Politics update: Corbyn backs referendum on Brexit deal, as Farage takes seats across the country in EU elections

Brexit party takes seats across the country in EU elections

Nigel Farage’s Brexit party has swept up seats across the country in the European elections, as the Conservatives and Labour lost ground to the far-right party.

The new party, headed up by the former Ukip leader, took seats from the UK’s two biggest parties, gaining 29 seats across the country.

“Never before in British politics has a new party launched just six weeks ago topped the polls in a national election,” Farage said.

After a quiet weekend, Theresa May came out saying the results were a “very disappointing night” for the Tories, adding: “It shows the importance of finding a Brexit deal, and I sincerely hope these results focus minds in parliament.”

Meanwhile, Welsh independence-supporting party Plaid Cymru won a seat in Wales, while the Alliance party, Sinn Féin and the DUP did so in Northern Ireland.

Results in Full – vote share

Brexit Party – 31.6% (+31.6%)

Liberal Democrats – 20.3% (+13.4%)

Labour – 14.1 (-11.3%)

Green – 12.1 (+4.2%)

Conservatives – 9.1% (-14.8%)

SNP – 3.6 (+1.1%)

Change UK – 3.4 (+3.4%)

Tommy Robinson walks out of election count after winning just 2.2% of vote

Controversial figure Tommy Robinson has sneaked out of an European election count in central Manchester after learning his campaign had won only 2.2% of the overall vote.

The former founder of the English Defence League had claimed his supporters would send a message to “treacherous politicians” by electing him to the European parliament, but has now lost his deposit of £5,000 after his campaign crumbled this weekend.

The anti-Islam candidate, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, claimed that the establishment had “arranged and organised” for him to be banned from social media in order to ruin his campaign.

Corbyn back second referendum

Jeremy Corbyn has said that a public vote on any new Brexit deal is needed to break the current parliamentary deadlock, after a loss of Labour voters across the country in EU elections pressured the party leader to confirm his position.

After Last week’s EU elections saw Labour lose 10 seats across the country, with voters likely changing their support over to pro-remain parties, Corbyn said that he was “listening very carefully” to both sides of the Brexit debate.

The Labour leader said that his party preferred the option of a general election, but added that any deal “has to be put to a public vote”.

Corbyn later wrote to MPs: “It is clear that the deadlock in parliament can now only be broken by the issue going back to the people through a general election or a public vote. We are ready to support a public vote on any deal.”

Gove pledges free UK citizenship for EU nationals

Michael Gove will pledge free British citizenship for 3m EU nationals, claiming it would honour the promises made during the 2016 referendum.

The Guardian newspaper reports that the environment secretary will also scrap the need to provide proof of settled status if he becomes prime minister, after the upcoming Tory leadership contest.

Gove has given his backing to Tory backbencher Alberto Costa, who has been pushing for EU citizens’ rights, and has held meetings with several other leadership candidates on the issue.

Meanwhile, fellow Tory Sajid Javid, the home secretary, hsa reportedly not given his support to the campaign. Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Tuesday morning, when asked whether he had approached Javid on the matter, Mr Costa said that he had, adding: “Sajid said ‘no’.”

What the Papers Say

The Times

The Guardian

The Telegraph

Daily Mail

The Sun