Steerpike

The results have begun to trickle in from the European elections tonight, and already it looks like Labour are being hammered from both sides, as they lose Leave voters to the Brexit Party and Remain voters to the Lib Dems and Greens. And with only one region announced, it already appears that the cracks are appearing in Labour unity, especially on the divisive issue of whether the party should back a second referendum.

It’s one day since Theresa May set an exit date for her departure from 10 Downing Street and the leadership contest to replace her is already heating up. This morning, Rory Stewart - the International Development Secretary - performed a media round in which the Tory MP declared that he would not be able to serve in a Boris Johnson-led government. The reason? BoJo, the current favourite, would explicitly push for a no deal Brexit - something Stewart could not contemplate. Besides Stewart is planning to run himself. However, he is seen as an outside bet as someone who voted Remain and backs Theresa May’s deal. He has previously hit out at certain Brexiteers for - in his eyes - over-simplifying issues raised by Brexit.

The door of Number 10 had barely closed after Theresa May's resignation statement this morning when Tory MPs began debating who would be the best person to replace her. Brexiteer and ERG deputy chairman Steve Baker certainly wasted no time today, but revealed that the candidate he was really thinking about was... Steve Baker. Asked by Sky News' Adam Boulton if he would back Boris Johnson in the upcoming race, Baker replied that he couldn't support him just yet, as: 'I can't back a candidate yet because I've had both members of parliament and members of the public, in considerable numbers, which has taken me by surprise, suggesting that I stand. And until I've fully considered what's being said to me, out of respect for those giving the advice, I won't be able to back a candidate.

Theresa May has made her latest Brexit deal pitch – and it isn't going down well with Tory MPs. The Prime Minister used a speech this afternoon to say Parliament will get a vote on whether to hold a second referendum if it backs the EU Withdrawal Agreement Bill. But Simon Clarke – a Tory MP who supported the PM's deal the last time around – has changed his mind and vowed to vote the deal down. Here is what he said: And Simon Clarke wasn't the only Tory MP to vent his fury at the PM in the aftermath of her speech. Owen Paterson said the offer is a 'direct insult to 17.

Nigel Farage became the latest politician to be pelted by milkshake today, as he toured the centre of Newcastle ahead of the European elections on 23 May. The Brexit Party leader was talking to members of the public in the northeastern city when his assailant, carrying a Five Guys milkshake, surged forward and threw the beverage over him. Afterwards, Farage was overheard criticising the 'complete failure' of his security team for not protecting him from the attack, which they should have 'spotted a mile off'. He later commented on Twitter that: https://twitter.com/Nigel_Farage/status/1130453547819180033 Watch the moment Farage was hit here: https://twitter.

After weeks of dragging its feet and giving the distinct impression it would rather walk through broken glass than take part in the upcoming EU elections, the Conservative Party finally launched its campaign for the European elections this afternoon. To celebrate the launch, which the other parties began preparing for several weeks ago, Theresa May and a handful of Tory MEP candidates headed to a tiny, drab function room in the Bristol City football stadium, with no Tory supporters present. In her speech announcing the start of the campaign, Theresa May assured the viewing public that a vote for the Conservatives was also a vote for Brexit.

As the unofficial Tory leadership contest moves up a gear, scores of Cabinet ministers, hoping to burnish their leadership credentials have been giving 'wide-ranging' speeches across London as they prepare for Theresa May's inevitable departure. Home Secretary Sajid Javid became the latest contender to show off his policy platform this afternoon, as he gave a speech at the Centre for Policy Studies, to launch the think tank's new report on UK business. Unfortunately for Javid, it appears the name of the event and the report didn't quite match his grand ambitions. After all, the tagline 'Think Small, a report on small businesses' doesn't quite remind you of a grand statesman.

When Geoffrey Cox stood on stage at Conservative conference and gave a speech to introduce Theresa May, the newly appointed Attorney General managed to steal the show. Cox managed to bring the house down with his Mufasa-inspired routine – quoting poetry as he called on members to get behind the Prime Minister. At Tuesday night's Onward event – to celebrate the Conservative think tank's first year – Cox cut a more sombre figure.

With Theresa May set to leave office this year, the race is on to find her successor. Cabinet ministers are at pains to emphasise their leadership credentials. On Tuesday evening, Amber Rudd used a speech at think tank Onward’s first birthday party to share her views on the current situation. The Work and Pensions Secretary joked - to a crowd that included Rory Stewart, James Brokenshire and Geoffrey Cox - that the current Tory leadership was male dominated before going on to lay out her view on the European elections and what the Tory tactic ought to be: ‘Over the past year my own circumstances have changed so much. For example, getting in a cab is now a more personal experience. “Amber Rudd?” “Yes that’s me.” “Is the Bodyguard real?