Government defeated in key Brexit vote - here's how the day unfolded

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The Government has been defeated by Conservative rebels and Labour MPs in a critical vote on its key piece of Brexit legislation.

MPs amended the EU Withdrawal Bill against Theresa May's will, so guaranteeing Parliament a "meaningful" vote on any Brexit deal she agrees with Brussels.

Ms May's whips applied heavy pressure on Conservative rebels who remained defiant in the Commons throughout the day and in the end the Government was defeated by 309 votes to 305, a margin of just four votes.

Here is how the day unfolded.

Key Points

• Government suffers defeat by 309 votes to 305, meaning any Brexit deal will have to be approved by Parliament
• Rebel Stephen Hammond sacked as Vice Chair of party 
• Result 'reveals Commons majority for soft Brexit' 
• Why is tonight's Brexit vote so important?

[13 December 2017 18:57 · Kristin Hugo]

All over the house, MPs gather in huddles in frantic conversation. Defeat beckons.

[13 December 2017 19:01 · Kristin Hugo]

The division bell has rung, the lobbies are cleared. We will find out in minutes whether the government is defeated.

[13 December 2017 19:15 · Kristin Hugo]

The Labour benches are going wild as we await the result. It does not bode well for the government.

[13 December 2017 19:16 · Kristin Hugo]

The government has lost by four votes. 309 to 305. It means any Brexit deal will have to be approved by parliamentary vote. The government has lost its power to say yes to any Brexit deal without the approval of parliament.

[13 December 2017 19:25 · Kristin Hugo]

Harriet Harman gives her view on this defeat for the government, which as much about poor politics than anything else.

[13 December 2017 19:25 · Kristin Hugo]

[13 December 2017 19:30 · Kristin Hugo]

There will be intense mathematics in the post mortem on this, and it will shape future commons showdowns on Brexit.

Parliament is hung but there are Labour Brexiteers to consider to.

It appears they 'rebelled', if you like, on this.

And Charlie Elphicke, suspended Labour MP for Dover and arch Brexiteer, voted against the government too.

[13 December 2017 19:31 · Kristin Hugo]

Yvette Cooper describes it as an important moment.

[13 December 2017 19:38 · Kristin Hugo]

This is the first time Theresa May has lost a vote on Brexit, and there will be many more to come.

Next week there is meant to be a vote on whether to fix the March 29 2019 exit day in law. The government will now think hard over whether to let that go ahead.

Quite what the vote will come to mean in concrete terms we will have to wait and see. It depends on how the government seeks to enact Brexit.

But it does mean some of the powers it sought to grant itself via the EU Withdrawal Bill it no longer has. 

[13 December 2017 19:42 · Kristin Hugo]

Nigel Farage, serving MEP since 1999 has given his view.