Brexit news: John Bercow rules Theresa May cannot bring her deal back for third time unless something has changed
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Your support makes all the difference.John Bercow has dramatically ruled that Theresa May cannot hold another vote on her Brexit deal unless the proposed agreement has changed "substantially".
In a major blow to the prime minister, the Commons speaker invoked a centuries-old rule that says the same motion cannot be voted on more than once in the same parliamentary sitting.
Ms May was reported to be planning a third "meaningful vote" on her deal this week, although Downing Street said it would only happen if there was a "realistic prospect" of success.
If no vote happens in the coming days, she is now expected to ask European leaders for a lengthy extension to the two-year negotiation process, delaying Brexit for months or even years beyond March 29.
To follow events as they unfolded, see our live coverage below
Shadow Brexit minister Matthew Pennycook accuses his opposite number of "glorifying in the fact he opposes the government's stated policy" to delay Brexit.
He asks: 'Does he even agree with what he read out at the Despatch Box today?'
Mr Pennycook asks if the government has sought legal advice on the UK participating in European Parliament elections.
Kwasi Kwarteng says of course he agrees with his own comments - amid laughter from MPs. He says the government has been clear on its position, that it will seek a short extension if it gets the deal through and if not it will be a long delay.
Ardent Brexiteer John Redwood says the government should not extend article 50 if it loses votes on the deal. He tells him to table a fully comprehensive free trade agreement instead.
He says: "What's not to like? Will they get on with it?"
Kwasi Kwarteng says he is not surprised by his intervention and he always follows Mr Redwood's ideas with interest. He doesn't want to prejudge anything.
Brexiteers seem to be in a good mood now, as they appear to believe May's deal is toast.
The ERG's Mark Francois told the Independent: "The Speaker’s ruling is very important because it means the government cannot bring back the Withdrawal Agreement for another vote unless something substantially changes.
"The government were trying to bring it back with this very, very minor legal tweak on the Vienna Convention."
He went on: “The Speaker has effectively made it very plain today that he is not going to stand for that. So there would have to be a substantive change, as it says in Erskine May, and that implies a change to the treaty itself.
"She would have to change something substantively and that’s a high bar, and the Speaker’s made that very plain."
Labour MP Ben Bradshaw says the only way for the PM to save her deal is to make it conditional on asking the British people.
Kwasi Kwarteng dismisses his question, saying a second referendum amendment was overwhelmingly defeated next week.
Tory Brexiteer James Duddridge asks him to rule out the UK taking part in the European Parliament elections in May.
Kwarteng says he can't - because if there is a two-year extension then the UK will have to take part.
Labour's Stephen Doughty says businesses will be looking on with 'horror at this farce'. He says Commons leader Andrea Leadsom has been 'muttering in the corridors' about suspending the standing orders to bring forward the vote.
Kwasi Kwarteng says he has 'no idea what she has been saying in corridors today'.
Away from the Commons, Sir Stephen Laws, a Policy Exchange fellow and a former first parliamentary counsel, said John Bercow was wrong in his ruling.
He said: "If there is a majority for the deal, preventing the vote would be to frustrate the will of the House.
"It would be deeply concerning to see a Speaker act in such a way.
"Those who are opposed to the deal should want to win with a majority on the substance, not by procedural manoeuvring or on a technicality, and the Speaker should allow that."
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