Brexit vote - as it happened: Theresa May caves in to Tory rebels in major negotiations climbdown
All the latest updates from Westminster, as they happened
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 caved in to Tory rebels in an eleventh-hour climbdown on the government’s flagship Brexit legislation.
In a key victory for pro-EU backbenchers, the government opened the door to MPs taking control of the negotiations if ministers fail to strike a deal in Brussels.
The revolt appeared to be called off only after Robert Buckland, the solicitor general, agreed that there was "merit" in plans to allow MPs to vote on the proposed Brexit strategy and said his would be the basis of further discussions with rebels.
The rebels want MPs to be given a vote on the next steps if there is no deal by the end of November. It is unclear whether ministers will agree to that time limit, which is likely to be proposed in a further amendment to be tabled in the House of Lords.
Nevertheless, for the first time, the prime minister appeared to be entertaining the idea of a deadline for success in the talks.
In total, the government hopes to overturn 14 amendments made in the Lords to the EU (Withdrawal) Bill during two days of debate but it faces threats of a Tory rebellion on a series of knife-edge votes.
Sir Bill Cash, one of the most senior Tory Brexiteers, is now speaking.
He says it is "complete nonsense - junk" to suggest the amendment on the meaningful vote is anything other than an attempt to reverse the decision of the people.
He says:
"This is just a cover for the reversal of the decision, and I do find it quite extraordinary that there should be some attempt to throw it back to the House of Lords."
Here we go. It's the turn of Phillip Lee, who resigned as a justice minister this morning.
He says he is "devastated" by the decision but that the government and Parliament has a duty to act in the best interests of the public - using the example of the death penalty, which has public support but which was stopped by Parliament.
The government's current Brexit policy is "detrimental to the people we were elected to serve".
He receives a round of applause as he finishes his speech.
MPs voted 324 to 302, majority 22, to disagree with Lords amendment 110.
This had sought to give greater powers to the "sifting committee", which would be established to decide whether statutory instruments proposed by ministers to amend retained EU law after Brexit would require a Commons vote.
MPs voted by 326 votes to 301, majority 25, to disagree with Lords amendment 37, which was part of an attempt to remove the exit day from the Bill and allow the Commons to rethink its approach.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments