17:14

We’ve had a slightly opaque explanation from a No 10 spokeswoman about whether international development secretary Penny Mordaunt contradicted Theresa May by saying the prime minister was not talking about extending the Brexit transition period, when she was. (See 1.49pm.)

The perhaps creative Downing Street line is that there was no disagreement, and that any impression to that effect from Mordaunt was “just language”.

Asked about Mordaunt’s comments, May’s spokeswoman said:

What I heard her say, mainly, is that it is vital everybody gets behind the prime minister and her negotiating team, and I think we’re kind of into semantics about what she said. The point she was making is that this is an idea to have an option, as an insurance policy, as opposed to a formal proposal.

Prodded on whether this was nonetheless still a contradiction of May, the spokeswoman added: