Government defeated in key Brexit vote - here's how the day unfolded
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Your support makes all the difference.The Government has been defeated by Conservative rebels and Labour MPs in a critical vote on its key piece of Brexit legislation.
MPs amended the EU Withdrawal Bill against Theresa May's will, so guaranteeing Parliament a "meaningful" vote on any Brexit deal she agrees with Brussels.
Ms May's whips applied heavy pressure on Conservative rebels who remained defiant in the Commons throughout the day and in the end the Government was defeated by 309 votes to 305, a margin of just four votes.
Here is how the day unfolded.
Raab described clause 9 as “essential” in order to “fully implement the withdrawal agreement in time for the exit date”.
Impossible to see what technical regulations would be required – depends on negotiations – but some could take “several months” to implement.
“We need to reserve the ability to use clause 9 as soon as practically possible after a deal”
If couldn’t do that until after Royal Assent (on the implementation Bill) it “might be too late”…..we would be “too squeezed for time”
Conservative MP Philip Davies (Shipley) was heckled after he suggested Mr Grieve was seeking to block Brexit.
He said: “There was a meaningful vote on June 23 2016 when people voted to leave the European Union.
“The problem with (Mr Grieve's) amendment is it could be, and no doubt is designed to be, used to try to overturn and frustrate that meaningful vote.
“(Mr Grieve) laughs, it's a shame he hasn't got the courage of his convictions to admit that that's what his game is.”
Hello, Tom Peck here, taking over the liveblog as we move towards crunch time in the EU Withdrawal Bill.
It is going to be close. Ten Conservatives might vote against the government but we don't yet know the full number.
In the meantime, look what's going on outside the Whips Office.
↵The BBC's Laura Kuenssberg says the vote tonight could be (drumroll) a tie.
The Secret Barrister has been digging around in Hansard and has discovered David Davis's fifteen-year-old views on referendums, which should only take place when the public is in the "best possible position" to make a judgement.
Absolute scenes in the commons, as arch-Brexiteer Bernard Jenkin suggests that, with a summit tomorrow, now would "not be the time to try and derail the government."
Remainer Anna Soubry, sitting in front of him, makes no attempt whatsoever to hide her disgust. "From you! From you!" she says.
Sitting on the green benches, Dominic Grieve is conducting conversations with other rebels.
The numbers doing the rounds are that thirteen rebels will be needed to defeat the government. It will be extremely close.
George Freeman, widely touted as the party's next great moderniser, he of the 'Tory Glastonbury' ideas festival over the summer, now says he will vote against the government. That makes fourteen rebels. Defeat looms.
Dominic Raab, the justice minister has returned to the commons seeking to end rebellion at the eleventh hour.
He said that certain concessions contained within the Dominic Grieve’s amendment could be added to the bill itself.
Dominic Grieve says the concession has come “too late.”
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