May 'cannot guarantee immigration will be significantly lower after Brexit' - as it happened

And that’s it, the end of a very long day of debate prompted by the handover of that letter in Brussels at lunchtime.

The final trio all made their points passionately, albeit with nothing much to surprise anyone who has seen them speak on the issue before. The one slight point of note is Nuttall’s comment that he disagreed with very little May had to say today. Depending on your view, you could see that as either an indication of where the government now stands on Brexit, or an augury of the difficulties for Ukip in staking out its political ground.

That’s it from me and (for the bulk of the day) Andrew and Jon. Many thanks for reading, and for all your comments.

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We’re now into a mass and – given the political differences on show – relatively friendly debate involving all three leaders. Farron says the narrow margin of victory means May should pursue a “consensual Brexit” which takes into account the views of the 48%.

Bartley points out that neither May nor Corbyn have mentioned the EU’s environmental safeguards. This is, he argues, the most important issue for future generations.

We’re now on to a joint interview with the Liberal Democrat leader, Tim Farron, Ukip’s leader, Paul Nuttall, and the co-leader of the Greens Jonathan Bartley.

They don’t have much time each. Farron argues for a Norway-style continued close link with the EU, which will come as no surprise.

Nuttall is asked what he disagreed with in May’s Brexit plan outlined today. “Very little, actually,” he says.

Bartley says he is a “passionate defender” of freedom of movement in the EU, and says May is pushing an “extreme” Brexit.

And that’s it from Corbyn.

Instant verdict on Corbyn: A much briefer interview, but he set out a view which sounded more coherent than Labour has at some previous times in the Brexit process. No great surprises, but it was interesting to hear Corbyn express a Theresa May-like view on the possible timing of a new Scottish referendum.

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Asked about a second Scottish independence referendum, Corbyn says he does not back independence, but also thinks Westminster should not block the will of the Scottish parliament on this.

But, he adds, there should be “a serious conversation” on when it happens, and it should only happen after the Brexit negotiations.

Corbyn confirms that Labour would vote in parliament against a Brexit deal if it does not meet the party’s six tests. But he says he does not want the UK to leave without a deal, and insists it would be in everyone’s interests to continue the talks.

Asked if he would back a second referendum on a Brexit deal, Corbyn says: “At the moment, no, I wouldn’t.”

Corbyn is being quizzed on Labour’s six “tests” for a successful Brexit, including that a future trade deal brings the same benefits as single market membership. The Labour leader says this was set on the basis that David Davis, the Brexit secretary, promised it, but accepts that the UK cannot stay in the single market or customs union.

And that’s it. Jeremy Corbyn is up next.

Instant verdict on May: It’s fair to say we didn’t learn a vast amount that was new – perhaps not a surprise after the prime minister answered questions from 113 MPs during a marathon session in parliament earlier. May is also a regular and keen avoider of questions she does not want to answer. Possibly the main point was her refusal to say immigration would fall by any significant amount after Brexit.

It’s time now for a question on May’s previous support for remain. “Who is the real Theresa May?” Neil asks.

She responds by saying she has to implement the will of the referendum. She adds: “But I did say that the sky would not fall in if we left the European Union, and it didn’t.”

Neil quizzes May about the “Brexit dividend” – most famously the £350m a week for the NHS (sort of) promised by the leave campaign before the referendum. May declines to say what size of a boost there might be, or where it might be spent, saying only that leaving the EU gives Britain full control of what it spends its money on.

We’re now onto the issue of the UK possibly leaving the EU without a deal. Neil asks May about the section of her Lancaster House Brexit speech about changing the UK’s economic model if that happened – seen as a threat to switch to a low-tax, low-regulation economy.

Asked at least four times what a “new economic model” meant, May avoids any detail each time.

Asked about the two-year timetable to complete negotiations, May says she is confident the deadline can be met. “Both sides realise it is in our interests to get these arrangements in place,” she says. The prime minister argues that the UK is not approaching the issue as a third country, but as an EU member, which will speed up the process.

Asked about a transitional deal, May says what she calls an “implementation period” might be necessary.

Here is a clip of May talking to Andrew Neil about post-Brexit immigration rules.

Asked about continued membership of various EU agencies such as Europol, May says these will be “part of the package of negotiations”. But, she adds, she wants to keep “the degree of cooperation on these matters we have currently”.

Asked about the reciprocal rights of overseas EU nationals in the UK and those of Britons elsewhere in Europe, May says there “is goodwill there” to make a quick deal. “I think we will be able to address this as one of the early things we talk about in the negotiations,” she says.

May is now asked about the idea of an exit fee for Brexit, and the mooted figure of up to £50bn.

She again somewhat dodges the question, saying only that Brexit will bring control over such external spending. May says: “Of course we have to look at the rights and obligations we have as a member of the EU.” She declines more than once to specifically rule out the £50bn figure.

Neil asks if voters can be reassured that immigration post-Brexit will be “significantly lower”.

The prime minister says that after leaving the EU the UK will be able to make its own immigration rules. Neil presses her on whether numbers will change. May does not promise this, saying: “There are so many things in the world which affect the number of people coming to the UK.”

Asked about the government’s pledge to reduce net migration to below 100,000 a year, May says of the current figures: “They are higher than we would want them to be.”

Theresa May says she cannot guarantee immigration will be significantly lower after Brexit.

The BBC1 programme has started, and Andrew Neil asks Theresa May how the country will be made better by Brexit.

May gives a long answer about optimism and control, adding: “I think people voted for change in the country.”