk will leave a week tomorrow, without a deal. we'll get the latest from our brussels reporter adam fleming injust a moment, but first, let's speak to our political correspondent, jonathan blake, at westminster. so there was a great deal of excitement around this speech last night, the prime minister addressing the nation. what came out well, as he heard in the reportjust now, a flavour of the reaction from mps here at westminster, have t

let's bring in chris mason who is in westminsterfor ask.sked, and the response from donald tusk because he then said of what we have discussed today has been pretty positive and there are still options open to us and they obviously granted that extension so maybe they do not think she will take britain out without a deal. just making a point there that after a ll deal. just making a point there that after all of this countdown towards the huge amount of speculation around the prospect of a delay, that that delay has been agreed and that the uk subject to a change in the lawn here next week is not going to be reading the european union at 11pm a week from tomorrow which we have been counting down for the last three years providing a window, not a wide one but a window that they will have another crack at getting the withdrawal agreement through parliament and parliament can try to cook up an alternative strategy but the window remains very tight because of the deadline that britain is desperate to meet to try and sort something out before it

let's bring in chris mason at this point, live with us in westminster. s been a long day? yeah softwa re chris? it's been a long day? yeah software which leaves us in an extra ordinary position that a relatively small party in parliament. it has a huge amount of sway? it look like you are reading my diary, listening to the last couple of years. those huge landmark moments, the dup have proved absolutely pivotal because of this whole question of the backstop, this whole question of the backstop, this insurance policy to keep the border on northern ireland open. the whole issue of the backstop would've proved controversial in any circumstance, because any british government, particularly a conservative one, would have been very careful and cautious around anything that would emphasise the distance politically between northern ireland and the rest of the uk. but obviously that whole issue has been magnified hugely. by the fa ct has been magnified hugely. by the fact that the dup, their reason for being is to protect the union of northern ireland with great b

chris mason is in westminster and chris morris is here in brussels. i am looking at the lease.iously she wants her deal. she is not going to revoke. it does not sound to me like she wants to extend because she does not want to be in the european elections which means deal or no deal. we saw her framing her arguments yesterday wanting to put her deal forward framing her arguments yesterday wanting to put her dealforward or the prospect of the uk living without a deal or certainly not living in a situation with further delay when she is still prime minister. it is worth repeating the key dates. the news conferences in the last half hour say there is an extension until the 22nd of may, if the prime minister can get the deal through the commons. or to the 12th of april if she cannot. clearly the prime minister was making the argument — a familiar argument — that she wants to leave with a deal she has been trying to sell for months on and down. it is worth mentioning, it is striking listening to the news conferences, that is as close as you get to theresa may slamming on the brakes

here's our political correspondent chris mason.now it's rather late when the prime minister offers this greeting at the end of a long evening. good morning. yes, agreeing a delay to brexit had itself been delayed, but at gone midnight, it was eventually signed off, and the prime minister said... i hope we can all agree we are now at the moment of decision, and i will make every effort to ensure that we are able to leave with a deal and move our country forward. we now know, if the british parliament agrees to it, brexit will not happen a week today, as planned, with the eu saying that if the uk doesn't want to sign up to the withdrawal agreement, it has until april the 12th to work out what it does want. what this means in practice is that, until that date, all options will remain open, and the cliff—edge date will be delayed. the uk government will still have a choice of a deal, no deal, a long extension, or revoking article 50. revoking article 50 means cancelling the brexit process, an idea that's attracted more than two million

chris mason at westminster. chris was talking about the implications of brexit.he mentioned if the european parliament, which has to sign off the steel. the prime minister is also, as well as meeting jean—claude juncker, meeting the president of the european parliament. also the former belgian prime minister. but much more important now than being prime minister to my country, he has been the liaison to the whole process on behalf of the european parliament and he has to be persuaded as well. pretty much he is on site with commission. i think it is fair to say that is another element of this where all the ducks have to got to be lined up in a row before mrs may can bring that out in her meeting. hopefully press statement released tonight. we will bring you more from strasbourg as we get it. breaking news. i'm sorry to say, it is about the disappearance of catherine shaw. she was from oxfordshire and had been travelling in guatemala for some months. she was last seen on march the 15th guatemala. a body has been found in the for her. that is confirmed by the for he

chris mason, bbc news, at westminster.fter the prime minister's statement from downing street last night, what happens next? today theresa may will go to brussels to meet eu leaders and make that formal request to delay brexit for three months. if an extension is offered, mps will vote on the withdrawal agreement for the third time in the commons next week, assuming it's approved by the speaker, john bercow. if the withdrawal agreement is passed, the prime minister plans to leave the european union on the 30th ofjune. if she doesn't get an extension, or mps reject her plan, the legal default is that the uk will leave a week tomorrow, without a deal. let's ta ke let's take stock of all of this with oui’ let's take stock of all of this with our assistant political editor, norman smith. hello to you. i would like to ask you about the comments from donald tusk, the president of the european council, their stubble, because they will significantly influence what happens here in the uk. did he mean that if mps do not back the dea

chris mason, bbc news, at westminster.ireland backstop is of course central to all this last minute diplomacy and the prime minister of ireland leo varadkar has given this reaction has given this reaction to what's been agreed. in the context of tonights fort in westminster at the outcome from yesterday's meeting is positive. i hope and trust the withdrawal agreement will now be endorsed by the house of commons. in discussions with the uk, the government has worked hand—in—hand with our eu partners and eu institutions including the commission and the task force led by michel barnier. in that work we have insisted that the withdrawal agreement could not be rewritten and that the backstop arrangement while intended to be temporary must continue to apply u nless temporary must continue to apply unless and until it's replaced by future arrangements that can achieve the same objective. namely no hardboard. —— hardboard. well theresa may's cabinet will be meeting to discuss what's been achieved and ahead of it being debated in t

what to make of that, we will speak to chris mason in westminster. chris, but as i said to katya, that is probably because she has nothing to tell them. that is the brutal reality really, because the brutal reality really, because the argument continues here at westminster, and while there is a real focus here obviously from mps taking a look across the channel at what is happening where you are, there is also a real now intensity of focus on what happens next week, because we know that mps here at westminster have to make some very, very big decisions next week come what may, because either we are going to be in a situation where there is a no—deal brexit a week tomorrow, or parliament will be asked to change the law, to delay, to push back the day of brexit currently set down in law for 11 o'clock at night a week tomorrow. that looks like there will be an opportunity on monday for parliament to kick around potential alternative solutions to see if there is a majority for anything else, plus we are expecting although it is not confirmed that there w

here's our political correspondent chris mason.s to brussels with the deafening noise of westminster throbbing in her ears. to formally ask for the very thing she was desperate to avoid. a delay to brexit. last night she tried to make the most of what being prime minister offers you, a downing street stage, an opportunity to rise above that in in the commons and talk directly to the country. —— din in the commons. so far parliament has done everything possible to avoid making a choice. motion after motion and amendment after amendment has been tabled without parliament ever deciding what it wants. all mps have been willing to say is what they do not want. i passionately hope and he's will find a way to back the deal i have negotiated with you. —— mps will find a way. a deal which delivers on the result of the referendum and is the very best deal negotiable. and i will continue to work night and day to secure the support of my colleagues, dup, and others, to support this deal. unlike others, to support this deal. unlike others, she

our political correspondent, chris mason has been following events from westminster.l of the detail, all the verbiage, a numbers game. how many people can this persuade here in westminster? let's be absolutely brutal about it, it could be tremendously successful in persuading an awful lot of people and still fail, because this is a hung parliament, the prime minister does not have a majority to call her own on so many matters relating to brexit, she has to persuade northern ireland's democratic unionist party who prop her up in westminster, and lots of conservative mps as well. now, tonight, plenty of them, including the influential and noisy brexiteers, who we have heard rather a lot of in recent months, people like steve baker, jacob rees—mogg, and others, they are saying let's give this a serious look. we should be fair to them. because as things stand, or they have heard is a statement from david lidington, the cabinet office minister, and a press conference between the prime minister and jean—claude juncker of the commission, the documents have onlyjust appeared

with me now is our political correspondent, chris mason.d of another very long and very dramatic days. an extraordinary day here and i know people like me sitting in chairs like this use words like that rather a lot at the moment but we do because these are extraordinary days, as lawyer was reflecting on there, clash between the and parliament, government, often the left—hand of not knowing what the right hand it is doing. the view coming from the very top changing rather quickly, since often that the government is no longer living day by day but our by our. and then the most extraordinary conversations happening both publicly, on the floor of the house of commons chamber, you heard dominic grieve there, for instance, the conservative backbencher in lower‘s report, but also conversations happening privately. i have spent much of the day loitering around the corridors of the house of commons. —— laura. in ten oris yea rs commons. —— laura. in ten oris years reporting here, i have never known the atmosphere to be like it was tonight. a sense

the bbc‘s chris mason in westminster.s been an extraordinary day, i have said that rather a lot recently covering british politics but it is no less true for saying it because we are in an extraordinary period in british politics, in a moment that so british politics, in a moment that so many people here politically had been counting down to for two years at least and more than that if you include the referendum campaign before it for leave campaign, which is the moment of actually leaving the european union. it is sitting there in british law, due to happen at 11 o'clock at night a week on friday, and the prime minister here who owns her mistakes, saying that look, there is going to be another vote on her deal, we expected to happen next week. she has gone down to two crushing defeats already but there is the prospect of leaving a deal, which the british parliament does not like the look of as the alternative, and erbil sense walking the corridors of parliament this evening that this is it, that after all of this talk ab

a little earlier, our political correspondent chris mason explained the importance of the dup's supporty p0p up they are absolutely essential, they pop up the conservatives and government. so what is happening now is monthly of the persuasion game ahead of that expected third vote thatis ahead of that expected third vote that is likely to take place next tuesday. —— prop. tonight in brussels, eu ambassadors have been meeting, discussing the whole process of granting the uk an extension to the brexit process. meanwhile, here in westminster, the dup handing in to the handful of cabinet ministers, including the chancellor. they say, the dup, it was not about money, it was about this issue of the backstop. to keep the border on the island of ireland open under any circumstances. but remember, the dup are necessary but they are not sufficient for the government to get this deal through, they have got to persuade dozens and dozens and dozens of conservative mps. now, coupled today, including one former cabinet minister, esther mcveigh, did say they would probably vote for the deal, despite ca

but if mps reject it yet again, there could be a much longer delay. 0ur political correspondent chris masontic unionists to back her deal is seen as the key to all this? that's right. they are absolutely essential. they prop up the conservatives in government. what is happening now is round three of the persuasion game ahead of that but expected third vote that is likely to ta ke expected third vote that is likely to take place next tuesday. tonight, in brussels, eu ambassadors have been meeting, discussing the whole process of granting the uk an extension to the brexit process. meanwhile here in westminster the dup, heading into to meet a handful of cabinet ministers including the chancellor. they say the dup they weren't asking about money, it was about this issue off the backstop, the insurance policy to keep the border on the island of ireland open under any circumstances, and they wa nt under any circumstances, and they want reassurance that there could be a role for the northern ireland assembly after the triggering of the backstop in the future, if a deal is done. but remember, the d

our political correspondent chris mason is at westminster for us.r deal is seen as the key to all this? yes, they are absolutely essential. they prop up the conservatives in government owned up to now they have said they do not like theresa may's deal with the european union. for the government it is round three of the government it is round three of the persuasion game ahead of the third vote expected next tuesday. today the dup went into see senior government ministers, including the chancellor philip hammond. they were there for several hours and insisted this was not about money but about reassu ra nces this was not about money but about reassurances on the tricky issue of the backstop and a role potentially for the northern ireland assembly if the backstop was ever activated. but the backstop was ever activated. but the dup are necessary, but not sufficient for the government to win on this deal. they have to persuade dozens and dozens of conservative backbenchers. two of those who have opposed the deal up until now, including esther mcvey, des

let's get more now from our political correspondent chris mason who's in our westminster studio.und bites that she was talking about, let's simplify things, it is public will want to know first off, is the prime minister deal now gone, is a finished? short answer, i knowl don't think it is there are plenty in west minster who think it is and hope it does in planning and make a case it's absolutely should be, but when you speak to people in government but not entirely writing out the prospect of that which i'll agreement and the political declaration coming back for yet another go. it's had two one half attem pts another go. it's had two one half attempts at getting through because today was the mid —— just the agreement rather than the teacher declaration sketching out that not legally binding view as to how the relationship my leg once we had left the european union. what we do know about what will happen, is that cabinet ministers will chat with the prime minister and peas are starting to discuss things because on monday there is another attempt by mps to try and see if we can

our political correspondent chris mason joins us now. good morning to you, chris.en listening to your brexit casts from last week, very good. which way is it going this week, what's happening? thank you for lending your ears, happening? thank you for lending yourears, dan. yes, happening? thank you for lending your ears, dan. yes, good morning. ra rely your ears, dan. yes, good morning. rarely as we have discussed before has it been so hard for political correspondence to answer questions definitively and we don't know where it's going to go this week. the favourite bit of punctuation for me over the last couple of months has been the question — we will be it out again, to say that there might bea out again, to say that there might be a vote, a third so—called meaningful vote, on tuesday or wednesday this week. now, we were told on friday it is likely to be tuesday, then yesterday the chancellor, philip hammond, said, oh, well, maybe not, and boris johnson from the sidelines, former foreign secretary, saying it would be absurd to bring it back to soon, so it is not

we will go quickly to chris mason in the lobby, getting some sort of reaction from people no doubt drifting this time by 27 votes. . . another defeat, this time by 27 votes... richard harrington, resigned tonight, resume a plea to back the left—wing amendment, didn't need to. it reminds us, we must make this point, in this period of intense awkwardness, for parliament, really, because it is struggling to coalesce around anything, to agree on, as faras coalesce around anything, to agree on, as far as brexit is concerned, maybe these indicative votes will provide that opportunity, we regularly have moments where mps, andi regularly have moments where mps, and i looked down from the press gallery to the chamber, they are in a moment of deep anguish, conflicting loyalties, false to pick between. that loyalty to a government that he has served for a decent while, and believes in, and a deep concern about the brexit process. a methodology, if you like, a route map which may offer some sort of route to a solution, something that mps are willing to agree on. and, illustrative of a good number of mp

i'm joined now by our political correspondent chris mason.st on what we are hearing here. a lot of people for whom this should have been the day. for reporters like the friday the 29th of march, 2019, the 11 o'clock of night is the sentence that has tumbled out of our mouths every day for the last two years because that is the date and time the uk was meant to leave the european union by any measure that isa european union by any measure that is a spectacularfailure european union by any measure that is a spectacular failure on the government's part and you get a sense of the anger felt by the protesters tonight. but we find ourselves with the perpetual brexit question which is what on earth happens next? the perpetual brexit a nswer happens next? the perpetual brexit answer is we do not know. we have an idea of the landscape of the next week or so without any certainty about where we end up. on monday parliament is going to have a second attempt to try and coalesce around agreeing on something as opposed to co nsta ntly agreeing on something

here are laura kunesburg, chris mason and — from brussels — the voice of adam fleming as they share theiretting a majority in a minority government is by keeping as many people as possible on board. that is the conundrum. and we have talked before about chicken and egg and what was that phrase, we had the chicken, it had the egg, it is over... it's scrambled! and now we fixate on what i'm afraid, hot on the heels, we have to even on the attorney general‘s own words, the cox codpiece. i wanted to throw that out you. we can hear from the man himself. it is government policy to achieve the necessary change in the backstop, which will cause me to review and change my advice. that is government policy, that is the discussions that we are having, i would say it has come to be called cox's codpiece. what i am insuring is that what is inside the codpiece is in full working order. one of his colleagues said they were almost sick. i have to admit, i had to google what a codpiece was. i am sheltered and innocent! there was a diagram that popped up. i wouldn't google that... i think there are a few t