the only person that does know is the chair of the backbench 1922 committee, graham brady.ng to be giving some interviews this afternoon, and i think for the moment he'll keep his lips sealed. theresa may also said on sky that she had spoken to graham brady and last did so on friday and, as far as she is aware anyway, that threshold has not been reached but, as i say, graham brady probably wouldn't even tell his own wife if that number had been reached. he is very professional about all of this. the numbers are, as i say, all over the place in terms of the newspapers this morning. some believe the threshold has been reached. others believe that it is short. we know for sure that around 23 conservative mps have publicly said they have put in a letter to the backbench 1922 committee, and added to that number today is the former conservative mayoral candidate zac goldsmith, who says that, if he knew that this was going to be the arrangement, the brexit deal on the table at the moment, he probably would have voted remain in the referendum two and a half years ago. he, of course

well, they haven't done yet, because graham brady has told us he had reached 48. in westminster until tomorrow, and i have no doubt some of my colleagues will have consulted in their constituencies this weekend and, when they return tomorrow, more letters will go into mr brady. you are starting your own party leader, your own prime minister, not even in the back but in the front. your own prime minister, not even in the back but in the frontlj your own prime minister, not even in the back but in the front. i have asked the prime minister on many occasions to give me a guarantee that the british fishing industry will not be sacrificed. the only a nswer will not be sacrificed. the only answer i get back is, we are leaving the common fisheries policy. if you read the document, the political declaration that accompanied these 500 pages this weekend, it actually doesn't say that. it says that we are going to, in the economic situation at the moment, we are going to look at negotiating access to water is and resources. with other member states. that isn't taking back co

graham brady does and he has told that he has not got 48.e, i was about to say that nobody knows other than graham brady, and as you say, he has said he doesn't have 48. he is unimpeachable. the entire party completely trusts and respects graham brady. if he says he hasn't got them, he hasn't got them. what i think will probably happen is that collea g u es think will probably happen is that colleagues are back in their constituencies this weekend. they will, i think, constituencies this weekend. they will, ithink, if constituencies this weekend. they will, i think, if they are sensible, have consulted with their local associations, their local party workers, and asked them their view. we do know from conservative home, we have done a survey, that conservative members are overwhelmingly opposed to chequers, and having consulted their members, they will probably talk to their loved ones, go to bed tonight and sleep on it, and get up in the morning resolved to do one thing or another. they will come into westminster and then we will probably f

we don‘t yet know how many have been sent to graham brady but jacob many have been sent to graham bradydy but jacob rees—mogg just saying, denying this was a coup against theresa may because he said this is being done through constitutional procedures of the party. a coup is when you do not use proper procedures. he said this is nothing to do with personal ambition. he is not offering himself as leader. he was saying there are plenty of other people from the brexit side of the party who would be a good leader. he mentioned people like dominic raab and penny mordant as well. we go to our chief political correspondent vicky young, who has been listening to that. the question is, how many other tory mps like jacob rees—mogg have sent letters expressing their lack of confidence in theresa may on whether a leadership contest is going to be triggered in the coming days? to remind people that 48 letters are days? to remind peopl is hat 48 letters are days? to remind peopl is 48 48 letters are days? to remind peopl is 48 conservative e needed and that is 48 conservative mps which would trigger

they haven't done yet is because graham brady has told us, he hasn't reached the 48.hasn't reached the 48. we're not back in westminster until tomorrow andl back in westminster until tomorrow and i have no doubt that some of my colleagues will have consulted in their constituencies this weekend and when they return tomorrow more letters will be sent mr barclay. you are stabbing your party leader, you'll prime minister, not even in her back but in her friend. i've asked the prime minister on many occasions to give me a guaranteed that the british fishing industry will not be sacrificed. the only answer i get back is, we're leaving the common fisheries policy. the few leave the document —— if you read the document, it doesn't say that. it says that we are going to come in the economic situation at the moment, we are going to look at negotiating access to waters and resources. with the member states. that's not taking back control. i saw it before, i saw it 40 years ago andl saw it before, i saw it 40 years ago and i was one person who did vote in the last referendum, i

graham brady has remained very tight—lipped up to this point about this.rvative mps will be going back to their constituencies over the weekend trying to get a sense of what the feeling it among grassroots members. if they feel people are still very angry about this, more letters might going in the coming days. even if there were to be a vote of no confidence, downing street extreme are confident that theresa may still has the backing of the majority of her party. she has given an interview saying that the terms of the draft agreement cannot be changing our? she has written in the sun on sunday saying that she passionate belief that her course is the right one for the country. she also reminds people that there is a summit called for next week where her fellow european leaders will largely give the sign off to the deal and then it will be a deal signed off by angela merkel, emmanuel macron and other european leaders that mps here could be potentially rejecting. we still think there are some loose ends that the government wants to tie up. the deal talks abo

the chairman of the 1922 committee graham brady indicates to the bbc that the threshold of 48 letters for a no confidence vote in the prime minister has not yet been reached. president trump visits northern california following the most devastating wildfires in the state's history. at least 76 people are now known to have died and more than 1200 are unaccounted for. one step closer to accelerated degrees — as the government confirms plans to allow universties to offer two year courses in order to the reduce the cost of higher education. it was a big week in parliament, catch up on all the details now on bbc news. hello and welcome to the week in parliament — as theresa may faces opposition from all sides to her brexit plan. the government must now withdraw this half—baked deal. i plead with you to accept the political reality of the situation you now face. she clearly doesn't listen. but in a marathon commons session, mrs may stands fast on her eu divorce plans. voting against a deal would take us all back to square one. it would mean more uncertainty, more division and a failure to d

but graham brady per probably would not even tell his own wife if that threshold had been reached, heonal about this. the numbers are all over the place in the newspapers, some believe the threshold has been reached and others think it is short. we know for sure 23 mps have publicly said they have put in a letter to the backbench1922 committee and adding to that number today is the former conservative mayoral candidate zac goldsmith, who said that if he knew that this was going to be the arrangement, the brexit deal at the moment, he probably would have voted remain in the referendum two and a half years ago. he was quite an ardent brexiteer. thank you very much indeed, peter. president trump has visited northern california to see the devastation caused by wildfires, the worst ever in the state. this morning, officials said five more bodies have been recovered bringing the total number of deaths to 76. more than 1,200 people are still missing. our correspondent dave lee has more. this isjust a glimpse of the kind of bravery shown by those tackling california's fires. this footage was

so graham brady, will he have two ring around?bly ring us all because it would leak and go to press. i think if a person was to put a point in several years ago, they would test whether they were standing by that view. unlikely given that she has been prime minister only 18 months ago. but the reality is, he certainly won't. i would not expecting to do that. he will not be showing letters to the pps, that is nonsense. they are confidential under the constitution. they are stringy confidential, people can text graham or scan their letter in and send it to him —— strictly confidential. i won't give out his number! it is a serious matter but i'm afraid the myths are there. but beyond that, he has to go to the prime minister first. sorry, this gentleman, i want to answer his question. yes, it is worth it. i know we disagree but you followed me around. thank you for protesting and upholding our democracy. he follows us upholding our democracy. he follows us all around. let's talk about what happens when you have all of the 48, there is

and the current chairman is sir graham brady. wins a confidence vote that follows that, she can stay, and there can be no fresh challenges for one year. but, if the prime minister loses a confidence vote, she is obliged to stand aside. then, there is a leadership contest she cannot take part in. that is a leadership contest where, normally, mps expect to choose two candidates to be put forward to the party membership. but, that could take weeks at least. more time than the party feels they have, with the brexit clock ticking away. but it's also hard to see how mps could be prevailed upon to impose one candidate on the party, as they have done in the past, given the divisions inside the conservatives. a leadership election could split them down the middle. with me now is bronwen maddox from the institute for government. she's the former foreign editor of the times newspaper. thank you forjoining us. let's talk about the possibility of a no—confidence vote first of all. if sirgraham no—confidence vote first of all. if sir graham br

the chairman of the 1922 committee, graham brady, indicates to the bbc that the threshold of a8 letters not been reached. the rules are fairly clear, that ft threshold were reached, i would have to consult with a party... immediately, graham? i think the whole thing is with the intention age should be expeditious. president trump visits northern california following the most devastating bile fires in the history of the state. and one step closer to the accelerated degrees, as the government confirms plans to allow universities to offer two—year courses. those are oui’ courses. those are our latest headlines. now, it is time for the travel show. this week on the travel show, i'm in lebanon, finding out why beirut is hoping to regain its reputation as the entertainment capital of the middle east. we have amazing people who are doing work that is internationally recognised. also coming up, i'll be discovering how an ordinary man became the king of his own castle. did he build it himself? himself, stone by stone. it took him 73 years. plus, lucy hits the british countryside to check out the

but if the 48 letters or e—mails are received by graham brady, he will, in as faras, received by grahamhe no—confidence vote in the prime minister. i have a lot of questions for you, i minister. i have a lot of questions foryou, iam minister. i have a lot of questions for you, i am going to pepper you with them. how quickly does he have do receive them before they reach their use by date? they don't have a use by date, if somebody has a change of heart, they can get their letter back will stop so, once you sendin letter back will stop so, once you send in the letter, it is live for as long as that prime minister is under threat. if theresa may is super—confident, what is to stop her from sending in a letter about herself into graham brady? laughter well... that is a fascinating question! never been asked before... that is not impossible. and in a way, that is whatjohn major, who was prime minister in 1995, that is what he did when he was so fed up by all the talk from backbenchers are in the conservative mps, that they did not want to have him any longer, that he triggered the leadershi

the chairman of the 1922 committee graham brady indicates to the bbc that the threshold of 48 letterso confidence vote in the prime minister has not yet been reached. president trump visits northern california following the most devastating wildfires in the state's history. at least 76 people are now known to have died. now on bbc news, it's time for click. this week: robe—surgeons. .. swinging superstars... ..and sean bean toilet duck. here on click, we are constantly coming across jawdropping medical marvels. from robo—nurses, to ai which can outdiagnose experts. we have seen the future of medicine evolving before our eyes. it is fair to say medicine has come a long way. this is the old operating theatre museum in london. of course there is an old operating theatre museum, why wouldn't there be? back in the late 1800s for example, this was the cutting edge — literally. and in the 130 years since, surgery has changed beyond recognition. but, as with all technology, we mustn't become overreliant on it. we mustn't think that it will do everything and we mustn't think that it will work

this is the man who will receive any no—confidence letters, sir graham brady, who will hold a ballot theresa may's future if 48 of his colleagues call for it. what do his cheshire constituents think? i think she has done very well to get this far, i don't think anybody else would have done any better. everybody is trying to stab her in the back to get further in their careers, i don't think they will do it. but it's her party, not the public, that will decide if theresa may remains as prime minister. ian watson, bbc news. the irish minister says his government has no hidden agenda when it comes to brexit. he says the only red line had been to protect the good friday agreement, saying the country will do all it can to build a new relationship with its nearest neighbour. we have negotiated a deal that protects our jobs neighbour. we have negotiated a deal that protects ourjobs and economy, defends the rights of freedoms north and south. so now, let us seal the deal and get onto the next phase. applause. and let us get onto the next phase, which is managing the transition period negotia

safe for now — the chairman of the 1922 committee graham brady indicates to the bbc that the threshold48 letters for a no confidence vote in the prime minister has not yet been reached. the rules are very clear that if the threshold were to be reached i would have to consult with the leader of the party... immediately, graham? immediately? i think the whole thing is written with the intention that it should be an expeditious process. president trump visits northern california following the most devastating wildfires in the state's history. the former wales rugby captain gareth thomas speaks out —— after suffering a homophobic attack in cardiff. this, i hope, will be a positive message. and england qualify for the nations league finals next summer after beating croatia 2—1 at wembley. harry kane scored the winning goal in the 85th minute. good afternoon. the prime minister has said the next seven days are "critical" for the country, as she prepares to go to brussels to discuss britain's future relationship with the eu. theresa may defended the agreement reached for the uk's withdrawal f

when you speak to graham brady, you know, he is not confirming that.ed, he was rejecting ideas there was going to be a leadership contest on tuesday and he is the only person who knows. they clearly do not seem to be there yet. will they get their? it is quite probable. certainly the brexiteers are correct that they have 80 or so supporters... you would think surely they can do it. if they cannot trigger a leadership contest that strikes me as a setback for them after we had the big fandango yesterday with jacob rees—mogg emerging outside the house of commons for the impromptu press conference. lo and behold he can't muster 48 names, if so, a bit of a blow. is it your sense that conservative mps arejust taking a is it your sense that conservative mps are just taking a pause over the weekend and perhaps getting soundings and their constituencies about what way voters feel about theresa may's deal, whether they think it is good enough? and then on the basis of that deciding what to do next? i think there are two things still going on. one, you are correc

chairman of the 1922 committee graham brady indicates to the bbc that the threshold of 48 letters fore prime minister has not yet been reached. president trump visits north california following the most devastating wildfires in the history of the state. one of the most controversial industrial projects built in the uk is closing down after nearly a quarter of a century. the nuclear reprocessing plant at sellafield in cumbria has already recycled its last batch of fuel. parts of the site will now be used to store waste, while the rest will be decommissioned, a process expected to take several decades, as theo leggett reports. the fuel has been taken from the main area and transferred into this area. this is thorpe. for nearly 25 years, it's been recycling old nuclear fuel, separating usable uranium and plutonium from useless wastes, a process once seen as a kind of alchemy. what kind of science could take a fuel, burn it and turn the ashes back into fresh fuel to burn again? but soon alarms were sounding. thorpe was meant to provide fuel for a new generation of super—efficient power st

graham brady will keep that very close to his chest. but what i will say is this.best interest of their constituents. that is what i am doing. i have been talking to people out —— over the weekend. there are some very serious difficulties with it. the principal difficulty is that we will leave the european union as a rule take on the basis of this deal. that means neither the remainers, who will argue that we used to make the rules and no have to take them, nor the eurosceptics, will argue we haven't really left the european union, will be satisfied. that worries me very much. firstly, that we have to look at what is in the best economic and quality—of—life interests of our constituents. but also, such a deal which leaves britain as a rule take will satisfy no one. it seems to me to be an endless recipe for a future discord and unhappiness as both sides continue to campaign for a deal they haven't got but an agreement which they are very much against. lots of viewers listening will think there is no way you are going to vote for this deal. would they be right? i am

graham brady sits on those letters. we will not find out until that magic number of 48.ib was this threat from hard brexiteers, the letters are beer, they need to double—check that they can easily get 48, then, what stands out is saying, they will let the mps go back to the constituencies over the weekend and take some soundings and then you will see another flurry of letters go in. my instinct as you will not see that. i have been watching steve baker, he said it would be over by lunchtime, then, maybe this afternoon, then, maybe monday. i can understand there are some mps who say they have sent a letter that then they have not. they have changed their mind. they can resend it. you can. i have got a feeling this movement is not as strong as we first thought. you mentioned mps going back to their constituencies and here we have got, according to the times, theresa may infuriating brexit mps by appealing directly to the local chair. why shouldn't she? she can't do that if she wants. the daily telegraph, this gang of five, what do they want? they want to see a change to th

i don't know, graham brady will not tell anyone without going through the due process, but people like the only person they are helping in this isjeremy corbyn. if you undermine to me, it helps this isjeremy corbyn. if you undermine to me, it helszeremy corbyn and his agenda. undermine to me, it helszeremy corbyn and his agendalj undermine to me, it helszeremy corbyn and his agenda. i don't have to get involved in their elections! thank you both very much indeed. live now to brussels, ros atkins is there for us, what will they be making up what is going on at westminster in an extraordinary day? well, christian, they are not saying very much publicly, so we can't be 100% sure what they are making of this, but i think we can make an educated guess. this is not the scenario that the european union would be hoping for, it has invested a huge amount of time and effort and political capital into negotiating this deal with theresa may, it has even set a date for a summit at the end of the month on the 25th, where they want this deal to be signed off, and all day long we have heard from big h

so the procedure is that 48 letters of protest of no-confidence go in, than graham brady, the keeperf those letters will tell may and will communicate that and spark up the process for a no-confidence vote. they were waiting to see whether that number is reached. of course, make a fight a no-confidence vote and could just when and if she did, they would not be up to touch her for another year. the plan would continue. it is hard to see at the moment whatever happens, even if these go terribly well, it is hard to see how may will get the brexit deal through parliament. ,ith every minister who resigns that is one fewer conservative who is going to vote with her and she has been counting on the people to vote with their to get that deal through parliament. a bit of relief earlier, but than graham brady canceled his trip to manchester so everybody started holding their breath again waiting for 48 letters to call no-confidence motion i guess. happen, because jacob threw in a grenade and ran away. he said i am submitting this letter. i don't have confidence in the prime minister but i don'

. —— sirgraham moment he is giving precious little away. —— sir graham brady.michael gove yet take the vacant position of brexit secretary? and if you had to put money on it, would you say a tory leadership contest is leading? the second question, yes, ithink contest is leading? the second question, yes, i think it almost certainly is looming because if we are to believe the brexiteers, they routinely say they have 80 or so mps thanit routinely say they have 80 or so mps than it should be easy pc for them to amass the 48 letters. i think that probably is on the cards, if not this morning this afternoon, then perhaps by the weekend. but we will wait and see. i think that is a likelihood. in terms of michael gove, man of mystery. i would think it was unlikely, having let it be known he will not take the brexit secretary post that he would do a 360 degree turn and take it. who would want the job? you will suspect ministers are sitting by their phones and as soon as they see the call from downing street thing, i don't want to take that call, i don't want to take th

when will graham brady say he has the 48? that theresa may will not give mps a proper vote. it is a plea not democratic and not respectful. big divisions over europe, and you we re big divisions over europe, and you were famously thought to be one of the cabinet ministers that were described as a crude word. does it apply to conservative rebels now?|j don't apply to conservative rebels now?” don't think it applied then. it became a badge of honour. we shouldn't use insulting words for people. do we give up control? the prime minister is proposing to give up prime minister is proposing to give up control rather than get back control. she will be replaced by somebody who was to honour the democratic voice of the people. as long as you have been in the conservative party, it has been divided over europe. whatever the outcome of this vote, could it divide the tory party for decades to come? only if it aligns with this proposal. it would notjust divided, it would mean that we are certain to lose the next election. all of the votes

i wrote to sir graham brady requesting that there bea graham brady requesting that there be a vote oftiate with the european union and come up with some sort of deal. when she came out with the chequers proposals it was obvious she was taking a different route to the one she herself had previously set out, andi she herself had previously set out, and i thought that was unacceptable and i thought that was unacceptable andi and i thought that was unacceptable and i didn't go public at the time because i hope against all hope she might change your mind, there were a couple of resignations, i thought that might knock some sense... sorry about that, oh, no, he's back with us! last night, has become unacceptable. we are tied into a customs union that unilaterally we could not leave and that is a worse position than we were in previously. at least we could trigger article 50 and leave. there's nothing to say that we can leave unilaterally, it says the opposite of that, the customs union, and that is com pletely customs union, and that is completely unacceptable. thank you, laurence robertson

i suspect the original yardstick which everybody thought, at least 30 letters already in with graham brady because we know publicly over 20 letters have gone in and it does not appear that has been enough to trigger. what is really interesting is if the brexiteers are not able to trigger an election, she is if the brexiteers are not able to triggeran election, she has is if the brexiteers are not able to trigger an election, she has in effect shot "brexit" fox, and if we come monday, tuesday, and there is i'io come monday, tuesday, and there is no challenge, again she is empowered. if there is a challenge, i think she will win it and she would be in power. i can see why she is sticking to her game plan. pretty tough questions on the radio this morning, did she come out of that with a stronger position? as the day is going on, she is coming out in a stronger and stronger position, i think it looks like the parliamentary party is not moved to move her, or indeed, it may be that if we hit tuesday and nothing has happened, it is clear there is not even 48 mps prepared to put their name to chal

safe for now — the chairman of the 1922 committee graham brady indicates to the bbc that the thresholdhe prime minister has not yet been reached. the rules are very clear that if the threshold were to be reached i would have to consult with the leader of the party... immediately, graham? immediately?

has graham brady, the chair of the 1922 committee, been to see the prime minister?ved in british domestic politics, although they a lwa ys domestic politics, although they always knew in the back of their minds that getting the deal done would be the first tricky bit and the next tricky bit getting it sold in the uk. trying to sell it in the uk is what the austrian chancellor has been doing this morning. he has arrived for a meeting and hopes there will be supporting the uk for a deal struck between the uk and chief negotiator michel barnier. a good dealfor both chief negotiator michel barnier. a good deal for both sides, chief negotiator michel barnier. a good dealfor both sides, nobody chief negotiator michel barnier. a good deal for both sides, nobody has been tricked. the sales operation by the eu is still going on. in terms of the idea about whether a deal can be renegotiated or reopened, chancellor angela merkel of germany said yesterday as far as she was concerned a deal could not be reopened, that was not something she was considering. it was echoed by a sen

right now, 15% means a8 mps, and the current chairman is sir graham brady.ise wednesday confidence vote that follows, she can stay, and there will be no fresh challenges for a year. it is the prime minister losers a confidence vote, she is obliged to stand aside, then there isa obliged to stand aside, then there is a leadership contest she cannot ta ke is a leadership contest she cannot take part in. that is leadership contest where, normally, mps expected used to candidates to be put forward to the party membership. that could take weeks, at least. more time in the party feels they have with the brexit clock ticking away. but it is hard to see how mps could be prevailed upon to choose one candidate in the party, as they have done in the past, given the divisions inside the conservatives. a leadership alleging could split them down the middle. —— a leadership challenge could split. let's get some of the day's other news. the judges at the khmer rouge tribunal in cambodia are about to deliver a verdict on the genocide charges against the two leaders of khmer

that's graham brady, to whom jacob rees mogg later sent a letter calling for a vote of no confidencer. theresa may didn't address the leadership question. another mp did. with respect to my honourable friend for north east somerset i believe these issues are so complex that one should not do with them on a personal basis but my question is this, will she help me in mind what if the brexit secretary is right? what is his resignation letter is devastating and correct groom? we will be locked up permanently have backstop arrangement. what if therefore she loses this vote in parliament which is very likely? can she promised me that whatever happens in this vote she will deliver brexit for the end of march? can i say to my honourable friend, first of all that we will be leaving the european union on the 29th of march 2019 and that is a set date and i am determined that we will deliver on that whatever happens. whatever happens in between. the statement had been going on for an hour before some mps came forward to offer support. i want it i want to pay to beautify city prime minister diggi

that's graham brady — the mp who chairs a backbench group of tory mps and who would tell the prime minster go — triggering a leadership vote. in the chamber it took nearly an hour before an mp stood up to offer support. i want to pay tribute to the fact that the prime minister did get the agreement in cabinet and because she reassure us that regardless of resignations there are between now and the vote that the agreement will come to parliament and parliament will have its say and he she is clear that voting for that agreement is in the national interest. can i say to my right honourable friend i can give her the assurance that obviously we have the step of the european union and counsel in finalizing the deal but the deal was finalised would indeed be brought to parliament and as i suggested earlier it would be for every member of this house to determine their vote in the national interest. it is therefore mathematically impossible to get this deal through the house of commons. the stark reality, prime minister, is that it was dead on arrival before you stood up. so i plead with you, i pl

safe for now — chairman of the 1922 committee graham brady confirms to the bbc that the threshold ofen reached. some of the speculation that i might have received 48 letters two months ago and chosen to do nothing about it is all nonsense. it is something which would be done expeditiously if it were to happen. president trump visits northern california following the most devastating wildfires in the state's history.

so far 25 mps have come out and said they have written to sir graham brady who runs the 1922 committee will chair a leadership boat if they get enough. they need a8 at the moment. there may be some who have already decided to write to him and have not publicly stated it. but clearly they have not got that number. sir graham was saying that he would announce immediately, it is insulting for him to hear that he is holding back if he has not got the a8. but interestingly he said he had not told his wife if he had reached that number. she is a parliamentary assistant. their pillow talk will be interesting! there's go to the guardian. i think we have to after that. she has got pressure from everywhere. she has got to divide the tory rebels. this is basically the tory rebels. this is basically the same story but spun in a different way. what is interesting as part of their attempt to put a positive spin on the deal is this quote saying, getting back full control of our borders is an issue of great importance to the british people. she will be saying to the cbi that eu citizens will no longer

safe for now — the chairman of the 1922 committee graham brady indicates to the bbc that the thresholdlear that if the threshold were to be reached i would have to consult with the leader the party... immediately, graham? immediately? i think the whole thing is written with the intention that it should be

if graham brady, who chairs the committee, gets 48 letters, it would trigger a vote of no—confidencey. but how does that play outside the westminster village? i think she has done very well to get this far. no one else would have done better. everyone is trying to stab her in the back to get further on in their careers and i do not think they will do it. those brexiteers who have been putting forward letters calling for a no—confidence vote say the plan needs to be stopped. chequers is a betrayal of the decision of the british people. they voted for us to leave. we're doing what we are doing in order to try and on the order in order to try and honour the order they basically gave us as members of parliament. labour have said that they could renegotiate the deal. for two years now, she has been negotiating, not with eu partners but within the conservative party itself, so the divisions within the conservative party have overridden, i think, the interests of the country. the european union has already indicated it is not in the market for reopening discussions around the withdrawal dea

apparently, graham brady, the chairman of the 1922 committee, the backbench committee, the powerful committeeowerful committee that decides on who becomes leader, was accused... here suppressing information that he received enough letters to trigger a leadership contest. 48 letters could trigger that. i don't know if this as enemies of theresa may planting the story or if it is true. we have a lot more brexit stories that we will come back to but before that, let's ta ke come back to but before that, let's take a quick look at another story on the front page of the sunday times. trump goes missing in action as rain falls on his parade. of course, there was heavy rain as his commemorations went on, which, of course, many of those fought 100 yea rs course, many of those fought 100 years ago and died in could not forego. his decision not to go rightly brought condemnation. these people died in the mud and rain of the trenches and the president felt he could not go. some will say that maybe he feared what it might do to his hair. far be it for me to even mention that! logistical reasons? may be t

, itake chairman of the 1922 committee, sir graham brady, i take all those reports with a huge pinchnybody else does, soi i don't suppose anybody else does, so i largely ignore those predictable rumours that will fly around. but you will be aware of the peril that the conservative party is facing at the moment. if the eurosceptics within the party were to vote down a deal and in the chaos that would follow that, you would say certain parts of the country wouldn't forgive them for that, and then certain people would say, are you really going to get rid of the prime minister at the moment of greatest tension and when the chaos could ensue. that could put you between a rock and a hard place as a party. i think that is absolutely right, and now would be the most difficult and problematic and wrong time to get rid of a prime minister. i spoke over a year ago and said, if we're going to change prime minister, change the lead on these negotiations, that would have been the time do it, after we lost the majority at the election, but that wasn't to happen, and so now she has against lex petit

this is the man who will receive any letters calling for a vote of no—confidence, sir graham brady, who ballot of mps on theresa may's future if 48 of his colleagues call for it. what do his cheshire constituents think? i think she has done very well to get this far. i don't think anybody else would have done any better. everybody is trying to stab her in the back to get further in their careers. i don't think they will do it. but it's her party and not the public that will decide if theresa may remains as prime minister. iain watson, bbc news. to discuss this story more i'm joined in the studio now by dr hannah white from the institute for government, who's been analysing the government's preparations for brexit. and more particularly, the timetable. a move by some ministers, perhaps not to unpick but renegotiate the agreement, how viable is that? we need to look separately at the withdrawal agreement and the statement on the future relationship when we look at this. really, ithink future relationship when we look at this. really, i think it is much more feasible to think about editing

right now, 15% means a8 mps, and the current chairman is sir graham brady.e prime minister wins the confidence vote that follows, she can stay, and there will be no fresh challenges for a year. but if the prime minister loses a confidence vote, she is obliged to stand aside, then there is a leadership contest she cannot take part in. that is a leadership contest where, normally, mps expect to choose two candidates to be put forward to the party membership. but that could take weeks, at least. more time than the party feels they have with the brexit clock ticking away. but it is hard to see how mps could be prevailed upon to choose one candidate on the party, as they have done in the past, given the divisions inside the conservatives. a leadership election could split them down the middle. let's get some of the day's other news: north korean leader kimjong—un has supervised the test of a new high—tech tactical weapon according to the country's state media. it's the first time in a year that kim jong—un has inspected a weapons test site. the korean central new

does look different, people how on the —— now on the record, including jacob rees—mogg, and sir graham brady and come up and see if it gets to the magic figure of 48, he has been to see the prime minister this evening, although we are told it was to talk about the deal rather than any potential leadership challenge. but there are stories circulating that he does have 48 letters now. what he has to do now is to go back to the people who maybe sent them in one year ago to see whether they still... how long do they remain current?” to see whether they still... how long do they remain current? i think they pile up on his desk. someone could say to him i would like my letter back. people can withdraw them. when i worked for david cameron andrew bridgen had a letter calling for his resignation. i think he did withdraw it. another interesting thing... sorry. he did withdraw it. another interesting thing... sorryli he did withdraw it. another interesting thing... sorry. iwas going to say people shouldn't run away with the idea that if the 48 letters are there that she is toast. she is not. she faces

tripura vote of no—confidence in the prime minister, 50% lead to write to the committee chair, graham bradythe only one who will know when the magic number 48 has been reached. theresa may says she will fight the boat and if a majority of mps support her, she can't be challenged again for another year.|j support her, she can't be challenged again for another year. i hope that those mps who are contemplating this dude drawback but i think if those letters were to go in, i think she would win any such vote decisively and she would deserve to do so. so the prime minister stays where she is for now but her critics are still circling and her hold on her party could still soon be swept away. leila nathoo, bbc news, the westminster. let's talk to our assistant political editor norman smith who is with me. she intends to see it through. is her fate necessarily going to be she intends to see it through. is herfate necessarily going to be in herfate necessarily going to be in her hands in a month? on one level, for mrs may today has been better than yesterday. there may be a temptation in downing str

right now, 15% means 48 mps, and the current chairman is sir graham brady.e that follows, she can stay, and there will be no fresh challenges for a year. but if the prime minister loses a confidence vote, she is obliged to stand aside, then there is a leadership contest she cannot take part in. that is leadership contest where, normally, mps expect to choose two candidates to be put forward to the party membership. but that could take weeks, at least. more time in the party feels they have with the brexit clock ticking away. but it is hard to see how mps could be prevailed upon to choose one candidate on the party, as they have done in the past, given the divisions inside the conservatives. a leadership election could split them down the middle. that is the background, if you like, and it has been described as a civil war within the conservative party. activision has been a long time. there has been the division of the eurosceptics versus those who want to stay within the eu and the single market, et cetera. more immediately, do they call the bluff of the pr