Speaker John Bercow is trying to calm down MPs in the House of Commons as the prime minister speaks.

"Zen. Restraint. Patience," he beseeches.

The Times political speech-writer reckons it won't be that easy.

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Image source, HoC

"Today's vote is not about what is best for the Leader of the Opposition," Theresa May says, it is about "what is best for the country".

At the end of a general election, the options won't have changed, it would be no Brexit, no deal or leaving with a deal, she says.

In 2017, both main parties stood on platforms to implement Brexit, she says, and over 80% of people voted for them.

Just 7% of constituents voted for the Lib Dems who stood against Brexit, she adds.

The deal allows the UK to bring back control of laws and borders, but in a way that protects jobs, she states.

"The government will work hard at taking Parliament with us," she says, to shouts from the opposition benches.

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Prime Minister Theresa May says the debate has shown the House of Commons at its most passionate and most vigorous.

The choice is about generations for years to come, and about delivering on a democratic choice, she says.

The British people voted for a Conservative government to deliver Brexit, she says, and 470 current MPs voted to trigger Article 50. Only 32 voted against it.

A second referendum would be "passing the buck", she says, and it would not deliver for the British people. It would only create further division.

Leaving without a deal is also not what people voted for, she says, but the deal achieved does deliver what was promised.

Image source, AFP

You wouldn't be the only one.

The BBC has a simple guide (well, as simple as it can be) on what's what here.

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Prime Minister Theresa May begins to speak, to cheers from backbenchers, and thanks everyone who has contributed to the "historic" debate.

Prime Minister Theresa May stands up to speak to the House of Commons.

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Jeremy Corbyn says that the deal tabled does not "meet the needs of the people of this country".

He says EU citizens in the UK are "now anxious and have no faith" in the ability of the UK government to conduct the process of "settled status" fairly.

The government's own economic advice is that "it is a bad deal," he says, adding that the government has spent more time "arguing with itself" rather than "negotiating with the European Union".

"Too many people are struggling to make ends meet," he states, adding that nothing in the Brexit deal will solve that.

"Labour believes a general election would be the best outcome for the country," he states.

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Jeremy Corbyn says the backstop means that the UK will be faced with a choice that leaves "us over a barrel".

The last two years should give people no confidence that the government can achieve a future deal, he says, so negotiating an extension of the transition period is inevitable, at further cost to the UK.

There is "no clarity" in the withdrawal agreement, whilst the "frictionless trade promised has disappeared".

Labour will vote against the deal, he says, and others many will join them: "It's a bad deal for this country."

Being against something is not enough, "we must also be for something", he says: MPs must be able to consider all options.

BBC Radio 5 live

Conservative MP for Braintree James Cleverly spoke to 5 Live about why he will be backing Theresa May's Brexit deal.

Listen live on BBC Sounds.

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Jeremy Corbyn says the debate today is the "culmination of one of the most chaotic and extraordinary parliamentary processes" he has ever experienced in 35 years in the House.

The prime minister "pulled the vote in a panic and has run down the clock in a cynical attempt to get members to back the deal", he says, adding that "despite this, she has failed to negotiate any changes with Europe".

Jeremy Corbyn says the prime minister could have engaged with members across the House and with businesses and trade unions who want "a comprehensive and permanent customs union to secure jobs and trade".

He adds that the decision to rule out a new customs union "risks jobs, the economy and living standards" and that Theresa May's deal "fails to provide any certainly on future trade with the EU".

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Labour's Kate Green says her constituents did not intend for her to spend her time on Brexit, but instead work on living standards, security and a better planet.

She says she is "distressed" at the division that "this Brexit story" has caused in the UK.

Conservative Matt Warman says that his constituency voted for Brexit by the widest margin.

He warns that if Brexit is not delivered then the UK will no longer be a democracy. He says that voting against the deal will "bolster this House's dangerous attempts" to stop Brexit.

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UK Parliament photographers Mark Duffy and Jessica Taylor captured these images of the action in the Commons today.

Image source, UK Parliament

Image source, UK Parliament

Image source, UK Parliament

Image source, UK Parliament

House of Commons
Parliament

Labour MP Anneliese Dodds says "only a handful" of her constituents support this deal, with "inadequate" protections for EU nationals in the UK, and inadequate plans for research co-operation.

"This deal has got to be voted down, and after such a disappointment this government must go."

Tory MP Alex Burghart says it is 500 years since King Henry VIII installed himself as head of the English Church: "500 years on we find ourselves arguing about our relationship with Europe."

The deal "if treated right" will give the UK control, he says, and he will support it.