Brexit news - live: Three ministers resign as MPs vote to seize control over EU exit from May
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Your support makes all the difference.Theresa May has suffered another humiliating defeat in the Commons after MPs dramatically wrested control of the Brexit process from the government.
Pro-EU Tory ministers Steve Brine, Alistair Burt and Richard Harrington resigned from their posts to back a cross-party bid to hold indicative votes on Wednesday, allowing the Commons to test support for different Brexit options.
Some 30 Conservative MPs rebelled against the government to support the amendment tabled by Tory MP Sir Oliver Letwin, potentially paving the way for a softer Brexit deal that keeps the UK closer to Brussels.
It comes after the prime minister admitted there was "still not sufficient support" to bring her Brexit deal back to the Commons for a third "meaningful vote". MPs have overwhelmingly rejected her plan twice already.
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Labour's Hilary Benn, chair of the Commons Brexit committee, says Theresa May will only have two options if she fails to hold another vote on her deal this week: either doing nothing and allowing a no-deal Brexit on 12 April, or applying for a further extension. Which will she choose, he asks?
The prime minister says she is still talking to MPs and aims to hold another vote on her deal when there is more support for it.
There was an interesting passage in Theresa May's statement in which she ruled out no deal unless MPs actively approve it.
She also warned of the possibility of a "slow Brexit" unless the Commons votes for her deal - language that will likely be seen as a fresh warning to Eurosceptics.
The prime minister said:
"Unless this House agrees to it, no-deal will not happen.
"No Brexit must not happen.
"And a slow Brexit, which extends Article 50 beyond May 22, forces the British people to take part in European elections and gives up control of any of our borders, laws, money or trade is not a Brexit that will bring the British people together."
Theresa May admits there is "not sufficient support" for another vote on her Brexit deal tomorrow...
↵Amid the Brexit crisis, both Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn have seen their approval ratings plummet, according to the latest YouGov poll.
Prominent Tory Eurosceptic Mark Francois says Theresa May has said 108 times in the Commons that the UK will leave the EU on 29 March.
He asks about chancellor Philip Hammond's claims yesterday that a fresh Brexit referendum was worth considering. Has the prime minister spoken to him about his comments or has collective responsibility completely collapsed, he asks?
Ms May says Mr Hammond was simply saying it was one of the options that is likely to be voted on.
Tory grandee Ken Clarke lays into Theresa May, saying the 2017 manifesto she is using to back up her arguments was not agreed by the cabinet or the party and had no bearing on the election result. He points out that one of the key policies in the document - a new social care tax - was ditched almost as soon as it was announced.
Former Tory minister Nick Boles, one of the main backers of the amendment in favour of indicative votes, suggests he is not confident it will pass unless supportive government ministers resign in order to vote for it...
Just to remind you of what we're expecting to happen for the rest of the day...
+ The Commons debate on Brexit will begin around 5.30pm and will be opened by Theresa May's deputy, David Lidington. He is expected to lay out how the government will give MPs the opportunity to hold non-binding votes on various possible Brexit outcomes.
+ John Bercow will announce at the start of the debate which amendments he has selected to be voted on tonight.
+ The debate will last until around 10pm, at which point votes will take place on the amendments. The key motion to look out for is Amendment A, tabled by Sir Oliver Letwin, which paves the way for MPs to hold indicative votes on Brexit on Wednesday.
Labour MP Paula Sherriff says she spoke to Theresa May last week about the abuse and threats she has received and urged the prime minister to take steps to dial down the rhetoric on Brexit.
But, she says, Ms May responded by giving a "despicable" public statement that many MPs felt put them more at risk. She says being prime minister is a privilege but comes with significant responsibility and asks how Ms May will use this to calm the debate over Brexit.
The prime minister says she recognises that "everybody has their frustrations in relation to this issue" of Brexit but that she doesn't want to see any MPs put at risk. She promises to "take care" about the language she uses in future.
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