Brexit news: UK to request Article 50 extension to delay EU exit until at least June
May finally wins a key showdown but cabinet unity in tatters as top ministers oppose her motion
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MPs have overwhelmingly voted to delay Brexit after the Commons backed a motion ordering Theresa May to ask the EU to extend article 50 until at least June.
Amid dramatic scenes, Labour provoked fury among pro-EU MPs by abstaining on a bid for a Final Say referendum, which was defeated by 249 votes.
Rebel calls to allow parliament to take control of the Brexit process through "indicative votes" were also defeated, though narrowly.
It comes after the US president Donald Trump also made an explosive intervention into the debate, saying a public vote would be "unfair" and he was "surprised at how badly" the Brexit talks had gone.
But worryingly for Ms May cabinet unity crumbled when it came to a free vote on the government's Brexit delay motion.
Tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit
Show all 15Eight of her top ministers voted against it – and a further 180 Conservative MPs did likewise.
Ms May will now eye a third vote on her withdrawal agreement while Britain asks the EU for a delay to the date of its exit from the bloc.
See below how we covered Thursday's events live
So Theresa May effectively got the Brexit delay through parliament on opposition votes. Only three Labour MPs opposed the extension - Stephen Hepburn, Kate Hoey and Graham Stringer.
Ex-Labour MP Frank Field also voted against a delay.
In the wake of tonight's votes, it sounds like work is ongoing to try to get Theresa May's deal over the line.
DUP leader Arlene Foster told Channel 4 News: "We are talking to the government and to the attorney general at the moment to try and make a deal happen because we want to see Brexit working, we want to see it working for the whole of the UK in a way that doesn't leave Northern Ireland behind."
To recap, tonight's vote has authorised the PM to seek an extension to the two-year article 50 process.
The UK had been due to leave the EU on March 29 but MPs backed a motion that compels the PM to seek a delay until at least June.
It is based on the assumption that the EU will unanimously agree to this, which they are expected to do.
If a deal is agreed by next Wednesday (March 20) then there will be a brief extension until June 30. May is expected to have another go at getting her deal through next week - known as meaningful vote three or MV3.
If not, Brexit will be delayed for longer.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock told Channel 4 News it would be a "disaster" to have a long extension if the EU insisted on a Brexit delay of around two years.
"I think people want to get on with this," he said.
Mr Hancock added: "There are now two options on the table: one is to deliver the Prime Minister's deal, which just can be delivered by March 29 or a short technical extension afterwards.
"Or, the alternative to that is a long extension, which I don't want to see."
One of the big events of the day was a big row over a second referendum.
Confused about why the People's Vote didn't want a vote on a people's vote? Read this piece from ex-Labour spinner Alastair Campbell who is heavily involved in the campaign.
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Struggling to figure out what the events of tonight really mean? John Rentoul has taken a hard look at tonight's events and reckons we are heading for round 3 on Theresa May's deal.
An MP's staff member was told she was going to be hanged by two men who turned up at his constituency office on Wednesday night, the Commons was told.
Conservative Luke Graham called for more to be done to protect people who work for politicians, as the incident was condemned as "despicable" by John Bercow.
Mr Graham, who represents Ochil and South Perthshire, raised a point of order with the Commons Speaker, saying: "Last night two individuals approached my constituency office, banging on the windows at the one member of staff who was in there.
"She was on her own, she approached the individuals and was told 'in an independent Scotland all of you will be hanging', and 'we will be there at the front cheering on'.
"And also 'I can't wait to come and drag you from this office and get you to the noose'.
"Mr Speaker, my member of staff was on her own, if she was here now she would say she was a tough woman who was happy to take them, but she shouldn't have to."
He added: "So could I ask your guidance how to stay as respectful as possible in this place and on social media and what can be done to help the security of our staff in our constituencies?"
Mr Bercow said "that behaviour was despicable and should be condemned unreservedly", adding he was "sorry for what ghastly experience his staffer has undergone".
Another Labour MP has resigned from the front bench after the majority of the party abstained from a vote on an amendment to hold a second referendum.
Barnsley East MP Stephanie Peacock said she was resigning from the whip's office after voting to rule out a Final Say.
"I was elected on the Labour manifesto that pledged to respect the result of the 2016 EU referendum," she wrote. "The people of Barnsley elected me to honour that promise and that is what I did tonight."
Meanwhile, defence secretary Gavin Williamson has sparked outrage with his comments about the Bloody Sunday.
Earlier tonight, Labour's Hilary Benn said securing an extension to article 50 was 'essential' after his amendment for indicative votes was defeated.
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