Brexit news - live: Tory MP quits in disgust after Commons votes to reject every single suggested way forward
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Your support makes all the difference.MPs have rejected all alternative Brexit options put forward in indicative votes as one Tory MP quit seconds after results were announced claiming the party “refuses to compromise”.
The Commons turned down options to pursue a Common Market solution, a second referendum and the revocation of Article 50. A Customs Union proposed by Ken Clarke was rejected by just three votes.
Moments after the vote took place, Tory MP Nick Boles resigned the party whip claiming his colleagues “refuse to compromise”. His Common Market 2.0 proposal had been defeated 261 votes to 282, with 228 Conservatives voting against.
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Public splits between rival cabinet ministers had deepened earlier in the day ahead of the key votes.
Tory chief whip Julian Smith said the government should have accepted earlier that it would “inevitably” need to settle on a softer Brexit, but Liz Truss, the chief secretary to the Treasury, said such an outcome would be “incredibly problematic”.
Mr Smith also hit out at his cabinet colleagues, saying they were the “worst example of ill-discipline in cabinet in British political history”.
As we await the results of the indicative votes, keep yourself glued to our live coverage for analysis of all the drama in parliament:
People's Vote campaigners have just projected a striking image onto the outside wall of parliament calling for a referendum on any Brexit deal chosen by MPs:
Liam Fox, the international trade secretary, has used a series of tweets to explain his opposition to the UK remaining in the customs union, which MPs are voting on tonight:
It appears Tory Brexiteer David TC Davies has spoiled his indicative vote ballot paper...
The results of the indicative votes are expected shortly. Initially expected at around 10.30pm, it seems the speaker could now be ready to announce the figures much sooner.
BREAKING: MPs reject all four Brexit options proposed in indicative votes
All four Brexit options presented in the indicative votes have been rejected by MPs. Here are the margins, the closest being Ken Clarke's Customs Union proposal, where "Noes" secured a majority of just three:
Customs Union: Loses 273 – 276
Common Market 2.0: Loses 261 – 282
Confirmatory referendum: Loses 280 – 292
Revoke Article 50 in no-deal situation: Loses 191 - 292
Nick Boles has just resigned the Conservative Party whip after his Common Market 2.0 proposal was voted down by the Commons.
“I have failed chiefly because my party refuses to compromise,” he said. I regret therefore to announce that I can no longer sit for this party.”
Two weeks ago Boles resigned from his local association after they disagreed with what he was doing in the Commons to block a no-deal Brexit. At the time he said he wanted to carry on taking the Conservative whip in the Commons. But now he has quit the whip too.
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