Steerpike

Theresa May has just had a humiliating night, as EU leaders rebuffed her bid for concessions on the Irish backstop, and told her the withdrawal agreement was no longer negotiable. The bleak response she received from the EU27 may explain this rather icy moment between Theresa May and Jean-Claude Juncker which was caught on camera at the beginning of the day: https://twitter.com/PhilipSime/status/1073516384095739904 UPDATE: Mr S is happy to provide an update for those wondering what the PM and Juncker were saying. Two expert lipreaders at Channel 5 have analysed the footage and reckon May was upset that the president of the commission had called her 'nebulous'. Footage below: https://twitter.

As the Conservative Party continued to battle this evening over the survival of Theresa May, Her Majesty's Opposition had the easiest job in the world. All they had to do was watch the carnage unfold without slipping up themselves. But that might have been too much to ask for some this evening. Reacting to the news that Theresa May had lost the confidence of 117 of her MPs, was Labour's shadow chancellor John McDonnell. He expressed deep shock that Theresa May had lost the support of over a third of her parliamentary party: https://twitter.com/johnmcdonnellMP/status/1072961182221377536 Mr S certainly thinks he has a point. But the red-book wielding shadow chancellor should perhaps apply the lesson to his own side.

Poor old Theresa May. The PM is hopping across Europe in a desperate bid to try and salvage her Brexit deal. But quite predictably things aren't going well. After arriving in Berlin to meet Angela Merkel, Theresa May got off to a bad start – by getting locked in her car. https://twitter.com/SkyNewsPolitics/status/1072463780007809024?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw Mr S is pleased to report that it wasn't long before the PM was freed, although he suspects that not all Tory MPs will be pleased about that....

It’s been a day of high emotions in the House of Commons after Theresa May moved to postpone the vote on her Brexit deal. With Brexiteers, the SNP and Labour MPs distinctly unimpressed at the move, it all got a bit too much for one MP this evening in the Chamber. Step forward Lloyd Russell-Moyle. The Labour MP this evening made headlines after he broke a Parliament taboo. In protest at May’s decision to delay the vote, Russell-Moyle grabbed the ceremonial mace. This is against the rules and he has been suspended from the Commons as a result: https://twitter.com/dcakraemer/status/1072234234901860353?s=21 The Labour MP has so far succeeded in uniting warring factions in condemnation at his actions. Not that Russell-Moyle seems worried, he’s since been spotted in the pub.

When it comes to columnists who lean towards Remain, few are more vocal in their criticism of Brexit than Times columnist Jenni Russell. So, when Russell has to step in to warn arch-Remainer Alastair Campbell that he has gone too far, you know something has gone seriously wrong. This was the case on Newsnight on Friday evening. Russell used her appearance on the Brexit panel to explain why she had now gone cold on the idea of a second referendum: there has not been a big shift in public opinion and a no deal Brexit could win: 'The point is that absolutely no effort so far has gone into saying to people anything other than ‘you are mistaken, your lives are rubbish and they are going to be even worse if we leave.

Oh dear. With the government on course for a historic defeat next week on Theresa May's deal, this is the point in the campaign that Downing Street had hoped to see MPs coming round. Alas not. So, it was a curious choice by the government to allow ITV exclusive access to Chief Whip Julian Smith's attempts to woo unruly MPs. Smith was filmed trying to convince Leaver Philip Davies to back the deal: https://twitter.com/itvnews/status/1070727441776328706 What ever the intention, Mr S know who he thinks emerges as the voice of reason...

Anyone watching the Conservatives tear themselves apart at the moment might be tempted to think that a political party could not possibly be any more divided. Well, the Tories may now have at last some stiff competition, as the Liberal Democrats face a remarkable split over their Brexit position. Since the coalition years, the Lib Dems have vowed to never sell out their principles again like they did over tuition fees, which led to their disastrous showing in the 2015 election. Which explains why they have since relentlessly focused on the one key issue that sets them apart from the other main parties in Westminster: backing Remain and supporting a second Brexit referendum.