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The Independent UK

Politics

Lizzy Buchan

Brexit - as it happened: Boris Johnson makes first speech since resigning over Theresa May's Chequers deal

Boris Johnson has claimed "it is not too late to save Brexit" in his first speech since resigning from government, where he tore into Theresa May's Chequers plan.

The ex-foreign secretary gave a resignation statement to MPs, where he claimed a "fog of self-doubt'' has fallen over Britain since the prime minister's Lancaster House speech and claimed her new plan would reduce the UK to "economic vassalage".

However Ms May was spared the pleasure of listening to his address, as she faced grilling by senior MPs on the Liaison Committee over her Brexit record.

Ms May also attempted to rally her deeply divided party at a meeting of the 1922 committee of Tory backbenchers.

Earlier, Jeremy Corbyn attempted to exploit divisions in the Conservative ranks by claiming the party was “too busy fighting each other to negotiate” during prime minister's questions.

The Labour leader was also embroiled in a fresh antisemitism row after a veteran MP was heard berating him for being a "f****** antisemite and a racist".

His office has vowed to take action against Dame Margaret Hodge, for the comments, which came amid a furious internal row over the party's new code of conduct.

See below for live updates

Live Updates

08:27

Welcome to The Independent's politics liveblog, where we will be bringing you the latest updates from Westminster and Brussels throughout the day.

08:42

Anna Soubry says Jacob Rees-Mogg is now “running our country”, warning Theresa May is no longer “in charge” after caving in to Brexit hardliners in key Commons votes.

The leading pro-EU Tory also called for a “government of national unity” to take on the growing crisis – urging the prime minister to reach out to Labour backbenchers.

More here:

Anna Soubry says Jacob Rees-Mogg is now 'running our country' warning Theresa May is no longer 'in charge'

09:01

Theresa May managed to narrowly avoid a humiliating Commons defeat last night on the customs union, as MPs backed the bill for post-Brexit trade.

Read our report on the night's proceedings:

Government sees off Tory Remainer rebellion on customs union in knife-edge Commons vote

09:12

Cabinet Office minister David Lidington said the government would be setting out more details of its preparations for a no-deal scenario in the coming weeks.

He told Today: "But our energies are going into negotiating a positive way forward with out European counterparts.

"That is what we expect to happen."

09:23

Amid the Brexit chaos, Labour has won a 5 point lead over the Tories, according to the latest YouGov poll.

09:42

Labour's John Woodcock has resigned from his party and will sit as an independent MP.

In his resignation letter, he attacks Jeremy Corbyn for allowing a party probe to be "manipulated for factional purposes".

He says: "I now believe more strongly than ever that you have made the Labour Party unfit to deliver on those objectives [local jobs and national security] and would pose a clear risk to UK national security as prime minister.

"The party for which I have campaigned since I was a boy is no longer the broad church is has historically been. Antisemitism is being tolerated and Labour has been taken over at almost every level by the hard left, far beyond the dominance they achieved at the height of 1980s militancy."

He said there was "little chance" of Labour returning as a mainstream electoral force and claimed he could no longer justify engaging with a "rigged process" to re-enter the party.

Mr Woodcock has been subject to an internal investigation over a sexual harassment allegation, which he denies.

09:57

A Labour spokesperson confirmed the news, adding: “Jeremy thanks John for his service to the Labour Party.”

Here's the breaking story:

10:09

Theresa May will make a two-day visit to Northern Ireland this week, where she plans to underline her commitment to avoiding a hard border.

She will make another major Brexit speech on Friday, which should prove interesting after her Chequers plan was branded "dead in the water" by both Tory Remainers and Brexiteers.

She will also meet businesses at the border and speak to young people in Belfast.

Ms May said: "I look forward to hearing views from businesses on the border in Northern Ireland on our departure from the European Union.

“I fully recognise how their livelihoods, families and friends rely on the ability to move freely across the border to trade, live and work on a daily basis.

“That’s why we have ruled out any kind of hard border. Daily journeys will continue to be seamless and there will be no checks or infrastructure at the border to get in the way of this.

“I’ve also been clear we will not accept the imposition of any border down the Irish Sea and we will preserve the integrity of the UK’s internal market and Northern Ireland’s place within it.

“From the start of the negotiations, the UK Government has put Northern Ireland’s unique circumstances at the heart of our negotiations. And nothing will undermine our commitment to protecting the Belfast Agreement.

“I also look forward to meeting political parties on working together to restore stable and effective devolved Government for the benefit of everyone in Northern Ireland.”

10:20

Sticking with Labour, Jeremy Corbyn faced a barrage of criticism over his party's stance on antisemitism.

Dame Margaret Hodge, a former minister, reportedly told her party leader he did not want "people like me" in the party and called him a "f****** racist and an antisemite".

More here:

Jeremy Corbyn called 'f****** racist and antisemite' by Labour MP Dame Margaret Hodge

10:28

Interesting tweet from the BBC's parliamentary correspondent on Boris Johnson's resignation statement.

10:47

The Dutch government has completed the hiring of nearly 1,000 new customs officers to prepare for a looming ‘no deal’ Brexit, according to a senior official in the country.

Pieter Omtzigt, the rapporteur on Brexit for the Dutch parliament, confirmed the recruitment had taken place – as weeks of turmoil over Theresa May’s new plan paralyse the British government and raise the prospect of the UK crashing out.

More here:

Dutch government hires nearly 1,000 customs officials to prepare for no deal Brexit

10:56

Boris Johnson will make his resignation speech to the House of Commons following Prime Minister's Questions today, a source close to the former foreign secretary has confirmed.

11:04

Theresa May will face a grilling from senior MPs later when she appears before the Liaison Committee at 3pm. The committee is made up of the chairs of all other Commons committees, and it is presided over by Tory rebel Sarah Wollaston.

Should be an interesting session...

11:08

Breaking story - the DUP's Ian Paisley Jr has been suspended from parliament for 30 sitting days, which is around six weeks.

The row centres on the fact he failed to declare two all-expenses paid trips to Sri Lanka, which were funded by the Sir Lankan government.

The parliamentary standards committee says:

In view of the seriousness of this matter, we recommend that Mr Paisley be suspended from the service of the House for a period of 30 sitting days starting on 4 September 2018. 35.

We also require that Mr Paisley register the benefits he received from the Sri Lankan government which will be italicised in the Register to indicate that they are a late entry."