A plan to prevent a no-deal Brexit and delay the date of the UK’s exit from EU is being debated by the Lords this evening, after squeaking through the Commons.
It came as Chancellor Philip Hammond said a second referendum was a “perfectly credible proposition” and indicated the government would be prepared to compromise on a customs union.
Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn's teams also met again after 11 Labour MPs, including four frontbenchers, urging their leader to insist on a second referendum in an open letter to The Independent.
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MPs back Brexit delay by one vote
Yvette Cooper's bill to allow MPs to vote on asking EU for new extension to Article 50 is narrowly approved by Commons
Chancellor says second Brexit referendum is 'perfectly credible proposition'
Hammond appears to exert pressure on May, saying a new referendum 'deserves to be tested in parliament'An MP from the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has said a customs union with the EU, as a "temporary staging post", is something his party could possibly get behind.
The remarks from the MP from the party which has repeatedly rejected Theresa May's Brexit agreement comes after the chancellor Philip Hammond also suggested that some kind of customs agreement is "clearly" going to be part of the solution to the impasse at Westminster.
A permanent customs arrangement is one of the key demands of Labour, and Jeremy Corbyn himself remains in talks with the prime minister.
Speaking to BBC Newsline, Mr Donaldson said: "We would have preferred a form of Brexit that enables the UK to negotiate new trade agreements with other countries.
"That's part of the reason for Brexit and maybe a customs union might be a temporary staging post towards that objective.
"We will wait to see what the Prime Minister brings before Parliament but we are very clear, we want a Brexit that delivers for all of the United Kingdom and that keeps the United Kingdom together - that is our objective."
With talk around Westminster over the possibility of a general election, the Conservative MP Johnny Mercer has used an interview with the Spectator magazine to offer his votes on any snap vote - and it's not great.
He says the Tories will be "wiped out", adding: "We'll get top-sliced and bottom-sliced by those who don't want any Brexit - and those who want a Ukip version of Brexit. We'll just get left behind and Jeremy Corbyn will be prime minister."
Austrian foreign minister Karin Kneissl has said it is "very difficult to imagine" how an extension beyond the European elections is "feasible" ahead of the EU summit next Wednesday.
"It remains to be seen what kind of cohesion is still available among the EU 27 - I'm not in a position to tell whether there really will be this unanimous readiness to accept," she told Radio 4's Today programme.
The legislation, proposed by Labour MP Yvette Cooper, instructs ministers to hold a House of Commons vote on a proposal to ask the EU for another extension to the Article 50 period. It was approved by MPs by just one vote.
The bill is designed to ensure that Britain does not crash out of the EU on 12 April – the date it is currently due to leave.
You can read more on Wednesday's late-night voter here:
Cabinet ministers have openly clashed over the prospect for a new Brexit referendum after chancellor Philip Hammond suggested a fresh vote was a "perfectly credible" proposal.
Health secretary Matthew Hancock set himself against his cabinet colleague, saying he was "very, very strongly against" a Final Say vote to break the Brexit deadlock.
Mr Hammond risked Brexiteer fury when he said there was a "perfectly credible" case for a new referendum and signalled support for a move towards a softer Brexit.
Robin Walker, the Brexit minister, is asked in the Commons whether government policy is still against a second referendum.
He confirms this is the case, and adds a fresh public vote "would create further division, and further uncertainty - we don't think it's the right way forward".
It's a remarkably different response than the chancellor Philip Hammond, who last night said there a second referendum is a "perfectly credible proposition"
Labour's Stephen Timms says it is "inconceivable" the government could now pass a Brexit deal in time for the EU summit next Wednesday - fair to say that is a widespread opinion among in MPs in the Commons.
But Brexit minister Kwasi Kwarteng attempts at offering an optimistic reply, saying he would not describe anything as inconceviable.
A second Labour MP describes the Brexit frontbench as "zombie ministers".
"First of all we're not zombies," replies Mr Kwarteng. "I'd like to confirm that to the House.
Shadow Brexit Keir Starmer asks his opposite number whether no deal will only happen if the House of Commons agrees to it.
Barclay replies and refers to the legislation passed last night preventing a no-deal Brexit. But he points out any extension to the negotiating period under Article 50 is at the discretion of the EU 27.
