Brexit no-confidence vote: Theresa May makes speech outside Downing Street after surviving attempt to bring down her government
MPs voted along party lines during the vote
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.Theresa May has appealed for other political parties to work with her on Brexit, after avoiding a dramatic bid to topple her government in the wake of the historic Commons defeat of her Brexit deal.
MPs rejected Jeremy Corbyn's motion of no confidence in the government by a margin of 325 to 306 after Tory Brexiteers and the DUP rowed in behind the prime minister.
Ms May's narrow reprieve came less than 24 hours after the crushing defeat of her Brexit deal in the Commons, and now paves the way for cross-party talks on a plan B.
Conservative rebels and members of the Democratic Unionist Party who consigned the PM to the worst defeat in parliamentary history on Wednesday rallied behind her to see off the threat of a general election.
Welcoming the result, Ms May told the Commons: “I am pleased that this house has expressed its confidence in the government.
“I do not take this responsibility lightly and my government will continue its work to increase our prosperity, guarantee our security and to strengthen our union."
She invited opposition leaders to meet her for late-night talks on Wednesday, saying she "stands ready to work with any member of this House to deliver on Brexit".
The move triggered an immediate row as Mr Corbyn's spokesman said he would not meet Ms May unless she ruled out a no-deal Brexit.
It comes after a dramatic day in the Commons, where opposition MPs lined up to rubbish Ms May's administration and decry the lack of support for her central policy - the Brexit deal.
The Labour leader said her "zombie government" was unable to govern and declared her "Frankenstein" Brexit deal officially dead.
"There can’t be meaningful talks about how to find a deal that reflects the majority in parliament and that can command a majority in parliament while the threat of no deal, which would be disastrous for the country ... is still on the table. That must come off the table", his spokesperson later said.
If you would like to see how the vote unfolded, please see what was our live coverage below:
SNP's Stewart Malcom MacDonald accuses the PM of "pure robotic fantasy" over her Brexit strategy, after he repeatedly asked her about whether she would change her red lines.
She says she has answered these questions.
Labour's Yvette Cooper says the PM is talking like she lost by 30 votes - rather than 230 votes. She asks if May will rule out a customs union?
May says she wants what the British people voted for.
The prime minister’s spinners were doggedly holding firm on her Brexit “red lines” last night despite clear signs she may have to shift them, writes political editor Joe Watts.
At a regular briefing, No10 was confronted with questions over the wording of an answer the PM gave to a question about the possibility of accepting a customs union as the price of winning further commons support for her deal.
Up to now she has always ruled out the possibility, saying that it is crucial for the UK to take advantage of Brexit that it should have an independent trade policy.
But rather than talking about trade “deals”, she talked about seeking trade “opportunities”, and this was leapt upon by some journalists as a weakening of language, and a sign of a weakening position.
Earlier in the day justice secretary David Gauke had also said the government’s current position on not being in a post-Brexit customs union with the EU was a “starting point”, certainly a phrase that sounds like the position is going to go on a journey of sorts.
He added: “At this stage I don’t think it’s about boxing ourselves in, we need to work out where the balance of opinion is.”
The PM’s spokesman read out another part of the answer in which Gauke was clear that an independent trade policy is the government’s position, and they went on to say the interpretation of the PM’s answer was wrong.
But the reason this is interesting is because the PM is about to start meeting some MPs to see what she can do to gain further support in parliament for her deal, and the key thing that might deliver Labour support is a customs union.
Of all of the red lines that May has previously set out – control of money, borders and laws – the refusal to accept a customs union feels like the easiest one for her to let go of in the technical terms of gaining a deal – it would, however, badly rupture her own party.
But her apparent refusal to meet Corbyn directly perhaps speaks her continuing determination to hold on to the idea of an independent trade policy too.
That leaves her drive to meet MPs focussing on Tory Brexiteers, the DUP and Labour Brexiteers – which means her first move will be to try and make ground on the backstop and workers’ rights.
It would have sounded like a more feasible strategy had last night not been such a big defeat, but with such a high mountain to climb in terms of the numbers she must win over, it looks very hopeful.
Back in the Commons, Theresa May is absolutely tearing into Jeremy Corbyn. She says nobody could have imagined that a Labour party that fought so hard against discrimination would become a banner under which "racists and bigots" could gather.
She cites the case of Luciana Berger, the Jewish Labour MP who had to hire a bodyguard to attend her own party conference.
We have seen what he has done to his party, imagine what he could do to this country, May says.
Tory MP Anna Soubry intervenes, saying she makes some good points. One of the big problems has been that MPs feel excluded from the debate and when they have tried to fight for their constituents, they have been bullied and threatened with deselection.
May says she agrees how everybody should be able to express their views with passion and commitment without having to fear harassment or bullying. She says she is sorry to Ms Soubry for her experiences, after she was called a Nazi.
Summing up, Theresa May says there is a long way to go unite the country but an election is not the right way forward. Neither is a government led by Jeremy Corbyn. She says she is proud of what the government has achieved so far and asks for the confidence of the house.
Now that Theresa May's Brexit deal has been voted down, a Final Say referendum is more likely than ever before. Here's what you can do shorten the odds.
French president Emmanuel Macron has said Britain would be the biggest losers from a no-deal Brexit
David Davis, the former Brexit secretary, has said there would be "really serious" public anger if Brexit is delayed beyond 29 March.
The former Brexit secretary told the Commons European Scrutiny Committee that, if Article 50 is extended:
"I think we will see quite visible anger from the public at large, and not just those who might be counted as Leavers.
"I have met quite a lot of erstwhile Remainers who have said to me 'I have changed my mind and next time I will vote Leave' or 'Why is this proving such a difficult process?'
"If they don't see a delivery on the vote of 2016, it will be really serious indeed."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments