Brexit live: may and bercow face no-confidence votes

BREXIT: EVANS CALLS FOR NO CONFIDENCE VOTE TO OUST THERESA MAY Furious Conservative MP Crispin Blunt tabled the motion after writing to all MPs asking for support, adding he would not

publish the names of backers unless they hit three figures in order not to expose them to "retribution" by the Speaker. Now, the Speaker and Prime Minister Theresa May both face

being ousted as part of a mass Brexiteer takeover. Mr Bercow has infuriated Brexit-backing Tories with decisions including a block on Theresa May repeatedly tabling her Withdrawal Agreement

in the hope of whittling down opposition. Mr Blunt said that Mr Bercow's decisions on Brexit had been "wholly partial" and helped contribute to "national paralysis"

on the issue.   RELATED ARTICLES He added: “Whilst I am disappointed there are not yet 100 colleagues prepared to openly side with me, I believe I would be failing to stand up for the

integrity of Parliament if I did not formally record my protest against his bias.” He also said more than 100 MPs - who had only agreed to sign Mr Blunt’s motion if their names were not

listed to avoid backlash from the Speaker - showed grave concerns over his behaviour. He added: “Some will only support a motion if it was certain to succeed in removing the Speaker. Given

that his partiality is in accord with the Remain majority of the House and many can't sign EDMs, that is an impossible ask.” The news comes after Mrs May could force MPs to vote on her

Brexit deal again in a race against time as Tory rebels plot to hold another no confidence vote to oust the Prime Minister. _FOLLOW LIVE UPDATES BELOW... _ May and Bercow face no confidence

votes (Image: GETTY ) 8.30PM UPDATE: FARAGE SILENCES REPORTER WITH BRUTAL REPLY DURING BREXIT PARTY EVENT Nigel Farage hit back at a reporter after being asked what he has in common with the

working class as a privately educated Briton during the Brexit Party candidate launch. The Brexit Party leader insisted the betrayal of the Brexit vote is something that unites British

people after being asked what he has in common with working-class Labour voters. A reporter asked the former Ukip leader: “Mr Farage, with your private education and your background in

banking, what do you personally have in common with the working class and, particularly, working-class Labour voters?” Mr Farage replied: “Thank you. I was never in banking. Next question.”

BREXIT: THERESA MAY HAS 'GOT TO GO' SAYS JOHN HUMPHRYS 7.30PM UPDATE: LINEKER FACES SAVAGE BACKLASH AFTER DESPERATE PLEA TO YOUNG VOTERS Gary Lineker faced a brutal online backlash

on Twitter after he called for young people in the UK to remember to register to vote for the upcoming European elections. Lineker, who has repeatedly called for the UK to have another say

on Brexit, faced a fierce backlash after he delivered his online video message. The former England footballer delivered a message to followers of Vote For Your Future, which encourages

younger people in Britain to register to vote for the upcoming European elections. The plea online sparked furious reaction among many angry at Mr Lineker for having repeatedly called for a

second referendum in the past. One quipped: “But don't worry if you lose the vote as you can campaign to have a second.” Another wrote: “I'll skip the 1st vote and then catch the

2nd one Gary.” 6.30PM UPDATE: TORIES ‘P*SSED OFF’ HALF THEIR VOTERS OVER BREXIT, SAYS EX MINISTER The Conservatives have “p*ssed off" half their supporters with their handling of

Brexit, a senior Tory former minister has said. There were gasps in the House of Commons as Sir Edward Leigh made the claims, saying they also risk upsetting even more with the "extreme

liberal" agenda on changing divorce laws. Sir Edward said: "Having p*ssed off half our supporters by botching Brexit, why are we now irritating the other half with an extreme

liberal social agenda?" The MP said changes to make it easier for couples to divorce without having to prove either partner is "at fault" would encourage more people to split

up. 5.40PM UPDATE: MINISTER RESIGNS FROM THERESA MAY’S GOVERNMENT International development minister Lord Bates has quit his role forcing Theresa May to make last-minute changes to her

administration. The Tory peer has not made an official statement, though his resignation follows that of a long list politicians during the Brexit process. Gary Lineker faced a brutal online

backlash on Twitter (Image: TWITTER) 4.30PM UPDATE: IAIN DUNCAN SMITH URGES PM TO THRASH OUT EU TALKS OVER IRISH BACKSTOP Ex-Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith told the BBC “we could do it in

two weeks” in reference to his handling of Brexit if he were in Mrs May’s position. He then urged the Prime Minister to scrap talks with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and again focus on the

Irish backstop. 4PM UPDATE: MAY ACCUSES CORBYN OF DRAGGING HIS FEET IN BREXIT TALKS Theresa May has accused Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn of dragging his feet in cross-party talks on Brexit.

Speaking to senior ministers at Cabinet on Tuesday, Mrs May said that the talks were "serious" but that the Government side had hit difficulties over the timetable for talks. The

Prime Minister's official spokesman told a regular Westminster media briefing: "The PM said discussions with Labour had been serious but had also been difficult in some areas, such

as in relation to the timetable for the negotiations. "The PM said the Government's position was that progress needed to be made urgently as it was vital to deliver on the result

of the referendum and for the UK to leave the European Union as soon as possible." 3PM UPDATE: PENNY FARTHING ENTHUSIAST URGED FARAGE TO MAKE HIM EU ELECTION CANDIDATE A penny-farthing

enthusiast has urged Nigel Farage to make him an EU election candidate for the Brexit Party. Brexit Party member Alan Price, 65, from Battersea, brought his red-wheeled bike with a black

skull-shaped headlamp along to a press conference for Mr Farage's latest venture. The former helicopter pilot said he wanted to represent the 35 million bikers, bicyclists and

penny-farthing riders in the UK who had been "harassed and excessively regulated" by the EU. He added: “We as a group are massively in support of Brexit.” Furious Conservative MP

Crispin Blunt tabled the motion after writing to MPs (Mr Bercow pictured) (Image: GETTY) 2.52AM UPDATE: TORY 1922 TO VOTE ON MAY'S FUTURE  Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, the treasurer of

the backbench Tory 1922 Committee, said he expected the group's executive to vote on Tuesday on whether to bring forward the date on which a challenge to Mrs May's leadership can

be mounted by rebel MPs. Under current rules, no confidence vote can be held for 12 months after the last challenge on December 12 2018, which Mrs May saw off by 200 votes to 117. Reports

suggest that this grace period could be reduced to six months, allowing a new vote on June 12. The Cotswolds MP told BBC Radio 4's World At One: "That's what the executive

will be debating when it meets. They have to decide whether they wish to change the rules or not. "I suspect quite a robust discussion will take place, because the executive represents

all wings of the party. Eventually a motion will be put and that will be voted on. "I think it will be done by first-past-the-post, and if it succeeds then of course the vote which

would otherwise have taken place on December 12 will be brought forward to whatever is agreed in the motion." 2.36PM UPDATE: EUROPE IS CRUMBLING - HISTORIAN British historian Ian

Kershaw said Brexit could signal the “beginning of the end” of the EU.  Mr Kershaw claimed the scenario would be the “worst case” and that the UK’s departure from the EU could instead unite

the remaining 27 members. The historian told German news website T-Online: “In the worst case, Brexit may become the beginning of the end of the EU. But it could also be that the rest of

Europe will get closer together.” 2.22PM UPDATE: PRESSURE MOUNTS ON MAY TO STEP DOWN London East Conservative chair Dinah Glover, who started a petition of association chairs calling for the

PM to resign, told BBC Radio 4's World at One: "We hope the Prime Minister will recognise that she is unfortunately no longer the solution to the problem, but is actually the

block to Brexit. "It's with great sadness and regret that we say this. We recognise, as loyal Conservatives, that too many promises have been broken to the electorate and so it is

time for a new leader." Petition signatory Greig Baker, of Canterbury Conservatives, told the programme: "Removing Theresa May has become like a trip to the dentist. It's

something that's got to be done, and the longer you leave it the worse it will Brexit latest: Nigel Farage has vowed to target Labour supporters (Image: GETTY) 2.01PM UPDATE: MAY IS

FOCUSSED ON PASSING BREXIT  rime Minister Theresa May's government is focused on passing the law it needs to ratify Britain's exit from the European Union, May's spokesman

said on Tuesday. The spokesman told reporters talks with the opposition Labour Party on finding a way forward on Brexit would require compromise on both sides, and that the legislation could

be introduced to make progress with the Brexit process. 1.24PM UPDATE: RULES COULD BE CHANGED TO MAKE WAY FOR MAY'S NO CONFIDENCE VOTE  Guido Fawkes tweeted: "Strong hint from

1922 sources that there is a good chance there will be a rule change to enable an early challenge to the PM."  1.04PM UPDATE: EU ELECTIONS 'WILL BE NIGHTMARE FOR TORIES' 

Former Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith warned that fighting the European Parliament elections would be a "nightmare" for Tories and would "resurrect the beast" of a

popular anti-EU party taking their votes. Mr Duncan Smith said it would be "a good idea" for Mrs May to set a specific date for her departure, but said this was a matter for the

Prime Minister and the backbench 1922 Committee to decide. He said it was "difficult to see" the current round of talks with Labour succeeding, telling the BBC: "It's

really a mess, and I don't see how Downing Street in the course of this week is going to be able to produce a solution which unites Parliament. "Certainly they risk losing a very

large swathe of their party - not just those who voted against the (Withdrawal) Agreement, but (those who would) walk away on the basis of adherence to the customs union." Brexit

latest: Boris Johnson's sister Rachel will stand as a candidate for Change UK (Image: GETTY ) 12.42PM UPDATE: REMAINERS MAKE BREXITEERS LOOK LIKE 'NAZI APPEASERS'  Former

nurse Christina Jordan claimed Remain-supporting MPs had been blocking Brexit and "hysterical MPs call Brexiteers Nazi appeasers", adding "they are driving us at a cost of

£100 million into European elections and want us to pat them on the back". Smoked salmon producer Lance Foreman was the final candidate, who said his past experience as a special

adviser for former trade secretary Peter Lilley had shown him only "political obsessives" could be successful in Westminster. He added: "To be honest, I found the transition

from politics to oily fish was quite straightforward." 12.17PM UPDATE: BREXIT PARTY VOWS TO STAND FOR BREXITEERS WHOS VOICES HAVE BEEN 'TRASHED'  Claire Fox, a former member

of the Revolutionary Communist Party,  was introduced as a "free speech campaigner" and author, and said she would be "standing in solidarity" with the Leave voters whose

voices "have been traduced and trashed". James Glancy, a Royal Marine veteran, said he was compelled to stand because he felt politicians were "undermining democracy"

and "our leadership is humiliating the British public on the international stage". Former charity boss Matthew Patten said he believed the Brexit Party would help the country

regain its "confidence in the future". Brexit latest: Nigel Farage has unveiled his Brexit Party candidates (Image: REUTERS ) 11.58AM UPDATE: POUND OFFERING 'LITTLE

COMFORT' AS BREXIT TALKS RESUME Sterling is muted against major currencies after suffering a steady decline in the first three weeks of April. As of 9.09am UK time, the pound is trading

marginally higher from opening levels to €1.1548 against the euro. At the same time versus the US dollar, Sterling is at $1.2986. 11.47AM UPDATE: EU RULES OUT REOPENING WITHDRAWAL AGREEMENT

  The European Commission again ruled out reopening of the withdrawal treaty negotiated with Britain last year.  Deputy chief spokeswoman Mina Andreeva told a news conference: "It is

excluded that we renegotiate or reopen the withdrawal agreement because this is the best solution possible," citing remarks by Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker. 11.33AM UPDATE:

THE BREXIT PARTY HAS UNVEILED FIVE MORE CANDIDATES  Veteran and conservationist James Glancy, Claire Fox, a former member of the Revolutionary Communist Party, businessmen Lance Forman,

Matthew Patten, and former nurse Christina Jordan. 11.27AM UPDATE: BORIS JOHNSON'S SISTER TO STAND FOR CHANGE UK  Boris Johnson's sister Rachel Johnson is to stand as a European

election candidate for Change UK, the pro-Remain party set up by The Independent Group of MPs. Ms Johnson, who will stand in the South West region, announced her move at an event to launch

the party's election campaign in Bristol. Brexit latest: Change UK has launched its European election campaign (Image: GETTY ) 11.26AM UPDATE: CHANGE UK HAS LAUNCHED ITS CAMPAIGN TO

REMAIN IN EU  Heidi Allen said the party is demanding a second referendum and 'the right' to campaign to remain in the EU as she launched the party's campaign in Bristol.  She

was joined on stage by former BBC Newsnight presenter Gavin Esler, who is also standing. Mr Esler, who is standing for the party in London, slammed Nigel Farage and Jacob Rees-Mogg as

"pretend men of the people". He described them as the "posers of Brexit" and said they were "selling the same old snake oil". "They claim to speak for the

people - they do not," Mr Esler said. "They stole our patriotism and I want it back. We have to stop Brexit now."  11.01AM UPDATE: FARAGE PLEDGES TO TARGET LABOUR SUPPORTERS 

The Brexit Party leader said the party was already "doing very well" with Conservative supporters. The former Ukip leader said: "There are five million people that voted for

Jeremy Corbyn and voted for Brexit as well and that's going to be our task. "I think we will go on squeezing the Conservatives and squeezing Ukip down to virtually nothing.

"We're going to go after that Labour vote in a very big way." Brexit latest: Farage will unveil his Brexit Party candidates (Image: PA ) 10.24AM UPDATE: STURGEON TO USE BREXIT

TO PULL SCOTLAND OUT OF UK  Nicola Sturgeon is expected to give a statement to the Scottish Parliament about plans for Scottish independence.  The First Minister is reported to have

requested time to address parliament during Wednesday afternoon about Scotland's future and a potential independence referendum. Ms Sturgeon said in January that she would set out her

timetable for another vote in a "matter of weeks", but remained tight-lipped in light of ongoing Brexit uncertainty at Westminster. Before the parliament's recess, Ms Sturgeon

revealed that she would set out her plans for a second Scottish independence referendum after "this phase of the Brexit negotiations". With the EU granting a six-month extension

of Article 50, the First Minister is now expected to elaborate on the SNP's plans ahead of the party's conference at the weekend. A Scottish Parliament spokesman said that, if the

First Minister had requested the opportunity to address MSPs, any rescheduling to Wednesday's business would be confirmed by lunchtime on Tuesday. On Tuesday morning Ms Sturgeon was

meeting with cabinet colleagues and no one from her office could be reached for comment. A Scottish Government spokesman said: "The First Minister has made clear she will update the

Scottish Parliament after the Easter recess." 10.11AM UPDATE: MAY MOCKED FOR ST GEORGE'S DAY TRIBUTE  The Prime Minister has been mocked for flying the Saint George’s Cross outside

Downing Street by Brexiteers saying they are “surprised” not to see the EU flag up instead.  UKIP MEP Patrick O'Flynn told Mrs May to be “honest and just fly the EU circle of stars”

after the Tory leader posted a video on Twitter to mark St George’s Day today.  He tweeted: “May should be honest and just fly the EU circle of stars. “She has chosen that above the

democratic instructions of the British people, after all. Brexit latest: Theresa May could be out by June (Image: PA ) 9.39AM UPDATE: BORIS JOHNSON TIPPED TO REPLACE MAY  A new poll found

the former foreign secretary is the favourite to replace Mrs May as Conservative leader among the party's grassroots. Almost a third of party members - 32.4 percent - backed the

pro-Brexit Tory to take over the helm of the party, up by 10 points in the last month. Ex-Brexit secretary Dominic Raab was second with 14.7 percent, according to the poll of 1,128 panel

members by the Conservative Home website. Environment Secretary Michael Gove, who also supported the Leave campaign, came third, ahead of Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt and Home Secretary

Sajid Javid. 9.28AM UPDATE: EU ELECTIONS CANDIDATES UNVEILED  Change UK - the Independent Group will launch its European election campaign in Bristol, and Nigel Farage's Brexit Party

will unveil its latest tranche of candidates in London. 9.12AM UPDATE: MAY IS 'OUR BEST HOPE' TO SOLVE BREXIT  Prisons Minister Rory Stewart has backed Theresa May as "our

best hope" of resolving Brexit. He told the BBC Today programme "the problem is not the Prime Minister, the problem is Brexit. "I think she is doing a very, very important job

and she needs to get the first stage of Brexit done... "The idea somehow that some new, fresh leader with extraordinary charm and nimble feet would be able to suddenly get the deal

across the line is mistaken. "It's nothing to do with the individual, it is that people disagree deeply over Brexit." RELATED ARTICLES 9.03AM UPDATE: BREXITEERS ALTERNATIVE

BREXIT PLAN GETS BOOST  Theresa May has asked officials to relook at the Brexiteers plan for an ‘alternative arrangements’ model.  The Malthouse Compromise, which is being championed by

Conservative lawmakers from the party's pro and anti-EU wings, urges May to drop plans for a backstop.  8.32AM UPDATES: TALKS TO RESUME BETWEEN TORY AND LABOUR MPS Talks between

ministers and Labour frontbenchers will begin again in the Cabinet Office after the Easter break  8.18AM UPDATE: BREXIT PARTY UNVEILS SECRET WEAPON TO ATTRACT LABOUR SUPPORTERS Nigel Farage

has signed up an ex-Communist to run for his new Brexit Party as he promises to win millions of voters from Labour. The former Ukip leader has enlisted the help of BBC pundit Claire Fox to

spearhead his push to claim seats in the upcoming European elections