Brexit vote result - LIVE: Jeremy Corbyn tables vote of no confidence in Theresa May that could bring down government after historic 230-vote Commons defeat
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MPs overwhelmingly rejected Theresa May’s divorce deal with the EU on Tuesday evening, plunging the Brexit process into chaos.
The defeat was widely expected, but the scale of the House of Commons’ vote – 432 votes against the government and 202 in support – was devastating for Ms May’s fragile leadership.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn put forward a confidence motion in the aftermath of the crushing loss, which made history as the biggest ever government defeat on the floor of the House of Commons.
The defeat by 230 votes easily beat the previous record of 166 votes, set in 1924 by the minority Labour government of Ramsay MacDonald.
Parliament finally delivered its verdict on the prime minister’s withdrawal agreement after months of debate, as crowds of both Leave and Remain protesters gathered outside parliament to express their anger.
Ms May insisted she intended to stay on, setting out plans for talks with senior parliamentarians in the hope of finding “genuinely negotiable” solutions which she can take to Brussels.
But she faces another crucial vote on Wednesday after the Labour leader moved to table a formal motion of no confidence in her government.
Senior ministers reportedly told top business leaders that a motion to delay the Article 50 process of leaving the EU is being prepared in a conference call following the vote defeat.
To follow events as they unfolded, see our live coverage below:
Here's the moment that Theresa May's Brexit deal was roundly rejected by MPs.
Find out how your MP voted on Theresa May's Brexit deal tonight, as we've compiled a helpful division list. Overall 118 Tory MPs rebelled against the government - while 3 Labour MPs defied Jeremy Corbyn to back the deal.
Great graphics of the night in numbers by the Press Association.
Leave Means Leave bosses were suitably disdainful about Ms May's deal.
Chairman John Longworth and vice-chairman Richard Tice said: "Quite rightly MPs have rejected the worst deal in history.
"The PM should accept this was a bad deal and stick to her words: no deal is better than a bad deal.
"Let’s go to WTO and save £39bn and be free."
If Theresa May is ousted following the defeat of her Brexit deal, the cabinet could move to install an acting prime minister, writes Independent political commentator Andrew Grice.
Read his insiders take on what could happen next:
Our Travel correspondent Simon Calder has been looking at the fall-out from the Brexit vote on the transport sector.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has warned of potentially higher fares and that some flights from the UK could be cancelled if the country crashes out of the European Union.
IATA said a no-deal Brexit could lead to a cap on flights that will stunt important economic opportunities and may lead to higher prices for consumers.
The proposed guidance from the European Commission in the event of no deal calls for the current level of flights between the UK and the EU to be maintained, but does not allow for an increase in flights in 2019 above the numbers last year.
IATA research estimates that up to 5 million extra seats are scheduled for this year compared with 2018.
Alexandre de Juniac, IATA’s director-general, said: “With two months left until Britain leaves the EU, airlines still do not know exactly what kind of Brexit they should be planning for. And there is legal and commercial uncertainty over how the Commission’s plan to cap flight numbers will work.
“In the small window remaining before Brexit it is imperative that the EU and UK prioritize finding a solution that brings certainty to airlines planning growth to meet demand and to travellers planning business trips and family holidays.”
Meanwhile, Eurotunnel, which runs the car, coach and truck shuttles through the Channel Tunnel between Folkestone and Calais, has demanded that political leaders “clarify the nature of the border relationship and controls that will exist between the United Kingdom and the European Union”.
Over a quarter of trade between the UK and the EU passes through the Channel Tunnel.
The firm said: “Only the establishment of clear rules will allow businesses to continue to invest, to create jobs and to preserve the vital human, social and cultural exchanges that benefit both the UK and the EU."
But Eurotunnel added: “We have adapted our infrastructure so that, with or without a deal, traffic flow through the tunnel will be maintained.”
French President Emmanuel Macron said he doubts the EU will renegotiate the UK’s exit deal after the Commons rejected Theresa May’s plan.
Mr Macron said: “I don’t really believe in this, because we already went as far as we could.”
He advised British leaders to “figure it out yourselves” and wished them “good luck” in finding a way to leave on March 29 without a clear plan.
Jeremy Corbyn has indicated he will not immediately throw his weight behind a fresh Brexit referendum, even if his bid to trigger a general election fails.
Labour would consider tabling multiple votes of no confidence to topple the prime minister, his spokesman said, rather than pivot to supporting a public vote – without which the idea is unlikely to have a Commons majority.
Story here:
Shadow international trade secretary Barry Gardiner has claimed Labour can win a vote of no confidence that could bring down Theresa May’s government on Wednesday.
He told BBC2’s Newsnight: “I think the numbers are probably not there tomorrow. We will hope that we can (win).”
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said earlier he has tabled the confidence motion in the aftermath of crushing Brexit defeat.
Senior ministers have reportedly told business leaders a motion to delay the Article 50 process of leaving the EU is being prepared.
Finance minister Philip Hammond, business minister Greg Clark and Brexit minister Stephen Barclay said a “backbench motion is being prepared now to delay Article 50,” a British corporate executive who was on the call told Reuters.
“They are doing a good job to try to appear to know what happens now, but no one knows,” the source said. “We will have to wait to see what the consensus-building in parliament does.”
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