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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
Mattha Busby (now), Haroon Siddique (earlier)

All-party panel set out stances in Channel 4's Brexit debate - as it happened

Tory MP James Cleverly, Labour MP Barry Gardiner, host Krishnan Guru-Murthy, Tory MP Jacob Rees-Mogg and Green MP Caroline Lucas prepare to take part in the Channel 4 Brexit debate in London.
Tory MP James Cleverly, Labour MP Barry Gardiner, host Krishnan Guru-Murthy, Tory MP Jacob Rees-Mogg and Green MP Caroline Lucas prepare to take part in the Channel 4 Brexit debate in London. Photograph: Victoria Jones/PA

We’ll now close tonight’s live blog. All eyes to Tuesday’s crucial vote.

Thanks for joining us!

Updated

James Cleverly is back on social media already, reiterating the divisions among opponents to the deal – a strategy that Downing Street have been seen to increasingly pursue.

However, he stopped short of claiming victory. The hastiness of the debate allowed for few direct political points to be scored, with Cleverly, Gardiner, Lucas, and Rees-Mogg largely speaking rhetorically rather than addressing each other’s points (although at one stage the debate was temporarily reduced to a head-to-head between Lucas and Rees-Mogg).

Nonetheless, tonight’s format gave the panel scant time to articulate a comprehensive alternative to Theresa May’s proposed deal. However, Channel 4 was congratulated for providing “much needed reflection of the main strands of parliamentary problem ahead”.

My overriding thought right now is reminiscent of many following the general election debate in 2017, in which Theresa May abstained. It feels that somehow - yet again - our leaders are not subjecting themselves to adequate scrutiny.

Updated

Here are more highlights from the hour long event:

Labour has posted a video of Barry Gardiner’s opening statement:

As have the Tories for their man:

Caroline Lucas’s is here:

And, Rees-Mogg:

Here are the closing statements:

Updated

Theresa May’s deal would rip the country in half, Gardiner says, suggesting that it would satisfy nobody. “Labour’s deal secures your job and your future.”

Cleverly criticises the positions of the other three panellists on by one and says “Lets just take the deal and get out,” as the debate ends.

Guru-Murthy thanks the four debaters for attending, lamenting that May and Corbyn were absent.

I’ll post more comprehensive quotes from the debate shortly.

Updated

“The only honourable thing to do [if the government loses Tuesday’s vote] would be to hold a general election and step aside,” says Gardiner.

Theresa May will have ceased to function as a prime minister in such a case, the Labour shadow minister claims.

Rees-Mogg reiterates that the Tories and Labour both said they would implement the result of the referendum in their 2017 manifestos. He has continually criticised the people’s vote campaign, directing his ire towards Lucas.

BrexitConservative MP James Cleverly (left) and Labour MP Barry Gardiner
Conservative MP James Cleverly (left) and Labour MP Barry Gardiner Photograph: Victoria Jones/PA

“This is all about trust,” he says. “Across Europe politicians are distrusted - there are riots in France and troubles in Italy.

“Everybody agreed to accept the result of the referendum. Now Theresa May has said one thing and come back with a deal that does another.”

Guru-Murthy then speaks to an audience member who is in favour of a WTO set of rules, under a no deal. Another says such a course would be an “absolute tragedy”, Theresa May’s deal would be better.

A final audience member says we need a people’s vote, and the debate comes to an end!

Updated

Time to revisit the New Statesman’s profile of Jacob Rees-Mogg, says the magazines political editor.

Gardiner says that we need another general election, but Lucas says that Labour’s position would not be all that dissimilar to the Conservatives’.

A people’s vote would be the best way to tackle the grotesque inequalities in the UK, Lucas says.

Rees-Mogg asks whether she would then want a third or fourth referendum, presumably if the result did not go in the direction she preferred.

Lucas then highlights historic hypocrisy on Rees-Mogg’s part. This is turning into a bit of an argument between the two.

Updated

The younger generation will be more betrayed than anyone else, says Lucas in response

“One thing that is already clear by tonight is that this decision cannot be left to the politicians. We simply can’t agree.

“This not a parlour game or debating society. These are real people with real lives”

That’s why the people need to have their say, she says. “A people’s vote would be your first chance to vote upon the facts.

“Don’t leave it to the Westminster elite to decide for you,” she says to whoops and cheers.

Earlier she suggested that people campaigning for a no-deal are only doing so because they would be insulated from the ramifications of that course of action.

Updated

Everyone poses for a selfie taken by tonight’s host.

Host Krishnan Guru-Murthy takes a selfie
Host Krishnan Guru-Murthy takes a selfie Photograph: Victoria Jones/PA

Barry Gardiner and Jacob Rees-Mogg have just given their opening statements.

“We wouldn’t be talking about hard remain or soft remain,” Rees-Mogg says, asking if politicians will do away with their promises. “I’m dealing with the 17.4m voters who won,” he goes on to say.

Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg and Green MP Caroline Lucas
Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg and Green MP Caroline Lucas Photograph: Victoria Jones/PA

Barry Gardiner demurs that it will not be hedge fund managers that will suffer, its normal people. Normal people will have their rights eroded, he proclaims.

“The hedge fund managers voted remain,” Rees-Mogg says. He then implores Labour to win an election if they want to implement their proposals, rather than leaving it to the EU.

Updated

Channel 4’s format “isn’t fruitful for Downing St”, says Business Insider’s Adam Payne.

ITV and the BBC had been competing to host a debate, under differing formats, between May and Corbyn.

Damien Gayle’s report from today’s marches is now live:

Here we have quotes from the first half of the debate.

Tory deputy chairman James Cleverly said:

Our deal delivers on what people voted for. It takes back control of our money, our borders, our laws. It means we can get on with Brexit and give more time to focus on other important issues like the NHS.

The only thing we know for sure is that rejecting this deal means damaging uncertainty and, as a Brexiteer, the thing that worries me the most is the risk we do not leave the EU at all.

But Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg said the deal “does not do what the Prime Minister said” on the customs union, the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice and a border between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

There are 68 pages of laws that will apply in Northern Ireland that will be adjudicated and made by the European Union.

Caroline Lucas says that this is about “delivering on the promises of Brexit” and “this deal doesn’t deliver on the promises”.

“So we’re not exactly taking back control,” says Lucas. “You know, we know, that we’re not going to be any better off under this deal.”

James Cleverly, arguing in favour of the government’s position, says that rejecting the deal would spell “damaging uncertainty”. He claims that the Bank of England is in fact projecting economic growth, despite doomsday forecast recently.

Labour’s Barry Gardiner concedes the point but contends this would nonetheless mean that the UK will be worse off than it would be otherwise.

He adds that we need a deal to protect jobs amid record levels of poverty, homelessness and food bank use.

Jacob Rees-Mogg, the leader of the European Research Group which is advocating for a hard Brexit, says that the current deal means that the UK will still be subject to some EU laws. People did not vote to still be under control of the European Court of Justice, he suggests, while the backstop agreement would mean the UK cannot leave unilaterally. Its worth mentioning that his voice is particularly croaky tonight.

Cleverly accepts that there is no unilateral exit clause. “ECJ rules will be temporary” during the transition period or backstop, he says, provoking chides from the other panellists while Rees-Mogg shot back, saying the Attorney General’s advice showed “the backstop could be permanent”.

Updated

Tonight’s debate is what the UK deserves, says Krishnan Guru-Murthy, as he introduces the panel of politicians who will tonight argue their respective positions as I outlined below.

“Its decision time on Brexit,” says Guru-Murthy, who is well-known for his combative interviewing style. “Will Theresa May’s deal be done, is there a better way to leave the EU, or should we stop the whole thing with another referendum?”

(Left to right) Conservative MP James Cleverly, Labour MP Barry Gardiner, host Krishnan Guru-Murthy, Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg and Green MP Caroline Lucas.
(Left to right) Conservative MP James Cleverly, Labour MP Barry Gardiner, host Krishnan Guru-Murthy, Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg and Green MP Caroline Lucas. Photograph: Victoria Jones/PA

Prior to the politicians’ brief opening statements, which I shall sum up next, four audience members laid out their thoughts on Brexit, mirroring the four sets of opinions that the politicians are set to advocate for next.

One says that workers rights must be protected, and if they cannot then there should be a people’s vote, mirroring what appears to be Labour’s current position. Another claims that Theresa May has behaved “treasonously” in moving the UK towards a soft Brexit.

Another criticises the fact that the UK is likely to be worse off under all the possible Brexit scenarios. The health service is struggling, she says, and now is not the time to end freedom of movement. A fourth and final attendee, supporting Theresa May’s position, says that what we have on the table is a “viable deal” which protects business. “We must back ourselves as a nation,” he says.

Updated

We’re now going to round up our coverage of today’s “Brexit betrayal” counter-protest, which vastly outnumbered the UKIP-organised demonstration attended by far-right figurehead Tommy Robinson. I will link to Damien Gayle’s report once it is up.

We will now look ahead to Channel 4’s Real Brexit Debate which shall begin at 7pm. It will be fought between Conservative party deputy chairman James Cleverly MP, Labour MP Barry Gardiner, each supporting their party’s position; as well as Caroline Lucas MP who will argue in favour of a People’s Vote, and Jacob-Rees Mogg who is backing a no-deal Brexit. We’ll bring you news from that as it comes.

  • A broad coalition of antiracist groups attended a counter protest attended by a multicultural crowd of around 15,000 people, mainly young protesters marching under placards saying “no to racism; no to fascism”, “oppose Tommy Robinson”, and “fuck fascism”.
  • Police held thousands of stop Tommy Robinson protesters in Trafalgar Square and only let them into Whitehall in groups in a tactic which could have been to prevent them breaching a cordon intended to stop them clashing with Brexit Betrayal marchers who gathered at the south end of Whitehall
People take part in an anti-fascist counter-demonstration against a “Brexit Betrayal” march and rally organised by Ukip in central London.
People take part in an anti-fascist counter-demonstration against a “Brexit Betrayal” march and rally organised by Ukip in central London. Photograph: Victoria Jones/PA
  • Momentum national co-ordinator Laura Parker said today was a “huge blow” for Tommy Robinson, who now has the Ukip machine “in tow”

Today is a huge blow for Tommy Robinson and his vile, hate-fuelled politics. Even with the Ukip machine in tow he only managed to bring a few thousand supporters out on the streets, while we mobilised nearly 15,000 to march against his racism and bigotry.

  • Dr Rosena Allin-Khan became the latest member of the shadow cabinet to declare their support for the People’s Vote campaign for a second referendum
  • Officers said three arrests had been made, all from among the counter-protest group. We are unaware of any significant clashes between the rival protestors, however, there were verbal confrontations between antiracist protesters and hecklers in Trafalgar Square, promoting police to move in and more tightly manage the crowd.
  • Police imposed restrictions on freedom of assembly around Westminster over fears of a violent confrontation between opposing demonstrations.
  • Pro-Brexit demonstrators accused Theresa May of compromising over Britain’s exit from the EU
  • A march in support of Tommy Robinson’s “Brexit Betrayal” rally in London failed to materialise. Organised by a group called the Mersey Nationalists it was due to take place in Liverpool today, the Liverpool Echo reported
  • Labour MPs were quick to criticise a protestor who attended the march carrying a noose suspended on a wooden frame, with Karen Buck saying it was “very, very wrong”. Alex Sobel said: “This is what actual fascism looks like.” Hope Not Hate said the march had been “absolutely riven with ugly messages and symbolism”.
  • Away from the marches, three MPs hinted that they would consider succeeding Theresa May at prime minister as we approach the crucial vote on Wednesday

Updated

A Stand Up To Racism representative earlier told the crowd that some 15,000 attended today’s counter-demonstration. Co-organiser and the organisation’s joint convener Weyman Bennett said: “I believe that the majority of people in this country reject fascism and racism.

People holding placards opposing Tommy Robinson take part in a separate protest
People holding placards opposing Tommy Robinson take part in a separate protest Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

“We’ve had unprecedented unity. All of us have come together from whatever party or faction we represent and have agreed that we have to march together to defend our democratic rights.”

My colleague Damien Gayle, meanwhile, has found a man playing Luis Fonsi’s Despacito on an accordion on Westminster Bridge.

The “Brexit Betrayal” rally ended promptly at 3.30pm - the time that police had stipulated that protesters must begin to disperse - after hearing a second and final speech from Tommy Robinson, the de facto leader of the movement. He called on all those present to join Ukip.

Addressing the crowd, he said he was among the 30-40% of people who don’t vote. “I’ve never voted because there is no one to vote for,” he said. Now, with move to the right from Ukip, which recently admitted Robinson as a member, Britain would have a populist party of its own to vote for, he said. “Ukip can be a voice for the working class communities,” he said, adding that “no other politician will talk about Islam; no other politician will talk about the issues affecting our country.”

Far-right leader Tommy Robinson (C) with UK Independence Party (UKIP) and pro Brexit supporters
Far-right leader Tommy Robinson (C) with UK Independence Party (UKIP) and pro-Brexit supporters Photograph: Andy Rain/EPA

The Metropolitan police reported three arrests, including one for assault, one for possession of an offensive weapon and one for a public order offence, all on the antiracist side.

Dr Rosena Allin-Khan,has become the latest member of the shadow cabinet to declare their support for the People’s Vote campaign.

Allin-Khan, the MP for Tooting, in south London, and Labour’s shadow minister for sport, speaking at the People’s Vote and Best for Britain rally, said:

I launched a local Brexit Poll, asking people to give me their views on the Brexit deal and today, I published the results - 90% of local people want a People’s Vote.

Parliament has a decision to make in the next few days which will alter the course of history for the UK, for us and for our children. The current government is run on confidence and supply, but let’s be straight – confidence is in very short supply.

Let’s end the economic uncertainty, let’s end the fear mongering - and let’s have a campaign on the facts. If calls for a general election are rejected - I’ll be backing a People’s Vote.

Just to let you know, comments have now closed but the blog will continue.

As well as the Brexit Betrayal march and the counter-demonstration in central London there is a People’s Vote and Best for Britain rally in east London today.

Lord Heseltine said:

Let us make our position clear. We are the British patriots. We want a Britain at the heart of Europe because we want the voice of Britain, the tolerance of Britain, the culture of Britain, at the heart of Europe. We are proud of our Commonwealth and empire. Our voice is their voice in Europe.

It is the Brexiteers who seek to belittle us, to undermine our influence, to slam windows, to close doors with the suggestion that our membership of the European community blunts our influence.

Caroline Lucas, Green party MP, told the crowd there was a clear message to Theresa May:

We don’t want your vision of a mean-minded little Britain, with our borders closed and our horizons narrowed.

We don’t want a future that betrays the hopes and dreams of our young people, who overwhelmingly want to stay inside the European Union.

We say that Britain is better than that, we deserve better than that.

Philip Lee, Conservative MP and former minister, told the rally:

I think a People’s Vote is the best hope that we have of reuniting our country after this sorry episode.

Let’s grasp this opportunity, let’s take back control, let’s have a People’s Vote.

The rally in London’s ExCel centre, is also being addressed by Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable, Tory former minister Anna Soubry and celebrities including Charles Dance and Jason Isaacs.

Updated

Several thousands of pro-brexit supporters rallied at the bottom of Whitehall listening intently to speeches from Gerrard Batten, Neil Hamilton and Carl Benjamin.

Hamilton said he had spent 50 years fighting against British integration with “the globalist European elite”. He said:

Populist movements are on the rise across Europe. Why is it that otherwise peaceful, law-abiding people are now setting Paris ablaze? It’s because they are not represented by their president, who is an agent of a foreign power.

Among those watching was Madeleine Jenkins, 72, from Brentwood. She said:

It’s a totally fake deal and we want to go to WTO rules. It shouldn’t be frightening because we don’t want to belong to a communist state. We want to be independent and I think you will find the Eastern European countries also wouldn’t want to be in what its become, because the just got out of a totalitarian state.

The European Council president, Donald Tusk, says that he has spoken to Theresa May ahead of an “important week” (he is obviously a master of understatement).

Tusk does not elaborate on whether May “handbagged” him (The Sunday Times reported that the prime minister was preparing to “handbag” Brussels in an attempt to win concessions and was prepared to delay the vote while she did so).

Damien Gayle says he has spotted a flag with the symbol of Generation Identity, the expanding far-right network, at the Brexit Betrayal march.

Updated

Away from the marches, three MPs have hinted that they would consider succeeding Theresa May at prime minister as we approach the crucial vote on Wednesday, my colleagues Dan Sabbagh and Jessica Elgot report:

Boris Johnson, Esther McVey and Dominic Raab all refused to rule out leadership bids and called on May to persuade the EU to ditch the backstop and withhold some of the £39bn divorce bill, though Brussels has said no further negotiation is possible.

A Momentum spokeswoman told the Press Association that about 15,000 people have turned up to oppose Tommy Robinson’s march, claiming it “vastly” outnumbered those on the Brexit Betrayal march by nearly five to one.

A Ukip spokesman said “quite a few thousand” had turned up to its rally. Police did not provide estimates on crowd sizes.

Damien Gayle spoke to Momentum’s national coordinator, Laura Parker. She said:

I just think it’s really important that everyone from Labour, from the broader Labour movement, from the trade union movement comes out and makes it clear that we will not have fascists on the streets of Britain in 2018.

We have seen a terrifying rise of the right across Europe, in Hungary, in Poland. We have got Trump in America, Bolsonaro in Brazil and Tommy Robinson wandering around London. It has just got to be stopped.

Updated

Police have been holding thousands of stop Tommy Robinson protesters in Trafalgar Square and only letting them into Whitehall in groups.

The tactic could be to stop them rushing a cordon intended to stop them clashing with Brexit Betrayal marchers led by Robinson, who are gathering at the south end of Whitehall after marching from Park Lane via Parliament Square.

Updated

Here is video footage from the Brexit Betrayal march and the counter-demonstration:

Updated

A march by a group called the Mersey Nationalists was due to take place in Liverpool today in support of Tommy Robinson’s Brexit Betrayal march in London but it failed to materialise, the Liverpool Echo reports. It said:

They had insisted the march would be to protest against the government’s ‘Brexit Betrayal’ - but anti-fascism campaigners said the group were about ‘whipping up racism’.

And more than a hundred people with anti-racism flags and placards gathered in the city centre to show their opposition to the group...

It appears that the counter-protestors might have scared Mersey Nationalists off, with organisers of the declaring victory after the group had failed to show up hours after the demonstration was set to start.

Last month, a far-right group abandoned plans to march through Liverpool after members were visibly outnumbered by counter-demonstrators, including the mayor of the city, Joe Anderson.

This is awful to see.

There were verbal confrontations between antiracist protesters and hecklers in Trafalgar Square, promoting police to move in and more tightly manage the crowd.

In an echo of an anti-facist chant, one man shouted “left wing scum, off our streets,” at protesters making their way into Whitehall.

He was confronted by another man who shouted in his face: “We’re black, white, Asian and we’re Jew. Fuck off!”

My colleague, Damien Gayle, has been speaking to people at the counter-demonstration to the Brexit Betrayal march:

Updated

Here are some photos from the Brexit Betrayal march, which accuses Theresa May of compromising over Britain’s exit from the EU and the counter-demonstration protesting at the march’s links to the far-right.

Founder and former leader of the anti-Islam English Defence League, Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, AKA Tommy Robinson (3rd L) smiles as he attends a pro-Brexit demonstration promoted by UKIP today
Founder and former leader of the anti-Islam English Defence League, Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, AKA Tommy Robinson (3rd L) smiles as he attends a pro-Brexit demonstration promoted by UKIP today Photograph: Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images
People holding placards opposing Tommy Robinson take part in a separate protest
People holding placards opposing Tommy Robinson take part in a separate protest Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images
Tommy Robinson (centre, holding mobile phone) arrives to take part in the “Brexit Betrayal” march and rally
Tommy Robinson (centre, holding mobile phone) arrives to take part in the “Brexit Betrayal” march and rally Photograph: Gareth Fuller/PA
People holding placards opposing Tommy Robinson
People holding placards opposing Tommy Robinson Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

Pro-Europe former Conservative minister Dominic Grieve has warned the Conservative party could split as a result of Brexit. He told Sky News’s Sophy Ridge on Sunday:

There is a risk the party will split and cannot continue in its current form... I can see that this is of such a fundamental character this issue that it may be the end of the Conservative party in its current form, and that bothers me very much because one of the products of Brexit has been total paralysis on virtually every other area of policy.

Meanwhile out there there are lots of things that need to be tackled, which I as a Conservative would like to see tackled, and actually can co-operate with friends and colleagues who are Leavers if we were able to find the time and space to do it.

Brexit is absorbing all our energy and slowly sort of paralysing us, and it applies to Labour as well.

He said Boris Johnson would be a “disastrous leader”, adding he would find it “very difficult in those circumstances to take the Conservative whip”.

However, fellow Tory MP Kwasi Kwarteng told BBC Radio 5 Live’s Pienaar’s Politics a split was not on the cards:

I think one or two people might leave, I don’t know who they will be, they might decide to retire or they might decide to abandon the party whip, that has happened before, but I don’t think a full on split like there was in the 19th century is going to happen.

Nigel Dodds , the DUP Westminster leader, said his party, which is propping up Theresa May, would continued to support her but it could not be relied upon if she did not deliver a satisfactory Brexit.

He said the party was determined to defeat the government on Tuesday, dismissing May’s threat that it could ultimately lead to Jeremy Corbyn entering Number 10.

Speaking on Sophy Ridge On Sunday, he said:

I don’t think anyone realistically believes that - this is a scare story being put out by Theresa May because under the terms of the Fixed-term Parliaments Act everybody knows, even people in the Labour Party know, that’s unlikely unless this deal were to go through.

I think then clearly Theresa May would be in difficulty in terms of the parliamentary arithmetic.

Stop Brexit Betrayal march met by counter-demonstrators

Police have imposed restrictions on freedom of assembly around Westminster today over fears of a violent confrontation between opposing demonstrations.

Mounted riot police, and officers in riot gear were deployed outside the BBC on Portland place, where antiracist groups have been gathering for a march to Whitehall to oppose the “stop Brexit betrayal” demonstration led by the far-right figurehead Tommy Robinson.

A multicultural crowd of thousands of mainly young protesters marched under placards saying “no to racism; no to fascism”, “oppose Tommy Robinson”, and “fuck fascism”.
Some had faces covered. Sources in antiracist groups have said some members were keen to find a way to block the opposing march

Robinson’s supporters have been gathering outside the Dorchester on Park Lane for a march through Victoria to Parliament Square and Whitehall.

The Metropolitan police has said it will deploy officers on Whitehall to keep the opposing demonstrations apart. The force has set strict restrictions to the timings of each protest and the routes of their respective marches.

“Breach of the conditions is a criminal offence, and anyone breaching them may find themself [sic] liable to arrest,” police said in a statement.

“The decision to apply Section 12 and 14 of the Public Order Act was taken based on current tensions and concerns, the current intelligence picture about Sunday and previous marches and protests held by similar groups,” the force said. “Taking all these factors into consideration the MPS has made an operational policing decision to take this approach, and believe it to be proportionate in these specific circumstances.”

Updated

The former foreign secretary, Boris Johnson, like Esther McVey, has - unsurprisingly - refused to rule out leadership ambitions.

Asked on BBC’s Andrew Marr show if he would promise not to stand against Theresa May, he said:

I will give you an absolute, categorical promise that I will continue to advocate what I think is the most sensible plan.

But Johnson said it was “nonsense” to suggest he had already begun offering fellow Tories jobs in a future administration.

The real problem with the backstop arrangement is it gives the power to Brussels and to all the other EU member states effectively to blackmail us and to get what they want out of the future trade negotiation.

The Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay was also on Andrew Marr and sought to quash speculation that the vote will be postponed. He told BBC’s Andrew Marr show:

The vote is going ahead. That’s because it is a good deal, it’s the only deal and it’s important we don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good.

He insisted there would no more negotiations with Brussels.

The risk for those who say simply go back and ask again, the risk is that isn’t necessarily a one-way street.

The French, the Spanish and others will turn round, if we seek to reopen the negotiation, and ask for more.

Updated

Unsurprisingly the front pages of the Sunday papers are dominated by Brexit.

The prime minister used the Mail on Sunday to warn Tory MPs they risked handing the keys to Number 10 if they voted down her deal.

May said the country would be in “uncharted waters” if the deal is rejected.

It would mean grave uncertainty for the nation with a very real risk of no Brexit or leaving the European Union with no deal.

We have a leader of the opposition who thinks of nothing but attempting to bring about a general election, no matter what the cost to the country.

As someone who cares passionately about my country and my party, I believe Jeremy Corbyn getting his hands on power is a risk we cannot afford to take.

The Sunday Telegraph leads on the resignation of Will Quince, the Colchester MP and aide to the defence secretary, Gavin Williamson, who quit his post on Saturday night in protest at the Brexit deal, and the potential for more to leave in the next 48 hours. It says government whips have given Tory MPs until Sunday lunchtime to decide how they will vote.

The Sunday Times suggests the vote could be delayed as the prime minister tries to “handbag” concessions from Brussels (£).

The Observer says the cabinet is split over the issue of a second referendum.

Finally, the Independent on Sunday says more than half of voters now want to remain in the EU.

You can read a fuller round-up of the papers here:

Summary

Good morning. With just two days to go until the crucial vote on Theresa May’s Brexit blueprint, the debate over the best deal (if any) continues to play out in the media.

Esther McVey, who resigned from the cabinet over the deal has said she would be willing to stand for the leadership if May went - not exactly a vote of confidence in the prime minister.

She told Sky News’s Sophy Ridge on Sunday:

If people asked me, then of course you’d give it serious thought and do it - if people asked me.

But at the moment I’m looking at who is in papers, who we can get behind but it shouldn’t be about the personality, it should be about the country and this deal.

McVey said that if May loses the vote on Tuesday she must “immediately” go to the EU and “get a better deal”. She added: “If she doesn’t, it is going to be very difficult for her.”

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