Labour amendment defeat paves way for party supporting second referendum

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Results of vote on Brexit Labour amendment

MPs have emphatically rejected Jeremy Corbyn's Brexit vision, placing huge pressure on the Labour leader to row in behind a second referendum.

Mr Corbyn told Labour MPs earlier this week that he was ready to back a Final Say vote "to prevent a damaging Tory Brexit being forced on the country" if his plan was defeated.

The move came during a series of Commons votes, which saw a surprise Brexiteer rebellion on a bid by Labour's Yvette Cooper to cement the prime minister's promise to allow MPs to rule out a no-deal exit.

Ms May tried to take the heat out of the clash by allowing MPs to vote on delaying the UK's EU withdrawal beyond March 29 amid threats of a ministerial resignations.

Meanwhile, Labour was embroiled in fresh controversy after Derby North MP Chris Williamson was suspended for saying the party had been "too apologetic" over antisemitism.

As it happened...

Key Points

• MPs vote on amendments to steer Theresa May's Brexit plans
• Labour MP Chris Williamson suspended for saying party 'too apologetic' over antisemitism
• Tory MP loses government job after challenging PM to protect EU citizens rights
• Labour loses attempt to win softer Brexit and pivots towards second referendum

[27 February 2019 20:08 · Lizzy Buchan]

Theresa May was left no room to back out of her pledge to give the commons a veto over a no-deal Brexit, after MPs voted to make it parliament’s will.

MPs voted by 502 to 20 for a motion locking in the verbal promises given by the prime minister to allow votes on whether to leave the EU without a deal and delay Brexit if her agreed deal is rejected.

Read our story here: 

[27 February 2019 20:14 · Lizzy Buchan]

Division lists are in now:

Seven Labour MPs rebelled to vote against the SNP's amendment to rule out a no-deal Brexit, according to the division list.

They were Kevin Barron (Rother Valley), Jim Fitzpatrick (Poplar and Limehouse), Caroline Flint (Don Valley), Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow), Kate Hoey (Vauxhall), John Mann (Bassetlaw), and Graham Stringer (Blackley and Broughton).

They were joined by 305 Conservative MPs, 10 DUP and Independent MPs Ian Austin (Dudley North) and Frank Field (Birkenhead) in voting no.

Conservative former minister Ken Clarke rebelled to support the SNP amendment.

He was joined by 225 Labour MPs, 33 SNP, 11 Liberal Democrats, four Plaid Cymru, Green Party MP Caroline Lucas (Brighton Pavilion) and 13 Independents in supporting the amendment.

The Independent MPs were: Heidi Allen (South Cambridgeshire), Ann Coffey (Stockport), Mike Gapes (Ilford South), Sylvia Hermon (North Down), Chris Leslie (Nottingham East), Jared O'Mara (Sheffield, Hallam), Joan Ryan (Enfield North), Gavin Shuker (Luton South), Angela Smith (Penistone and Stocksbridge), Anna Soubry (Broxtowe), Chuka Umunna (Streatham), Sarah Wollaston (Totnes), and John Woodcock (Barrow and Furness).

[27 February 2019 20:22 · Lizzy Buchan]

Twenty Conservative MPs rebelled to vote against Ms Cooper's Brexit amendment, according to the division list.

They were Lucy Allan (Telford), John Baron (Basildon and Billericay), Bob Blackman (Harrow East), William Cash (Stone), Rehman Chishti (Gillingham and Rainham), David Davies (Monmouth), Philip Davies (Shipley), Richard Drax (South Dorset), Philip Hollobone (Kettering), Gareth Johnson (Dartford), Esther McVey (Tatton), Nigel Mills (Amber Valley), Anne Marie Morris (Newton Abbot), Tom Pursglove (Corby), Henry Smith (Crawley), Bob Stewart (Beckenham), Desmond Swayne (New Forest West), Robert Syms (Poole), Michael Tomlinson (Mid Dorset and North Poole), Martin Vickers and (Cleethorpes).

Tory colleagues Peter Bone (Wellingborough) and Sir Christopher Chope (Christchurch) acted as tellers for the noes.

Of the 314 Tory MPs, just 204 supported the amendment.

They were joined by 233 Labour MPs, 35 SNP, 10 Liberal Democrats, four Plaid Cymru, DUP MP Gavin Robinson (Belfast East), Green Party MP Caroline Lucas (Brighton Pavilion) and 14 Independent MPs in voting in favour of the proposal.

The Independent MPs were: Ann Coffey (Stockport), Mike Gapes (Ilford South), Sylvia Hermon (North Down), Chris Leslie (Nottingham East), Ivan Lewis (Bury South), Stephen Lloyd (Eastbourne), Jared O'Mara (Sheffield, Hallam), Joan Ryan (Enfield North), Gavin Shuker (Luton South), Angela Smith (Penistone and Stocksbridge), Anna Soubry (Broxtowe), Chuka Umunna (Streatham), Sarah Wollaston (Totnes), and John Woodcock (Barrow and Furness).

[27 February 2019 20:37 · Lizzy Buchan]

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable said: "This evening was a damp squib.

"Parliament could have come to a resolution and taken a chaotic no-deal off the table. Instead it seems those Conservatives who oppose no-deal Brexit have sold themselves too cheaply.

"The battle to stop no-deal Brexit is yet to be won."

[27 February 2019 20:57 · Lizzy Buchan]

Labour former minister Caroline Flint said the party should not back a second referendum despite the defeat of Jeremy Corbyn's plan.

She said: "I think the British public want us to get on with this and sort out a deal that works."

The Don Valley MP said: "I don't support a second referendum, many of may Labour colleagues in the Parliamentary Labour Party - but also members as well as Labour leave voters - want the Labour Party to stand by its promise, and the promise was to respect the referendum.

"We have said, in a general election in 2017, the decision to leave has been settled by the British people, we will work to get a deal."

She said Labour's leadership should "engage in negotiation, to use the leverage you have got, to get a better deal".