Theresa May is thought to be on the brink of resignation as she faces a growing cabinet revolt over her Brexit plan and humiliation for the Conservative Party in today's European elections.
The prime minister is expected to announce a departure plan on Friday after failing to quell a ministerial mutiny over her revised EU withdrawal agreement. Commons leader Andrea Leadsom, the most prominent Brexiteer in the cabinet, quit late on Wednesday and other ministers were expected to follow her out of the door.
It comes as both the Tories and Labour face a drubbing in European parliament elections, with the Liberal Democrats and the Brexit Party set to capitalise.
Welcome to The Independent's live politics coverage as Theresa May's stay in Downing Street looks to be drawing to a close.
The prime minister is reportedly preparing to announce her resignation on Friday as cabinet members mutiny over her Brexit plan.
It comes against a backdrop of European elections in which the Conservatives are almost certain to suffer humiliating losses today.
Theresa May's premiership was brought to the brink by the resignation of key cabinet Brexiteer Andrea Leadsom.
The Commons leader announced her bombshell decision to quit last night on the eve of European elections in which the Tories are set for a historic defeat.
Her departure will spark fears in Downing Street of an exodus of Leave-backing ministers, amid a cabinet-level revolt over the PM’s offer of a binding Commons vote on a second Brexit referendum, reports our political editor Andrew Woodcock:
Calls for Theresa May to resign as key cabinet Brexiteer Andrea Leadsom quits
The Prime Minister is facing Tory fury over her offer of a binding Commons vote on a Final Say referendumNigel Farage reportedly got stuck on his Brexit Party campaign bus last night after people armed with milkshakes surrounded him.
The former Ukip leader is said to have refused to leave the vehicle, days after he was covered in banana and salted caramel milkshake in Newcastle.
My colleague Chiara Giordano has the full story:
Nigel Farage 'trapped on bus' surrounded by protesters holding milkshakes
Politician reportedly refuses to get off vehicle just days after being doused in the drink in NewcastleLord Baker - the former home secretary under the Conservative PM John Major - has told BBC Radio 4 this morning that it is "remarkable" Theresa May is still in office.
Theresa May's Conservatives are on course for their worst electoral defeat in a national vote as a fresh poll for The Independent puts the party in fourth position on the eve of the European elections.
The survey - cementing the Brexit Party in first place - also shows Labour and the Liberal Democrats vying for second place, with Jeremy Corbyn's party slightly ahead as the UK public prepares to elect its next crop of MEPs on Thursday.
The poll by BMG researchers puts the Brexit Party way ahead of the established political parties at Westminster with 35 per cent of respondents opting for the newly-formed party - spearheaded by Nigel Farage.
Ms Allen was asked by Channel 4 News if she had threatened to quit as Change UK leader over an internal dispute over whether to publicly back the Liberal Democrats outside London and the South East.
"Yes. I did. I am very, very troubled by this. This is a massive decision for a party to take. Had it been left to me, I would have absolutely advised tactical voting," she said.
Ms Allen, who left the Conservative Party to join other breakaway Tory and Labour MPs, said the majority view was that "they didn't want to go that way".
She added: "But it is something that still troubles me. I have no doubt that the British public will look at the tactical voting websites out there and make their own decisions."
Theresa May is facing mounting pressure to resign after Commons leader Andrea Leadsom quit the cabinet over the prime minister’s Brexit plan.
Ms Leadsom resigned with a “heavy heart” on the eve of the European elections, saying she no longer believed the government’s approach would deliver the referendum result the people voted for.
The prime minister continued to cling on to power on Wednesday after Sir Graham Brady, the chairman of the 1922 Committee, failed to agree a rule change which would allow a fresh bid to topple her.
Some have claimed that voters must use ink for their vote to count. Using a standard pencil will allow biased people at the count will be able to erase the mark from the box and change the vote so that it has been cast for somebody else.
The story gained particular traction around the Brexit referendum, when Leave supporters were urged to take pens with them to ensure their votes could not be tampered with.
"I think this blank denial from Number 10 today may be a smokescreen because she does not want to influence the outcome of the European elections. Maybe she will still quit tomorrow."
Asked what would happen if the PM did not announce a resignation date, Sir Geoffrey said: "I think there will be overwhelming pressure for the 22 to change the rules and hold a ballot on confidence in the Prime Minister."
Sketch: Theresa May has turned 10 Downing Street into her own private panic room
Welcome to the sunlit uplands. Brexit has now reached the post-metaphor stage. You’ll never see anything like this ever again, writes political sketch writer Tom Peck.British voters are heading to the polls in the European Parliament elections. Other countries across the European Union will do so in the coming days. Here's everything you need to know about them from our Europe Correspondent Jon Stone.
"The prime minister is listening to colleagues' concerns about the Bill and will be having further discussions today," said the spokesman. "She is speaking to ministers in relation to the Bill."
Asked if Ms May was prepared to consider rewriting the legislation in the light of concerns raised within government, the spokesman said: "The prime minister is having discussions with ministers relating to the Bill."
Pressed over whether Ms May believed she still has the confidence of her cabinet, the spokesman replied: "The PM and the cabinet are focused on delivering Brexit."
The spokesman said a new Leader of the Commons was expected to be appointed on Thursday.
He dismissed rumours that Donald Trump's state visit might be cancelled because of the turmoil in UK politics. Ms May "is looking forward to welcoming the president", said the spokesman.
Downing Street said that it was not currently possible to schedule second reading of the bill for 7 June because agreement has not yet been secured with the opposition through the process known as “usual channels” for the Commons to sit that Friday, which had previously been designated a non-sitting day.
Asked if the PM was disappointed by the negative reactions to her proposals from within her own party, Ms May’s spokesman told journalists at a regular brief: “This is a subject which throughout has provoked strong emotions in the House of Commons. What the prime minister has been trying to do throughout is find a withdrawal agreement which can carry the support of a majority of MPs, because she is determined that the UK should leave the EU.
“That’s what she’s been working for for the past three years and what she is trying to do this week.”
Challenged over whether her proposals went beyond what was agreed at Tuesday’s cabinet, the spokesman said: “The PM summed up cabinet in the usual way and set out the way forward in the speech.”
An unprecedented number of extra police have been deployed in parts of the UK in anticipation of violence as voters go to the polls for the European elections.
The plan, revealed by Police Scotland, follows an increasingly tense and hostile election campaign that has seen clashes between far-right activists and anti-racism protesters.
Deputy Chief Constable Will Kerr, of Police Scotland, said four units comprising about 100 public order officers would be "strategically placed" throughout the day.
