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:
NEW: Former Labour MP Frank Field, who now sits as an independent after resigning the whip, says he has changed his mind and will vote for Theresa May's deal.
He says events in recent days have made him fear that, if the deal is voted down, Brexit could be cancelled.
Tory Brexiteer Sir Edward Leigh tells the Commons he may now vote against the government. He announced at the weekend that he would back the prime minister, despite being a vocal Eurosceptic.
The backbencher has tabled an amendment that says the government should unilaterally withdraw from the Northern Ireland backstop if it becomes permanent. He admits he is "disappointed" that the government is not supporting his motion. Earlier this afternoon Geoffrey Cox, the attorney general, said the amendment was not compatible with the UK's obligations under international law.
Sir Edward tells MPs he has "done my level best to try to help the government" and adds:
"I do reserve the right, if the government is not prepared to support this amendment, to vote against the main motion. Why? Because I believe the fundamental problem with this withdrawal agreement is the fear that the Northern Ireland backstop will become permanent."
American actress Lindsay Lohan, who famously launched a furious Twitter tirade against Brexit on the night of the 2016 referendum, appears to have rediscovered her passion for the UK's EU membership.
Ahead of tonight's crunch vote, she tweets (and yes she could be talking about something else entirely)....
Conservative MP Julian Lewis, chair of the defence select committee, makes what is almost certainly the shortest speech in the five days of debate on the Brexit deal.
He says:
"Because Brexit should mean Brexit and no deal is better than this bad deal, I shall vote no, no and no."
That's it.
Here are some news organisations' latest forecasts of the likely result of tonight's vote:
Sky News: 197 for, 422 against. Margin 225.
BBC News: 206 for, 433 against. Margin 227.
The Guardian: 216 for, 423 against. Margin 207.
The Telegraph: 211 for, 428 against. Margin 217.
I've been asked if we're expecting any of the four amendments set to be voted on by MPs tonight to pass.
The answer, in short, is no. The Labour and SNP motions will definitely fall, given no Tory MPs will support them.
Then there are the two Tory backbench amendments, which both say, in different ways, that the UK should have the right to leave the Northern Ireland backstop without the EU's approval.
The government is highly unlikely to support either, because it believes they are incompatible with the UK's obligations under international law.
Unless Labour orders its MPs to vote with Tory Brexiteers, which is equally unlikely, those two motions are also likely to fail.
The crowd of protesters outside Parliament calling for a fresh Brexit referendum is growing...
COUNTDOWN: We're about three hours away from the result of the "meaningful vote" on Theresa May's Brexit deal. There's lots happening before then, including the prime minister making a last-minute plea to MPs, so stay tuned.
Away from Brexit, the government has quietly announced a £7,000 pension cut for some of the UK's poorest pensioners
A Conservative MP has been accused of making a "scurrilous slur" after she claimed a pregnant Labour politician had delayed giving birth to "make a point" about Brexit.
Labour's Tulip Siddiq defied doctors' advice and postponed her caesarean section by two days so she can take part in the critical vote on Theresa May's deal on Tuesday, when she will be pushed through the voting lobby in a wheelchair by her husband.
Full story here:
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments