17:00

Sometimes the most significant event is the one that does not happen. Two weeks ago, on 29 March, when the UK was supposed to be leaving the EU but article 50 had been extended for two weeks, there were large protests in Parliament Square involving thousands of people furious that their Brexit was not happening. Last night Theresa May accepted another extension, not for two weeks but for almost seven months. And yet in the Commons the Brexiter response was close to subdued.

True, Sir Bill Cash, the veteran Tory Brexiter, asked May if she would resign, and a few other Brexit hardliners criticised her in strong terms. But there was a lot less bile and rage than we have from them in some previous exchanges, many of the most senior Brexiters were not present or did not speak, and overall May sounded a bit more resilient than she has done of late. It probably had a lot to do with the fact that many MPs are feeling knackered. But the absence of a mighty backlash may also reflect an awareness amongst Brexiters that, although they would love to get rid of the prime minister, at present they don’t have the leverage to do so.

Here are the main points from the exchanges.

May urged MPs to use the Easter recess to consider their “national duty” and reflect on how they might find a solution to the Brexit impasse. She also claimed it was still possible to pass the withdrawal agreement in time to prevent the UK having to take part in European elections. In her opening statement she said:

So let us use the opportunity of the recess to reflect on the decisions that will have to be made swiftly on our return after Easter. And let us then resolve to find a way through this impasse. So that we can leave the European Union with a deal as soon as possible. So that we can avoid having to hold those European parliamentary elections. And above all, so that we can fulfil the democratic decision of the referendum, deliver Brexit and move our country forward. This is our national duty as elected members of this House – and nothing today is more pressing or more vital.

May brushed aside a call from Sir Bill Cash, the Tory Brexiter, to resign. Cash asked May:

Does the prime minister appreciate the anger that her abject surrender last night has generated across the country, having broken promises 100 times not to extend the time? ... Will she resign?

May said Cash knew the answer to that. She also brushed aside a complaint from Peter Bone, another Tory Brexiter, who asked her whether she still stood by what she told him at PMQs three weeks ago about how she would not consider delaying Brexit beyond 30 June while she was still PM. (See 2.24pm.)

She refused to rule out applying for a further article 50 extension in the autumn. (See 3.04pm.)

She claimed there was more agreement between Labour and the Conservatives on the customs union than people realised. She said:

I think there is actually more agreement in relation to a customs union than is often given credit for when different language is used. We’ve been very clear that we want to obtain the benefits of a customs union - no tariffs, no rules of origin checks and no quotas - while being able to operate our own independent trade policy. The Labour party has said they want a say in trade policy - the question is how we ensure we can provide for this country to be in charge of its trade policy in the future.

She risked angering the DUP by refusing to rule out extending this session of parliament until the autumn. The issue was raised by Nigel Dodds, the DUP leader at Westminster, who told May:

The current session of parliament is due to end sometime soon. There is some talk around of extending this session beyond two years. Can I say, I think many in this house, including on this bench, would regard that as something that is not acceptable?

May refused to give Dodds the assurance he wanted, although when Labour’s Chris Bryant raised the same issue, she said her focus was on getting her deal through parliament. Even though the DUP are the Tories’ confidence and supply partners, May also responded robustly when the DUP MP Sammy Wilson accused her of always giving in to the EU. (See 2.43pm.)

Jack Maidment (@jrmaidment) Sure fire sign that the end is nigh: Theresa May goes to war with the DUP's Sammy Wilson.

You can actually see that Mr Wilson is taken aback by the PM's angry tone. pic.twitter.com/26JguxjhAn

That’s all from me for today. And until after Easter, because I will be off. But colleagues will be writing the blog in my place for the next week.

Thanks for the comments.