27 EU leaders meet without Britain for first time
Corbyn faces leadership challenge after news 172 MPs fail to back him
Nicola Sturgeon in Brussels for meeting with Juncker
Ed Miliband says Corbyn should stand down
9.32pm BST
• Angela Eagle is expected to launch a bid for the Labour leadership on Thursday as Jeremy Corbyn continues to resist intense pressure to resign, including from his deputy.
She is expected to pledge to reunify the fractured party, which has been locked in a vicious internal battle since the weekend, when Corbyn sacked his shadow foreign secretary, Hilary Benn, for plotting against him.
“We’ve got the numbers, we’ve got the big hitters, it will probably be tomorrow afternoon,” said an ally of Eagle, the former shadow business secretary.
• In the first hint that European leaders may be willing to discuss changes to the EU’s existing freedom of movement rules as part of a new relationship with the UK, the French finance minister Michel Sapin has said everything will be on the table in the future talks with the UK, including freedom of movement.
His softer line contrasted with the tone emerging from European leaders at the summit, including French president François Hollande who stressed the UK could not expect to have access to the single market if it did not accept freedom of movement.
9.21pm BST
The Labour leader was in defiant form as he addressed core supporters on the steps of a London university this evening and made it clear that he is not for turning, reports Jessica Elgot, who has filed this dispatch:
Corbyn, arriving shortly after 8.30pm, was mobbed by a crowd of supporters as he stepped out of the car with his new shadow health secretary Diane Abbott. In his speech, which ranged from housing policy to climate change, he closed by making it clear he felt a duty to continue despite overwhelming opposition.
“I have done my best over this year to develop the policy changes we want and to reach out to people in the way we want and I recognise there are many people in the party who may not completely agree with the direction I want to take us, but I also recognise the mandate given by hundreds of thousands of ordinary people joining in a political process,” he said.
9.15pm BST
That statement earlier from Labour affiliated unions backing Corbyn is being digested now, but does it stop short of being backing of the full-throated variety?
The way the last section is phrased in particular is interesting:
His position cannot and should not be challenged except through the proper democratic procedures provided for in the Party’s constitution.
We urge all Labour MPs to abide by those procedures, and to respect the authority of the Party’s Leader.
While we have stated that we believe a Leadership election would be an unwelcome distraction at this time of crisis, if one nevertheless occurs through the proper procedures we would expect all parts of the Party to honour the result and pull together in the interests of the country, and working people in particular.
Glad to see my Union backing Corbyn. https://t.co/pOd999w3NP
All very confusing. Does the Trade Union movement actually (still) believe Corbyn would win a general election? https://t.co/fnALgOUXsM
8.46pm BST
To applause, Corbyn concludes defiantly: “I am very proud to be carrying on with that work.”
8.43pm BST
I have done my best over this year to develop policy changes and reach out, Corbyn says, although he adds that he recognises that there may be people who do not agree with the direction he has taken.
There are millions in Britain and many more across the world - he refers to Europe and the US - who are crying out for a new political direction rather than “economic orthodoxy”.
8.38pm BST
It wasn’t his wish that Britain leaves the EU, Corbyn tells the crowd, adding that he is appalled by the rise in racism over the past few days
The vote last week was a vote of anger and desperation, he says. There’s applause when he links the vote to the destruction of heavy industries.
8.35pm BST
Here’s a Periscope of Corbyn’s address
Corbyn livestream from outside @SOAS https://t.co/22ZQU3ilpE
8.33pm BST
Jeremy Corby has arrived at the Momentum rally in central London, where the crowd has grown and may number up to 400 now, reports Jessica Elgot.
Corbyn is here now, crowd has grown quite a bit. Told reporters as he came in he is "very well, thanks" pic.twitter.com/S7hW9vooCm
8.23pm BST
The Brexit campaign’s biggest financial donor has said he is considering backing a new political party taking in members of Ukip, Labour and the Conservatives.
In a sign that the referendum aftershocks already rocking the Conservative and Labour parties could be spreading to Ukip, the insurance multi-millionaire and Ukip funder Arron Banks criticised the party’s growth and proposed harnessing Brexit support in a new party.
I think we have a good shot at taking over from Labour as the opposition because Labour are imploding and Labour voters for the first time ever have defied their party, voting for leave.
8.13pm BST
The Labour leader has received the backing of the 10 big affiliated labour unions, reports Michael Crick of Channel 4 News.
He reports that the unions said Corbyn’s position could not and should not be challenged except through proper and democratic procedures provided for in the party’s constitution.
Statement from ten big Labour Party backing Corbyn in his job, but not in very effusive terms pic.twitter.com/0Klb1Hby7H
8.08pm BST
John McDonnell has described a meeting of the Labour parliamentary party as “like a lynch mob without a rope,” reports the Guardian’s Jessica Elgot, who was listening to the shadow chancellor earlier as he addressed a London rally organised by Momentum, the grouping set up by supporters of Jeremy Corbyn.
McDonnell told the rally:
The parliamentary Labour party meeting was not a meeting to enjoy, it was like a lynch mob without a rope.
MP after MP urged Jeremy to resign on the basis that we could not win an election with him in office. The irony is we were welcoming the winner of the Tooting byelection who doubled her majority.
By far the biggest cheer is when McDonnell says Corbyn leadership will stop any more "military escapades"
7.47pm BST
Heather Stewart has news of tomorrow’s Angela Eagle bid
Angela Eagle is expected to launch a bid for the Labour leadership on Thursday morning as Jeremy Corbyn continues to resist intense pressure to resign, including from his deputy.
She is expected to pledge to reunify the fractured party, which has been locked in a vicious internal battle since the weekend, when Corbyn sacked his shadow foreign secretary, Hilary Benn, for criticising his leadership.
7.44pm BST
John McDonnell, Jeremy Corbyn’s closest ally in the Labour party, has been addressing an event in support of the Labour leader in central London this evening.
Well done to all the young activists who put together tonight's #KeepCorbyn event at such short notice. pic.twitter.com/S1jPyESOrp
7.41pm BST
Jeremy Corbyn has been a “pretty awful” Labour leader but the state of the party is hardly his fault, writes the Guardian’s John Harris in a piece that makes for bleak but important reading for anyone who cares about Labour or even the broader British political left.
The party as it has been known may well be finished, he adds:
On one side is the current leader and a small band of leftist diehards, backed by an energetic, well-drilled movement but devoid of any coherent project and out of touch with the voters who have just defied the party in their droves.
On the other is a counter-revolution led by MPs who mostly failed to see this crisis coming, have very few worthwhile ideas themselves, and are a big part of the reason the Brexit revolt happened in the first place. As the activist Neal Lawson says, the choice is essentially between different captains of the Titanic, and therefore is no choice at all.
In a cruel twist of fate, the spectre of the sainted Tony Benn hangs over the whole grim drama: he was the guru of the leftwing anti-EU position we now call Lexit, but also the man who endlessly pushed the idea that activists should have the whip hand over parliamentarians.
7.23pm BST
Angela Eagle, the former shadow business secretary, is going to launch her Labour leadership challenge tomorrow morning.
Angela Eagle likely to launch her leadership bid tomorrow, I understand. An ally tells me "we have the numbers, we have the big hitters".
7.05pm BST
Here’s John Crace’s sketch of today’s prime minister’s questions in the House of Commons, which he describes as a match between “two dead men walking who would have rather been anywhere but in the House of Commons”:
One went down with some dignity. The other just went down.
Not even the 40 members of the parliamentary Labour party who apparently do still have confidence in Jeremy Corbyn could be bothered to raise a cheer when he stood at the dispatch box for prime minister’s questions.
6.57pm BST
A Guardian debate about the future of the UK is about to get under way at 7pm. Here’s a link to the livestream (Hashtag #guardianlive).
Taking part in the discussion will be the Guardian’s political editor Anushka Asthana, Guardian journalists John Harris and Gary Younge, writer and broadcaster Paul Mason, and our chair for the evening, the Guardian’s Jonathan Freedland.
6.54pm BST
The National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) has written to David Cameron seeking reassurance about the status of EU nationals currently studying at schools in the UK, reports the Guardian’s Richard Adams.
The open letter to the prime minister says:
School leaders are reporting to us that some of their young students are worrying about their future.
Pupils are worried about being forced to leave Britain. They are fearful of a potential rise in racism and community conflict. They are concerned about their prospects in an uncertain and isolated Britain.
6.37pm BST
John McDonnell has said Jeremy Corbyn is “not going anywhere” and has called on those opposing the Labour leader to “calm down”.
“Unfortunately a number of MPs are tearing the party apart,” the shadow chancellor said in a Sky News interview in the last half an hour, in which he named Tom Watson and Angela Eagle as likely challengers.
.@johnmcdonnellMP says if there's a Labour leadership contest Jeremy Corbyn could win it https://t.co/AEEJmPmaGl https://t.co/sIiqutqQvl
6.14pm BST
Tom Watson, Labour’s deputy leader, told the BBC that he tried to tell Jeremy Corbyn to resign, but Corbyn would not discuss it with him.
I’m afraid Jeremy was not willing to discuss that with me. I’m assuming that he remains in office. That’s where the situation stands.
I just think he feels very strongly that he has that mandate from the members. He holds less weight on parliamentary politics, and that’s where he is. He’s obviously been told to stay by John McDonnell and his team, and they’ve decided they’re going to tough this out. It looks like the Labour party is heading for some kind of contested election.
6.09pm BST
The journalist Paul Mason says the EU leaders beefed up the draft of the communique they issued at the end of their “EU27” meeting today (the one Britain was not invited to) to make it clear they they will fight any attempt by David Cameron’s successor to try to get access to the single market while not allowing free movement.
News: EU Council statement said to insist "access to single market requires acceptance of all four freedoms" - free movement for EEA status
News: EU Council also to insist no negotiations of any kind without A50 and firmed up wording to make that categoric from earlier draft
The EUCO “all four freedoms” line is not for show. I seen draft and it was an addition. It means they are determined for showdown w Boris
6.03pm BST
Ken Livingstone has announced he has given up his seat on Labour’s national executive committee. He was not able attend because he was suspended, and he will be replaced by another Corbynite.
This could be significant if the NEC ends up having to rule on matters relating to the expected leadership contest, such was whether or not Jeremy Corbyn needs the backing of 50 MPs and MEPs to stand.
I'm standing down from Labour's NEC as my suspension stops me attending.
Another supporter of Jeremy Corbyn, Darren Williams, takes my place
5.58pm BST
BBC2’s Newsnight has contacted 50 constituency Labour party chairs and secretaries who backed Jeremy Corbyn last year. Of those, 45 still support Corbyn. “Many we spoke to were nothing short of incensed at the antics of the party’s MPs,” Newsnight’s Lewis Goodall writes.
5.54pm BST
These are from the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg.
Tom Watson is saying that he won’t stand against Jeremy Corbyn, but that there will be a contest. That means it will almost certainly be Corbyn v Angela Eagle (assuming Corbyn continues to refuse to resign).
Breaking - Tom Watson tells me Corbyn has to go but he is unwilling to quit
Watson tells me he won't stand but there will be leadership election
Watson says he's been trying to reach a 'negotiated settlement' today to persuade COrbyn to go
Watson tells me he believes it's John McDonnell who is preventing Corbyn from quitting
5.39pm BST
The Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale told Jeremy Corbyn she would take on the vacant post as shadow Scottish secretary on Labour’s cabinet in a bid to fill the vacuum left by Ian Murray’s resignation on Sunday, party sources have told the Guardian.
With further announcements on Corbyn’s shadow cabinet thought to be imminent, the post is one of a handful which Corbyn has yet to fill. The disclosures from party sources shed further light on the cause of the delay replacing Murray – the only Labour MP left in Scotland.
5.32pm BST
Sarah Vine’s leaked email (see 4.41pm) is short, and there is very little detail or context in it, but nevertheless it is hugely revealing. Here is a paragraph-by-paragraph snap analysis.
Very important that we focus on the individual obstacles and thoroughly overcome them before moving to the next. I really think Michael needs to have a Henry or a Beth with him for this morning’s crucial meetings.
One simple message: You MUST have SPECIFIC assurances from Boris OTHERWISE you cannot guarantee your support. The details can be worked out later on, but without that you have no leverage.
Crucially, the membership will not have the necessary reassurance to back Boris, neither will Dacre/Murdoch, who instinctively dislike Boris but trust your ability enough to support a Boris Gove ticket.
Do not concede any ground. Be your stubborn best.
GOOD LUCK.
4.41pm BST
Sky News has got a cracking story. It has got hold of an email that Sarah Vine, Michael Gove’s wife, sent to Gove, and copied to his aides, saying that he had to insist on getting assurances from Boris Johnson before committing to backing him.
Here is the story.
Very important that we focus on the individual obstacles and thoroughly overcome them before moving to the next. I really think Michael needs to have a Henry or a Beth with him for this morning’s crucial meetings.
One simple message: You MUST have SPECIFIC assurances from Boris OTHERWISE you cannot guarantee your support. The details can be worked out later on, but without that you have no leverage.
4.38pm BST
Ed Miliband has written a letter to Labour members in his constituency, which he has posted on Facebook, explaining why he is calling on Jeremy Corbyn to resign. Here’s an extract.
I understand my position will upset some party members. Some who support Jeremy and some who fear this is a distraction from the crisis the country faces. To supporters of Jeremy, my candid view is that a progressive, Left agenda is more likely to be taken forward in a united Labour party, not a wrecked, divided party. And to those who worry about distraction, we cannot function as an effective Opposition in the current circumstances.
Jeremy has had a profound and lasting influence on the debate about who we are as a party and the causes we need to fight for. I know he is someone who cares deeply about those causes, our party and our country. I hope he will reflect on how he can best serve this agenda at this critical moment for Britain and the Labour party.
4.25pm BST
Here is Nicola Sturgeon in Brussels saying Scotland is determined to stay in the EU.
4.23pm BST
The Lib Dems say more than 10,000 people have joined the party since the Brexit vote last week. The Lib Dems are the only main party committed to going into the next election calling for Britain to stay in the EU. The Lib Dem leader, Tim Farron, said:
People can also see the Labour leadership did not put their back into the fight – when history called they did not step up to the mark.
As the other two parties fight among themselves, people are starting to recognise that only the Liberal Democrats are fighting for their European future.
4.17pm BST
This is from ITV’s Chris Ship.
NEW: Just been told Corbyn has said in the last day he wants out, he's had enough. But his Dir of Comms @SeumasMilne told him he should stay
4.16pm BST
Andrew Tyrie, the Conservative MP who chairs the Commons Treasury committee, has said the government should not trigger article 50 (to start the two-year EU withdrawal process) until it has settled its negotiating position. He said:
The UK’s negotiating position has yet to be established. Article 50 should not be triggered until it has been.
A crucial task is to identify the maximum level of EU market access, consistent with the need for some control on migration. Work must also be done to identify not just the risks of leaving, some of which are becoming apparent, but also the opportunities. The committee’s first hearing [yesterday] took some evidence on both.
4.08pm BST
Labour rebels keen to oust Jeremy Corbyn are investigating whether they would have a legal case for using the party’s name if they formed a breakaway group in parliament, and have set up a website to try to gain support of “moderate” members, my colleague Heather Stewart reports.
Related: Anti-Corbyn Labour MPs investigate party name ownership
4.06pm BST
Alexis Tsipras, the Greek prime minister and leader of the radical Syriza party, has offered Jeremy Corbyn his support.
I spoke earlier with @jeremycorbyn to express my solidarity for his country’s difficult moments. 1/2
Those responsible for the divisive and eurosceptic rhetoric cannot blame the progressive forces. 2/2
4.02pm BST
Tonight the Guardian is hosting a debate about Brexit, featuring the Guardian’s political editor Anushka Asthana, Guardian journalists John Harris and Gary Younge, and writer and broadcaster Paul Mason. It will be chaired by the Guardian’s Jonathan Freedland.
There will be a live feed here.
Related: Guardian Brexit debate livestream: what happens next?
3.56pm BST
Following the resignation of the former Bank of England policy maker and US-based economics professor David Blanchflower from Labour’s economic advisory panel yesterday and the French economist Thomas Piketty’s today (see 10.05am), all the remaining members bar the US Nobel prize winner Joseph Stiglitz have issued a statement to say they will be continuing to offer their services to the party, whichever leader is in post.
But they also criticise Jeremy Corbyn’s performance during the EU referendum.
In September 2015, we were pleased to accept the invitation to serve on an Economic Advisory Council (EAC). We felt strongly that it represented an opportunity to develop a vision of a progressive economic policy for Britain that departed from the destructive austerity narrative. Our collective view is that the EAC, and its various policy review groups, has indeed had a positive influence on the development of Labour’s economic policy, and we hope it continues whatever the result of current divisions.
We have always seen this body as providing advice to the Labour party as a whole, and not as an endorsement of particular individuals within it. For example we all share the view that the EU referendum result is a major disaster for the UK, and we have felt unhappy that the Labour leadership has not campaigned more strongly to avoid this outcome. We believe it is now crucial to find a way to resolve the economic and political impasse with the EU in a way that brings the least damage possible to the UK economy and those of our neighbours. We will be honoured to advise the Labour party in the future, should our advice be sought once the current situation is resolved.
3.48pm BST
Jeremy Corbyn has been visiting the Polish Cultural Centre in Hammersmith, where xenophobic graffiti was scrawled on the doors at the weekend. He recorded a clip for broadcasters denouncing racism but, when a reporter tried to ask him about the leadership, he refused to answer and an aide pulled him away.
Niall Sookoo, Unite veteran who works in leader's office, physically grabs Corbyn away from media. Amazing pic pic.twitter.com/HuFX1dcC3B
3.42pm BST
This is from ITV’s Robert Peston.
I am told GMB and Unite both about to come out in support of @jeremycorbyn. & they call on Labour MPs to behave as effective opposition
3.36pm BST
Here is the latest from reporters following the Labour story minute by minute.
From the BBC’s Vicki Young
Been told that Lab Dep leader Tom Watson is meeting Jeremy Corbyn. Majority of MPs and MEPs urging him to stand down #labour
Labour MP: it's at a v delicate stage by we're still trying to get Jeremy Corbyn to resign rather than challenge him
I hear that even Jeremy Corbyn's team are now urging him to quit - but so far without success ...
Some Labour MPs believe Corbyn clinging on to respond to Chilcot next week, apologise on behalf of Lab & call for Blair war crimes trial.
Hearing Watson and Eagle are about to meet at 3.30 but cancelled two earlier meetings as they can't agree who should be unity candidate...
Allies of Eagle fear that Tom Watson will unilaterally declare himself as candidate....
3.31pm BST
Trade unions leaders have been meeting this afternoon to discuss the Labour leadership situation. Channel 4 News’s Michael Crick says they will put out a statement but that it will be non-committal.
Big 4 TU statement on Corbyn, I'm told, "not likely to be earth-shattering" but "nobody should see it as endorsement of anyone's position"
3.18pm BST
The leading Brexiter and Northern Ireland secretary, Theresa Villiers, warned today that the region won’t be able to attain special status with Brussels once the entire UK leaves the EU.
Ahead of a meeting with the Irish foreign minister, Charlie Flanagan, later on Wednesday, Villiers dismissed suggestions that both Northern Ireland and Scotland – the two UK regions that voted in favour of remain – could have a different relationship to the EU compared with the rest of the UK.
The EU rules are very clear – membership is at member state level, it’s a national question. This decision has been made – the people of the UK have voted to leave the EU. That decision is going to be respected. That’s what the government will take forward.
3.03pm BST
Obviously we can say that all rights are guaranteed as we’re members of the European Union. In the future we will have to make sure, and I’ve heard members of the Leave campaign make this point, that people who are already here, people who are already studying, people who are working, must have their rights and their access guaranteed. But we can’t say that now, we have to say that as part of the negotiation that will shortly take place.
Do you also accept that such was the importance of free movement of people in the referendum that any future deal reached with our European partners that does include free movement would be regarded as a betrayal by millions of people who voted to leave?
I’m in no doubt that this is the difficult issue. Frankly, it’s a difficult issue inside the EU, where you’ve got all the negotiating ability to try and change things, and I think it will be in many ways even more difficult from outside if you want full access to the single market to secure changes.
These attacks are appalling and they need to stop and it’s right everyone in this house and everyone on all sides of the referendum debate utterly condemns them. That’s not what we do in Britain.
Let me say I reassured prime ministers of countries, such as Romania, Poland and the Czech Republic, who are concerned about this issue at the meeting we had last night.
For those of you who don’t know much about me, I was born in Scotland, grew for a short time there but mainly in Wales; I had a fabulous education at a really good comprehensive school across the road from the council house where I lived; I had an amazing role model in a mother who overcame massive difficulties and worked incredibly hard for us; she took us to the public library every Saturday where I soaked up books and learning; I worked every week from the age of 12 – starting at the local corner shop, graduating to the Tesco shop floor, and paid my way through university working on building sites in various parts of the country.
Now I count myself very blessed to have had the upbringing I did. I was brought up to believe no-one was better than me and I was no better than anyone else. I was brought up to believe that no-one is a self-made man or woman – we are all shaped and formed by our families and communities. And I was brought up to understand that nothing gets handed to you on a plate. On the rainy rugby fields of West Wales I learnt that it’s not a question of just waiting for the ball to pop out from the back of the scrum. If you want it, you do what’s required.
Two Boris burns from Crabb: https://t.co/Oxgw8iImny pic.twitter.com/A6DOwoMtqH
2.48pm BST
In the Commons the SNP’s Pete Wishart has just used a point of order to say the SNP should now be treated as the official opposition because Jeremy Corbyn does not have the confidence of most Labour MPs. But John Bercow, the Speaker, said that Labour was still the official opposition.
2.36pm BST
This is from ITV’s Robert Peston.
I am told 13,000 people joined Labour last week, with 60% giving the reason they are "supporting Corbyn".... https://t.co/TGNzled4cA
2.29pm BST
But Sir Alan Duncan, the Conservative former international development minister, asked David Cameron at PMQs to “compare the undemonstrative competence and dignity of Angela Merkel with the theatrical and comical antics of Silvio Boris-coni”.
So we can put him down as a Theresa May supporter.
2.25pm BST
The Conservative MP David Davis, David Cameron’s main rival for the Tory leadership in 2005, has told the Daily Politics that he is backing Boris Johnson.
The biggest issue in front of us for the next several years is going to be managing Brexit, bringing about the improvement in our trade position, the control of our borders - all of those things. That needs vision, optimism, energy, drive - Boris has got them.
2.22pm BST
Speaking ahead of his meeting with Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s first minister, later today, Jean-Claude Juncker, the European commission president, played down the prospect of Scotland being able to negotiate Brexit separately with the EU. He said:
I will listen carefully to what the first minister will tell me, but we don’t have the intention – neither Donald [Tusk] nor myself – to interfere in the British process. That is not our duty and not my job.
2.13pm BST
Sky’s Jon Craig says Jeremy Corbyn has told him he will “definitely” be on the ballot paper for the forthcoming Labour leadership contest.
In other words, he is not resigning.
Spoke to a defiant Jeremy Corbyn. Says he will "definitely" be on ballot paper & described David Cameron's end-of-PMQs attack as "Flashman!"
1.52pm BST
This is what Ed Miliband told the World at One about why he thinks Jeremy Corbyn should now resign.
We in the Labour party need to think about the country. I’ve supported Jeremy Corbyn all the way along, from the moment he was elected. It was the right thing to do. I think a lot of what he stands for is very important for us going forward. But I’ve reluctantly reached a conclusion that his position is untenable …
The question, then, for him, is what’s the right thing for the country, and for the party, and for the causes he cares about? I’m not a Blairite. I’ve never been called a Blairite. I’m not a plotter. I’m somebody who cares deeply about this country, deeply about my party, and deeply about the causes that I think Jeremy and I care about.
1.48pm BST
Here is a Guardian video of the Ukip MP Douglas Carswell being booed at PMQs.
1.47pm BST
In the Commons Cameron is still answering questions.
Labour’s Chris Bryant says Cameron should “take control”. He says Cameron should pass emergency legislation to make it clear that EU nationals can stay in the UK, so that they don’t have to put up with people saying they will be sent home. And he says Cameron could set up a royal commission, to bring the country together and work out what the UK should be lobbying for.
Why Tories will miss Cameron - he's total star at he Despatch Box. Here he quotes The Smith's while musing on future pic.twitter.com/69BokhNop4
1.47pm BST
Cornwall has come in for criticism for calling for the level of funding it was due to receive from the EU to be maintained – though its people voted out.
The Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership has just published a blog explaining itself and also pointing out that it has made plans up to 2030 based on funding it expected to receive from the EU.
We and Cornwall council have been criticised in some quarters for trying to safeguard our allocation of funding. Cornwall did, after all, vote to leave the EU by 56.5% to 43.5%, a majority of some 42,000 people. We’ve bitten the hand that feeds us, critics say. We can’t have our cake and eat it.
But we make no apology for fighting our corner. It has long been accepted that Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly have a weak economy when compared to the rest of Europe and should therefore receive extra support. That’s why we have qualified for EU funding programmes since 1999 because Brussels and successive UK governments have recognised our very real economic needs.
1.38pm BST
What might be described as the “EU27” summit (the meeting of all EU countries apart from Britain) has now concluded. Afterwards Donald Tusk, the European council president, said all 27 leaders had agreed that Britain would have to accept freedom of movement if it wanted to maintain access to the single market as a non-member.
Leaders made it crystal clear that access to the single market requires acceptance of all four freedoms – including freedom of movement. There will be no single market a la carte.
1.29pm BST
Gordon Brown, the former prime minister, has also now made it clear that he thinks Jeremy Corbyn should resign. He told Sky News: “I don’t think Corbyn’s going to stay, he’s going to go. He knows the parliamentary party have no faith in him.”
Earlier, at the Institute for Public Policy Research Scotland event in Edinburgh, where he expanded on his Guardian essay on the Brexit vote and globalisation, Brown was a bit more guarded when asked about Corbyn. But he implied that Corbyn was unsuitable because he was not interested in power.
The real issue comes down to whether we decide we’re a party of power and not a party of protest and that means a party of power with principles, with leadership implementing in practice the biggest issue we have to face up to, the issues of how we manage and maintain globalisation in future.
Gordon Brown: "Jeremy Corbyn will probably go" #labour
Gordon Brown to @SkyNews: "I don't think J Corbyn's going to stay, he's going to go.He knows parliamentary party have no faith in him."
1.21pm BST
Miliband condemns the rise in racism and hate crime since the Brexit vote. He condemns Nigel Farage for not treating the problem seriously, and says all politicians must unite to deal with this.
1.18pm BST
On the World at One Ed Miliband, Jeremy Corbyn’s predecessor, has said that he thinks Corbyn’s position is now untenable. Corbyn should resign, he says.
Ed Miliband insists Corbyn must go: "More than any time I can remember this is a time we should be thinking of the interests of the country"
1.14pm BST
The Labour MP Yvette Cooper says that during PMQs, Cameron could not guarantee that EU nationals here now would be able to stay. She says in the light of the abuse that EU nationals are getting, and the fact that people are telling them they will have to go home, the Commons should pass legislation now guaranteeing that they will be able to stay.
Cameron says he was just trying to set out the position. He says there have been assurances that EU nationals will be able to stay, but the final decision will have to be taken by his successor.
1.10pm BST
Crispin Blunt, the chair of the Commons foreign affairs committee, asks if Cameron agrees with one of the proposals in a recent report from the committee. It suggested that the UK could have a World Trade Organisation-type relationship with the EU.
He says he did see that. He says he is not free yet to say what he thinks, but that a place in London near to Dagenham comes to mind (Barking).
PM all but calls Crispin Blunt FSC report suggesting WTO outcome 'barking' - 12% car tariffs and 10% on clothes. Looks furious.
1.03pm BST
Angus Robertson, the SNP leader in Westminster, says Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s first minister, is in Brussels today meeting key figures.
He says there is cross-party support for this at Holyrood. He says Sturgeon wants to protect Scotland’s relationship with the EU, and its place in the single market.
President @JunckerEU will meet the First Minister of #Scotland @NicolaSturgeon today at 17.00h in the @EU_Commission.
12.56pm BST
Cameron is responding to Corbyn.
He says he is glad there was a mature discussion last night.
12.51pm BST
Corbyn is responding to Cameron now.
He says he is glad that Cameron adopted a more conciliatory approach than Nigel Farage did yesterday.
12.47pm BST
Cameron is now making a statement on the EU summit.
He says the tone of the meeting was one of sadness and regret. But there was agreement that the decision of the British people must be respected.
12.42pm BST
Bullying, intimidation, harassment and death threats have been “unleashed against MPs from the right to the left of the party”, according to Lisa Nandy, who stepped down as shadow energy secretary yesterday.
Writing in the Guardian she warned against her party being “smashed apart by a polarised, toxic, angry battle” that is silencing the sensible majority.
Related: Labour must unite and face the country, or die | Lisa Nandy
12.39pm BST
James Berry, a Conservative, asks for a reassurance that EU citizens in the UK have a secure future here.
Cameron says the first thing to do is to tell them their contribution is welcomed. He says at the moment all their rights are guaranteed. We are still members of the EU. He says the leave campaigners said EU nationals would be entitled to stay. But the government is not in a position to offer a guarantee now, because the negotiations have not taken place.
12.36pm BST
Angela Eagle in deep conversation between benches with Corbyn's PPS Steve Rotherham.Surely not discussing her leadership bid in the chamber!
Corbyn chatting with Clive Lewis, across Watson (who chuckled at Gapes Q about Khan being a "Labour winner"), is kinda awks. #pmqs
MPs Corbyn had a conversation with during #PMQs: Kate Osamor, Clive Lewis, Dennis Skinner.
MPs he's not talking to: Tom Watson.
12.34pm BST
Labour’s Paul Blomfield says those leading the leave campaign gave promises that no region would leave out from leaving the EU. Will Cameron ensure those promises are kept?
Cameron says a future government will have to look at this. There will be challenges, he says.
12.31pm BST
Bernard Jenkin, a Conservative, asks Cameron to condemn Nigel Farage, and what he said in the European parliament yesterday.
Cameron says he has made his views about Farage clear. He says Farage’s “Breaking Point” poster was appalling. It was clear what Farage was trying to do with it, he says.
12.28pm BST
Cameron v Corbyn - Snap verdict: Ironically, that was one of Corbyn’s best PMQs performances for some time. There was some irony in hearing Corbyn ask about the economic damage caused by the Brexit vote - because during the campaign he suggested that George Osborne’s warnings about the economic impact of Brexit were exaggerated and implausible - but he asked direct, pertinent questions, and obtained relatively informative, interesting replies. It was only towards the end that Corbyn broadened it out, and asked two questions attacking Cameron’s record more generally. At this point Cameron’s real feelings started to show. He criticised Corbyn for not doing enough to campaign for a remain vote (echoing a point made by many in the Labour party) and then he let rip at the end with a soundbite with vague echoes of Leo Amery in the Norway debate (quoting Cromwell to the Rump Parliament): “You have sat too long here for any good you have been doing. Depart, I say, and let us have done with you. In the name of God, go.” (That was Amery, of course; Cameron’s was a diluted version.) In the light of the fact that Corbyn was better than usual today, this pre-cooked barb was a little undeserved, but that won’t stop it sounding effective when he appears on the TV news.
12.17pm BST
Corbyn says the vote last week was against the status quo. Cameron has two months left. Will he leave a one nation legacy?
Cameron says it is complete nonsense to pretend the vote was about the state of the economy. We all have to take responsibility for the vote, he says. He says Corbyn says he put his back into it. He would hate to see what it is like when Corbyn is not trying.
I would say, for heaven’s sake man, go.
12.13pm BST
Corbyn asks if Cameron will consider suspending the fiscal surplus rule which prevents investment taking place.
Cameron says he does not think that would be the right approach.
12.09pm BST
Jeremy Corbyn also expresses support for the victims of the Turkish attack. And he says MPs should pay tribute to Lord Mayhew, who died at the weekend, for all he did during the peace process.
He says people are worried about insecurity. What meetings has the chancellor had with major companies to address the concerns generated by the Brexit vote?
There are going to be some choppy waters ahead.
12.05pm BST
Cameron says at last night’s dinner the French president mentioned the Somme commemorations.
12.04pm BST
The Lib Dem MP Alistair Carmichael pays tribute to Cameron for his service to the country. Before he goes, though, will he reconstitute the Gibson inquiry into rendition by the security services.
Cameron says the CPS investigated recently, and decided there were no grounds for a prosecution. He says the right approach is for the intelligence and security committee to look into these matters.
12.02pm BST
David Cameron starts by offering support to the victims of the Turkish airport attack.
He also says he will be taking part in a commemoration for the centenary of the Battle of The Somme.
12.01pm BST
Tom Watson smiles at Corbyn, says what from a distance seem to be a few friendly words as the Labour leader sits next to him #PMQs
PMQs. Jeremy Corbyn enters the Commons. Not even a single cheer. Labour MPs continue chatting among themselves
11.59am BST
PMQs is about to start.
This will be one of the most peculiar PMQs for years. Because of the binary nature of politics, when either the prime minister or leader of the opposition is struggling, the other one is generally on the up. To have both of them on the brink of departure is highly unusual.
11.53am BST
Gordon Brown, the former prime minister, has delivered a major speech on Brexit in Scotland this morning.
To understand the causes of the anti-establishment rebellion we should set up an all-party commission that brings in people with much to contribute from all over the world and usher in a national conversation on all aspects of globalisation. The aim should be to make globalisation work for the British people in an inclusive and fair way, asking how we can take new measures – to raise skills, to compete in new areas, to help the low paid, to increase the supply of jobs, to relieve communities under pressure – and thus respond to the insecurities that globalisation can bring. This is the central economic issue of our times. Given that we are trying to address the concerns of people who feel left behind by global change we should encourage a national conversation on global change that includes that immigration brings great benefits but has to be managed.
To narrow the areas of uncertainty on our trading relationships we must not only investigate all the main options for our continued relations with Europe while outside the EU – the Norway, Swiss and WTO options, and I believe we should favour the Norway option – that as part of the EEA we retain membership of the single market, but that we investigate the protocol and use of the EEA’s safeguard clause for managing immigration.
Gordon Brown insists "myth" that Labour voters delivered #Brexit needs challenged: proper perspective needed as right wing Tories to blame
11.45am BST
And Emma Lewell-Buck has announced she is resigning as a shadow communities minister.
Today I'm stepping down as Shadow Minister heartbroken at state of Party & recent events so sorry things have came to this, statement later
11.41am BST
Harriet Harman, the former Labour deputy leader, has joined those calling on Jeremy Corbyn to resign. These are from the BBC’s Laura Kuennsberg.
Harriet Harman urges Corbyn to go
Harman - 'Jeremy has no right or mandate to stay in office despite his failure and take the party down with him'
Significant particularly because as former dep and acting leader Harman has always stayed neutral on leadership
11.36am BST
In these peculiar times it would not be a normal day if we got to lunchtime and had not had a Labour resignation. Today’s has arrived. Pat Glass is resigning from her post as shadow education secretary – a job she only took up on Monday.
It is with a heavy heart that I have today resigned as Shadow SoS Education. My dream job but the situation is untenable
11.24am BST
Q: Do you think you could seriously go to 2020 without having an election? You would need a mandate, wouldn’t you?
Crabb says the government got a mandate last year. The answer to instability is not more instability. There is plenty of work to be done to take the government through to the end of the parliament.
11.18am BST
Crabb is now taking questions.
Q: Would you trigger article 50 as soon as you became prime minister and hold an early general election?
11.13am BST
Crabb says the UK must always become the best country in the world at doing global trade.
He says there can be no continuity remain campaign to subvert the result of the referendum.
11.09am BST
Crabb is now addressing what to do about Brexit.
He says he is opposed to a second referendum. The answer to uncertainty is not more uncertainty, he says.
11.07am BST
Crabb says he is running with Sajid Javid, who would be his chancellor.
And he says Jeremy Wright, his attorney general, is his campaign manager.
11.06am BST
Stephen Crabb, the work and pensions secretary, is now announcing his leadership bid at a news conference.
He says he is standing because he wants to unite the country. He was struck by how much division the referendum revealed, he says.
11.01am BST
Eighty Labour party members in Scotland have signed an open letter criticising Ian Murray for resigning as shadow Scottish secretary. Murray is one of the numerous Labour MPs who has quit the frontbench because he no longer has confidence in Jeremy Corbyn.
The letter says:
We are absolutely astonished that you have chosen this moment to put factional party politics over getting the best outcome for the people of Scotland …
With the Conservative party in chaos this was the moment for Labour to grasp hold of the political agenda, and to reach out to those who voted for Brexit out of desperation, with a positive vision of an anti-austerity socialist government committed to solving the housing problem, reindustrialising, funding the NHS and supporting trade unions, migrants and the whole working class.
10.55am BST
Stephen Crabb, the work and pensions secretary, is holding a press conference this morning – presumably to announce his leadership bid (although the op note sent out in advance did not say that.)
But he is running late, which is never a good start.
Waiting for Stephen Crabb to launch his Tory leadership bid. Small room for man with big ambition. pic.twitter.com/CyMQ5S8IrQ
Stephen Crabb now 35 mins late. Concern growing that he's done a George Freeman
Work and Pensions Secretary Stephen Crabb 30 minutes late for own launch. Perhaps he should be sanctioned
10.51am BST
Jeremy Corbyn is expecting a leadership challenge, but who the challenger will be remains unresolved.
These are from Huffington Post’s Paul Waugh.
Labour coup important update: I'm told Watson and Eagle in an uneasy standoff, each wanting the other to back down.
Expect some MPs to come out backing Tom Watson if impasse not resolved
The more MPs look at the logic of the coup the more Tom Watson is seen by some as the only choice. (And he beat Eagle to 4th in dep elxn)
Understand are tensions between Angela Eagle + Tom Watson camps over former's allies doing too much open canvassing for support yesterday
But today is the day when Watson or Eagle emerges as the unity candidate to either take over or challenge Jeremy Corbyn.
Sources tell me that Tom Watson with Jeremy Corbyn now, although that's not confirmed.
Corbyn camp source ramming up the rhetoric: Angela Eagle is the lesser of two Eagles and will get decimated in any leadership race.
10.46am BST
On Monday Chi Onwurah was being tipped by Labour sources as the next shadow business secretary. She has now written a blog saying that she voted against Jeremy Corbyn in the no confidence ballot and explaining why.
Here’s an extract.
I am not going to set out a d