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:
Back in the Commons, Tory MP John Baron has said that he will not support PM's deal unless his amendment is passed - which seeks to give the UK the right to terminate the Irish border backstop without the agreement of the EU.
The Basildon and Billericay MP said his amendment "would give the UK government the unilateral right to exit the backstop at a time of its choosing".
He added: "It's very straightforward, the UK could not find itself indefinitely suspended in a backstop if this amendment is passed. It would allow the UK to choose the time, if it did enter the backstop, a time to exit and it would not have to seek EU approval to do so."
His amendment is one of four that will be put to the vote later.
Hugo Swire, another Conservative MP, said "with a heavy heart" he would vote against the deal.
He told the Commons: "I just cannot reconcile myself as an MP in this house that I can vote this evening to commit this country into a backstop from which it has no unilateral right to withdraw”.
Labour's Liz Kendall said she would vote against the deal but warned "time is running" out, adding: "We cannot wait any longer to provide the leadership we need to get us out of this hole."
Ms Kendall said she would support moves to seek consensus and rule out a no-deal Brexit before outlining her support for a second referendum, insisting there is no "jobs-first or sensible Brexit".
Tory former minister Andrew Selous said: "We must stop an alliance of people who want to stop Brexit and an alliance of people who want an even stronger Brexit actually denying what the people voted for."
Tory MP Nigel Evans outlined his concerns over the deal as it "currently stands" before noting: "The important thing is we leave on March 29.
"It's almost like Christmas Day - it's December 25, that's what people look forward to - and if we deny people the opportunity to leave on March 29 they'll never forgive us."
Jeremy Corbyn is now on his feet. He says Brexit has been "one of the most chaotic and extraordinary parliamentary processes," he's ever experienced in his 35 years at Westminster.
He says the PM has treated the process like it is only the Conservative Party's problem. She could have reached out to trade unions before but she failed to do so until right at the end.
Jeremy Corbyn appeals directly to the EU, urging Brussels to be willing to reopen negotiations.
He says:
"The overwhelming majority of this House voted to respect the result of the referendum, and therefore to trigger Article 50.
So I say this to our negotiating partners in the EU: if parliament votes down this deal, then re-opening negotiations should not, and cannot, be ruled out.
We understand why after two frustrating years of negotiations you want this resolved, but this parliament has only one duty - to represent the interests of the people of Britain. And the deal negotiated by this government does not meet their needs."
Jeremy Corbyn repeats, yet again, his demand for a general election.
He finishes his speech by saying:
"We need to keep in mind that the vast majority of people in our country don’t think of themselves ‘Remainers’ or ‘Leavers’.
Whether they voted Leave or Remain two and a half years ago, they are concerned about their future.
So I hope tonight that this House votes down this deal and then we move to a general election so that the people can take back control and give a new government the mandate needed to break the deadlock."
Theresa May is now up.
She says nobody watching the debate can doubt that the House of Commons is "the fulcrum of our democracy". The debate "goes to the heart of our constitution", she says.
May says that by calling the 2016 referendum, Parliament "set the clock ticking on our departure" from the EU. She says tonight's vote is a "historic decision that will set the future of our country for generations".
Theresa May says a second referendum would be akin to telling voters "that we were unwilling to do what they had instructed".
She also dismisses no deal as an option, saying it would not deliver a transition period, secure the mutual rights of citizens or protect security co-operation.
Theresa May says she would not stand at the despatch box and recommend a course of action that she did not believe "is in the best interest of our country and our future".
She says the Commons can come together despite its differences and promises that the government "will work harder at taking Parliament with us".
During the next phase of negotiations the government will "work with Parliament to seek that consensus", she adds.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments