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

Labour MP Matthew Pennycook on Brexit bill: 'This bill began its life as a fundamentally flawed piece of legislation'

​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.

Key Points

• Theresa May heads off major defeat on EU withdrawal bill after last-minute climbdown
• MPs win concession to enshrine pledge for no checks on Irish border
• Fury from Scots and Welsh MPs over lack of time to debate devolution
• Justice minister Phillip Lee resigns in order to speak out on Brexit

[12 June 2018 11:38 · Kristin Hugo]

Green Party co-leader Caroline Lucas, a supporter of the Best For Britain campaign, said: "Phillip Lee put his country first today. I hope that other ministers will search their consciences and do the same.

"Many have had to wrestle between loyalty to their party and what they believe is in the best interests for the next generation.

"If a personal friend of Theresa May, as Phillip Lee is, can make this call, others can too."

[12 June 2018 11:56 · Ashley Cowburn]

[12 June 2018 12:11 · Ashley Cowburn]

[12 June 2018 12:29 · Ashley Cowburn]

[12 June 2018 12:43 · Ashley Cowburn]

Theresa May's spokesman straight-batted questions about the resignation of Phillip Lee at the morning lobby briefing today, writes The Independent's political editor Joe Watts.

The prime minister apparently received Lee's letter at 7am, and as of yet, it doesn't look like she has even bothered replying to it.

Her spokesman also said there was no discussion of it at today's 90 minute cabinet meeting, which saw Brexit take up about 20 minutes of the overall time. 

He said Lee had resigned "for his own reasons", and that May would be pushing on with trying to deliver "the will of the British people". 

For the record, Lee's reasons were that he could not both follow May's Brexit plan and also look his children in the eye and say he did the right thing.

But there was an implicit warning to anyone else thinking of taking the plunge when the spokesman said the PM had told this morning's cabinet more broadly that, "anything that undermines the negotiations at home would make negotiations with the EU more difficult".

[12 June 2018 12:56 · Ashley Cowburn]

[12 June 2018 12:58 · Ashley Cowburn]

Tory rebel Anna Soubry said threats had been made against the personal safety of at least on MP (writes The Independent's political correspondent Lizzy Buchan)

Speaking during a point of order in the Commons, she said: “Does it concern you as it concerns me, that to my knowledge, at least one member on these benches will today and tomorrow not vote in accordance with their conscience because of threats to their personal safety, to members of their parliamentary staff and members of their family?

"Mr Speaker, do you take that as a very serious threat to the democracy of this place and if you do would you expect a senior member of the government to make it clear that this will not be tolerated by any party, against any member of parliament."

John Bercow, the Speaker, replied: “MPs must speak and vote only as they see fit.

"No member of this House, whatever opinion he or she holds should be threatened because of it.”

[12 June 2018 13:06 · Lizzy Buchan]

The Brexit battle is about to begin.

MPs are currently voting on the programme motion, which sets out the timetable for the day's events. The government wants there to be 12 hours of debate spread over today and tomorrow, but opposition MPs say this is not enough.

The Liberal Democrats are leading a push to vote down the motion, allowing for more days of debate. However they are unlikely to win.

[12 June 2018 13:13 · Lizzy Buchan]

So the programme motion has passed, meaning the government's two-day plan goes forward.

[12 June 2018 13:19 · Lizzy Buchan]

The debate has now begun, which means the first set of votes will be around 4.15.

Brexit secretary David Davis is on feet. He says the government has listened to "sensible suggestions" to the bill but it must reject any attempts to "undermine the result".

He says the "cumulative effect of these changes will prevent us from delivering the smooth and orderly exit we want".