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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Your support makes all the difference.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.
Eight 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
MPs are now voting on the cross-party amendment on holding indicative votes on Brexit next Wednesday. The amendment to the "indicative votes" plan, tabled by Labour's Lucy Powell, would limit to June 30 any extension of Brexit talks to discuss parliament's preferred option.
Lucy Powell's amendment has been defeated by 3 votes. 311 people voted in favour and 314 voted against it.
MPs are now voting on the original amendment by Labour's Hilary Benn and Yvette Cooper and Tory MP Oliver Letwin.
25 Labour MPs rebelled against the leadership to back the second referendum amendment, including some People's vote MPs such as Jo Stevens and Owen Smith.
18 Labour MPs felt so strongly that they voted against it.
The Benn amendment has been defeated by only TWO votes. 312 votes in favour, 314 against.
Extraordinarily close result on this vote, which would have seen parliament take control of the Brexit process through 'indicative voting'.
Labour's Ruth Smeeth has resigned from the front bench in order to vote against a second referendum. Labour had ordered MPs to abstain on the vote.
Ms Smeeth was a parliamentary aide to shadow culture secretary Tom Watson.
MPs are now voting on the Labour frontbench amendment.
Labour's amendment notes that parliament has "decisively" rejected both Ms May's deal and no deal and calls for a delay to Brexit "to provide parliamentary time for this House to find a majority for a different approach".
The government secures a slightly more comfortable victory on Labour's amendment - 318 votes to 302 votes.
Labour's Chris Bryant has withdrawn his amendment, which would have prevented Theresa May from bringing back her deal to the Commons for further votes.
MPs are now voting on the government's motion on whether to extend article 50.
The PM's motion says that if the Commons has approved her Brexit deal and the framework for the future UK/EU relationship by March 20, she will seek a one-off extension until June 30 to allow time for the necessary legislation to be passed.
If her deal fails to win Commons support, the motion warns it is "highly likely" the EU will require the UK to set out a "clear purpose" before granting any extension and that any delay beyond June 30 will involve Britain taking part in May's elections to the European Parliament.
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