Theresa May is set to meet opposition leaders and eurosceptics within her party as she attempts to find a way forward for Brexit after her plan suffered the biggest Commons defeat in history.
The prime minister called on politicians to “put self-interest aside” and work together after squeaking through a vote of no confidence called in the wake of Monday's defeat by a margin of just 19 votes, thanks to support from the DUP.
Last night Ms May held talks with Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable, SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford and Plaid Cymru's Liz Saville-Roberts, but Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn refused to meet her until she rules out a no-deal Brexit.
Speaking in Hastings, Mr Corbyn repeated his position and confirmed that he would table repeat votes of no confidence to try to trigger a general election.
Labour will also push for a Commons vote on its own Brexit plan – a customs union, “strong” alignment with the single market and protected workers’ and environmental rights – later this month.
I want to use this opportunity to try to break open this gridlocked process and let different voices be heard. I’ll tell the Prime Minister loud and clear that she must urgently rule out the threat of a no-deal Brexit and I'll make the case for the public to have a say on what happens next.I want to use this meeting to open up the debate about our shared future to the whole country - not restrict it to the corridors of Westminster - so I’ll also urge her to consider the role a Citizens’ Assembly might play as a complement to a People's Vote."
Labour MPs launch bid to force Jeremy Corbyn to back Final Say referendum.
They believe the party’s official policy now demands the leadership pivot towards a new vote after it failed to secure an election.
Labour MPs launch bid to force Jeremy Corbyn to back Final Say referendum
They believe the party’s official policy now demands the leadership pivot towards a new vote after it failed to secure an election on WednesdaySpeaking on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme he said the government was determined that the UK should be able to conduct an independent trade policy after leaving the EU.
That means we can't stay in the current EU customs union. That would prevent us having an independent trade policy. That is something that people would feel is not delivering Brexit if we did it.
It comes down to technicalities of what people want to see. Any trade deal has a customs agreement within it."
Mr Lewis also said that the government did not believe that a second referendum was "the right way to go".
"I am disappointed to see Labour again yesterday trying to frustrate and avoid Brexit by hanging open that they would possibly go for a second referendum," he said.
"I think in the current state of crisis that is a positive," he told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme.
No-deal Brexit could be ‘taken off the table’, chancellor Philip Hammond tells business leaders in leaked conference call
The Independent'The Government is not in control of this,' chancellor admits
Did your local MP support Theresa May's government?
The IndependentParliamentarians mostly voted along party linesIf I was the government now, I would already be having discussions with Europe about the terms of an extension."
Leaving the European Union at the end of March without a deal would be "reckless" for Britain, the finance chief of Associated British Foods said.
"If anybody believes that you can just go ahead without some sort of an agreement here, I think that that is reckless," finance director John Bason told Reuters.
Irish government has 'private understanding' that hard border is now likely, tapes reveal
Tapes show Irish government chiefs expect to impose border in no-dealThis liveblog has now closed, but scroll above to see how the day's events unfolded
The Independent has launched its #FinalSay campaign to demand that voters are given a voice on the final Brexit deal.
Sign our petition here
