Brexit vote result - LIVE: Jeremy Corbyn tables vote of no confidence in Theresa May that could bring down government after historic 230-vote Commons defeat
Follow live updates from Westminster
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.MPs overwhelmingly rejected Theresa May’s divorce deal with the EU on Tuesday evening, plunging the Brexit process into chaos.
The defeat was widely expected, but the scale of the House of Commons’ vote – 432 votes against the government and 202 in support – was devastating for Ms May’s fragile leadership.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn put forward a confidence motion in the aftermath of the crushing loss, which made history as the biggest ever government defeat on the floor of the House of Commons.
The defeat by 230 votes easily beat the previous record of 166 votes, set in 1924 by the minority Labour government of Ramsay MacDonald.
Parliament finally delivered its verdict on the prime minister’s withdrawal agreement after months of debate, as crowds of both Leave and Remain protesters gathered outside parliament to express their anger.
Ms May insisted she intended to stay on, setting out plans for talks with senior parliamentarians in the hope of finding “genuinely negotiable” solutions which she can take to Brussels.
But she faces another crucial vote on Wednesday after the Labour leader moved to table a formal motion of no confidence in her government.
Senior ministers reportedly told top business leaders that a motion to delay the Article 50 process of leaving the EU is being prepared in a conference call following the vote defeat.
To follow events as they unfolded, see our live coverage below:
Theresa May says that if MPs vote to confirm they still have confidence in her government, she will meet with ministers and the DUP in a "constructive spirit".
If these meetings generate genuine ideas for a solution to the impasse, she "will explore them with the European Union".
The prime minister denies that the government wants to run down the clock to 29 March and insists she wants to leave the EU with a deal.
She says she will make a statement on the way forward by next Monday.
Jeremy Corbyn is now speaking.
He says the verdict of the Commons is "absolutely decisive". Ms May has "only attempted to reach out now" that Parliament has clearly rejected her plan, he says.
The Labour leader says the prime minister "cannot seriously believe that after two years of failure she is capable of negotiating a good deal for the people of this country."
He confirms he has tabled a formal motion of no confidence in the government and welcomes the government's decision to allow a vote on it tomorrow.
The vote will allow the Commons to "give its verdict on the sheer incompetence of this government", he says.
Andrea Leadsom, the Commons leader, stands to make a statement outlining the schedule for the Commons in the next few days, but John Bercow intervenes and says he wants to take points of order first.
Andrea Leadsom is now speaking and confirms that a vote of no confidence will be held tomorrow. She says the government will allow a whole day of debate, with the vote likely to take place at 7.00pm.
Jean-Claude Juncker, president of the European Commission, responds to tonight's vote...
NEW: We've now got the full result of this evening's vote. 118 Conservative MPs rebelled to vote against the deal.
Three Labour MPs rebelled to vote for it: Ian Austin, Sir Kevin Barron and John Mann.
The Brexit action in the Commons is over. MPs are moving onto other matter - namely a debate on Chester-le-Street station called by North Durham MP Kevan Jones. In true Westminster fashion, that's how today's historic proceedings in parliament will end.
Matt Hancock, the health secretary, is on Sky News.
He says it had long been clear that the government was going to lose tonight's vote.
Ministers will need to speak to the other parties to "find a way forward", he says. He denies that this means giving up on winning the support of Tory backbenchers.
"There is no majority in the Commons for no deal", he says, adding: "The question is how we find a majority in favour of a deal."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments