Brexit: Government-backed customs amendments scrape through as minister resigns - as it happened

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Theresa May survived a backbench rebellion and a ministerial resignation to push through a bill on Britain's post-Brexit customs arrangements.

The prime minister had been warned her Chequers deal was "dead in the water" after seemingly caving and accepting amendments by influential pro-Brexit Conservative faction the European Research Group (ERG) on tariffs and VAT policy.

Two ERG amendments were passed with a majority of just three, narrowly avoiding an embarrassing defeat for Ms May after as many as 14 Tory MPs rebelled in divisions on Monday evening.

Among them was defence minister Guto Bebb, who resigned from government after defying the whip to vote against the ERG's new clause 36, requiring HMRC not to collect tariffs for other nations without a reciprocal dealing being in place.

The third reading of the bill was approved by 318 votes to 285, meaning it will now progress to the House of Lords.

Read the recap of how our live coverage unfolded throughout the day

Key Points

• Theresa May survives scare as third reading of Customs Bill scrapes through Commons
• Government-backed amendment on tariffs passes with a majority of just three
• Second amendment committing to a separate VAT policy to EU passes minutes later - also with majority of three
• Minister resigns after voting against government on Brexiteer amendment

[16 July 2018 22:16 · Kristin Hugo]

[16 July 2018 22:20 · Kristin Hugo]

Another Labour amendment to the Customs Bill has been defeated, this time it is Amendment 21, calling for action to be taken in the bill to prevent "dumping", the practice of injuring pricing by flooding a market with cut-price goods to drive out competition.

[16 July 2018 22:31 · Kristin Hugo]

The next division is on Amendment 73, also put forwards by the ERG, pledging the UK will adopt a separate VAT system to the EU.

[16 July 2018 22:39 · Kristin Hugo]

Amendment 73 also squeezes through with a majority of just three, the second razor-thin vote of the evening. 

[16 July 2018 22:42 · Kristin Hugo]

These are the Tory MPs who are thought to have rebelled against the government this evening over the ERG new clause 36 amendment:

[16 July 2018 22:53 · Kristin Hugo]

The third reading of the Customs Bill has passed, but the government has survived some scares to make it there - two new ERG amendments accepted by Theresa May passed with a majority of just three.

[16 July 2018 22:59 · Kristin Hugo]

[16 July 2018 23:14 · Kristin Hugo]

We have reached the end of The Independent's live politics coverage for the day.

Thanks for keeping up with evening's action in the Commons and other news throughout the day. We will be back tomorrow with the fallout from tonight's dramatic Customs Bill vote and more.