PMQs: May unveils her Brexit consolation prizes

Amber Rudd, a washed-up ex-minister last week, is the de facto Brexit secretary today. She revealed her loyalties this morning when she told an interviewer that parliament wouldn’t approve a no-deal agreement. And with no deal off the table, Brussels can dictate terms. Congrats Amber. The Légion d’honneur is on its way. And a peerage too, in all probability, given that Nick Clegg was knighted for opposing Brexit.

Remainer Rudd’s bombshell was raised by Jeremy Corbyn at the start of PMQs. He asked Mrs May to state whether no deal is still an option.

‘I have consistently made clear,’ began the PM, before continuing in deliberately cryptic terms. The alternatives to her deal, she said, are ‘more division’ (perhaps meaning a leadership challenge) or ‘a risk of no Brexit’ (perhaps a threat of a People’s Vote).

‘She didn’t answer the question,’ said Mr Corbyn.

‘Is this the final text,’ he pressed, ‘or is there another text that’s on its way to us?’