Brexit - as it happened: Theresa May attempts to heal divisions on whistlestop tour to mark one year countdown
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Theresa May has sought to heal Brexit divisions with a whistlestop tour to mark the one year countdown to Britain's departure from the European Union.
Marking the first anniversary of triggering of Article 50, the prime minister visited all four UK nations, where she said the UK would "thrive as a strong and united country that works for everyone, no matter whether you voted Leave or Remain".
Meanwhile, Tony Blair called on Labour MPs to defy Jeremy Corbyn if he takes the wrong approach to Brexit, while further party splits emerged when shadow Brexit secretary Keir Starmer said Labour could vote down the government's deal - after fellow frontbencher Emily Thornberry suggested they might support it.
Labour was also plunged into a fresh antisemitism row, after its disciplinary chief Christine Shawcroft resigned for questioning the suspension of a council candidate accused of suggesting the Holocaust was a "hoax".
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Tony Blair has called on Labour MPs to vote against Jeremy Corbyn, if they believe the party leader takes the wrong approach to Brexit in the critical months between now and October.
In an exclusive interview with The Independent, Mr Blair said MPs had to vote with their conscience if they see Labour is abetting Britain’s withdrawal without fully knowing what the country’s future relations with Europe will be.
More here:
Theresa May has set off on a whistle-stop tour of the UK, as she seeks to heal Brexit divisions as the one year countdown begins.
Kicking off in Scotland, the PM will visit textile workers at a factory in Ayrshire, before travelling to Newcastle to meet with a local parent and toddler group. She will have lunch with farmers near Belfast before travelling to Barry to host a roundtable with Welsh businesses. She will finish the day in West London where she will have tea with a group of Polish citizens.
She said: "Today, one year until the UK leaves the EU and begins to chart a new course in the world, I am visiting all four nations of the Union to hear from people across our country what Brexit means to them. I am determined that as we leave the EU, and in the years ahead, we will strengthen the bonds that unite us, because ours is the world’s most successful union. The UK contains four proud and historic nations, but together we amount to so much more than the sum of our parts and our Union is an enormous force for good.
"But as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, I have an absolute responsibility to protect the integrity of the United Kingdom as a whole. That means ensuring that no new barriers are created within our common domestic market and that the UK is able to meet its international obligations in the future. No Prime Minister could leave these things to chance, because they are absolutely crucial to our success as a country in the future."
She added: I am determined that our future will be a bright one. It’s a future in which we trade freely with friends and partners across Europe and beyond. Having regained control of our laws, our borders and our money, and seized the opportunities provided by Brexit, the UK will thrive as a strong and united country that works for everyone, no matter whether you voted Leave or Remain."
Sketchwriter Tom Peck has written a fascinating piece on why the "Brexiteers of Essex are still glad they left the EU".
Read his column from Romford here:
Labour’s Keir Starmer has said his party is definitely prepared to vote down Theresa May’s Brexit deal, after a fellow frontbencher suggested the party might back it even if it lacks detail.
The shadow Brexit secretary said Labour would not “step back from the challenge” of opposing the agreement, following Emily Thornberry’s comments at a think tank event.
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Labour’s leader in the House of Lords has warned the Government its main piece of Brexit legislation faces a “rocky road” unless ministers make key concessions.
Writing exclusively for The Independent, Angela Smith said ministers should use the Easter break to reflect on changes that Lords have asked for so far.
More here:
Labour's antisemitism row is growing apace, as a key Jeremy Corbyn ally was forced to resign as chair of the party's disputes panel after she questioned the suspension of a council candidate accused of Holocaust denial.
More here:
Shadow chancellor John McDonnell has been out on TV and radio programmes this morning, where he faced repeated questions about Christine Shawcroft's resignation.
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "Any form of anti-Semitism will not be tolerated in our party. We are bringing forward mechanisms. They should have been implemented ages ago but they will be now under the new general secretary.
"We will kick out anyone who has perpetrated anti-Semitism or any form of racism, for that matter."
Mr McDonnell said Labour "woke up" to the problem two years ago "when it was pointed out to us" and the party had brought in Baroness Chakrabarti to investigate.
The shadow Cabinet minister appeared to suggest Iain McNicol, who quit as general secretary and is being replaced by Jennie Formby, had failed to implement the findings of the peer's report.
He added: "We launched the Chakrabarti report. They have not been implemented effectively. We've now brought in a new general secretary. They will be implemented."
Asked whether Ms Shawcroft should resign from her post on Labour's ruling National Executive Committee, Mr McDonnell told Sky News: "Well, no, Jeremy has asked her to stand down as the chair of the disputes committee."
He added: "She's not at the head of that committee (the NEC). It is an elected position and it is up to the electorate to decide whether or not she should be elected again."
Jeremy Corbyn has insisted he is “not an antisemite in any way” and called prejudice against Jews ”a cancer in our society", in an interview with Jewish News.
Senior Jewish leaders have demanded the Labour leader disown supporters who “vilified” antisemitism protesters outside the Houses of Parliament earlier this week.
More here:
Interesting tweets here from The Times deputy political editor on how the Government is planning to turn the screws on Labour over antisemitism.
Commons leader Andrea Leadsom is up in the Commons shortly to announce upcoming business.
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