House of Commons
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The DUP's Westminster Leader Nigel Dodds says that "it is quite frankly outrageous...to say that this vote tonight drives a coach and horses through the Good Friday Agreement".

He says it is "utterly reckless" to talk in this way as "nobody in Northern Ireland" is "advocating" any kind of hard border.

"We will work with the prime minister to deliver the right deal for the United Kingdom," he says.

House of Commons
Parliament

Liberal Democrat leader Vince Cable calls for Theresa May to return to the Commons tomorrow to reveal what the alternative arrangements to the backstop are.

The Brady amendment, which passed in the Commons tonight, calls for alternative arrangments to the NI backstop in the withdrawal agreement.

Sir Vince says they were dead with the Chequers plan, but now seem to be the basis of negotiations.

The Speaker says there will be plenty of time tomorrow in PMQs and thereafter to raise questions on this issue.

“We welcome and share the UK Parliament's ambition to avoid a no-deal scenario," says a spokesman for Donald Tusk.

"We continue to urge the UK government to clarify its intentions with respect to its next steps as soon as possible.

"The Withdrawal Agreement is and remains the best and only way to ensure an orderly withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union.

"The backstop is part of the Withdrawal Agreement, and the Withdrawal Agreement is not open for re-negotiation.

"The December European Council Conclusions are very clear on this point.

"If the UK's intentions for the future partnership were to evolve, the EU would be prepared to reconsider its offer and adjust the content and the level of ambition of the political declaration, whilst respecting its established principles.

"Should there be a UK reasoned request for an extension, the EU27 would stand ready to consider it and decide by unanimity.

"The EU27 will adopt this decision, taking into account the reasons for and duration of a possible extension, as well as the need to ensure the functioning of the EU institutions.

"We will continue our preparations for all outcomes, including a no-deal scenario. We will also continue the EU´s process of ratification of the agreement reached with the UK government."

House of Commons
Parliament

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Jeremy Corbyn says the Commons has "emphatically rejected" the option of no-deal, and states that he is prepared to meet with Mrs May in order to discuss next steps on behalf of the Labour Party.

He says he will do this now that no-deal has been rejected.

The SNP's Ian Blackford says that the prime minister "still seems to be in denial" in order to "remove that threat" of no deal.

He says this is a "sad day" as the PM has had to admit she does not "have the support". He warns that the Conservative party has "ripped apart the Good Friday Agreement".

"This government...has no respect" for other devolved administrations in the UK, he says.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Theresa May says two weeks ago MPs rejected the Withdrawal Agreement, and tonight a majority have said they would support a deal with changes to the backstop.

It is now clear that there is a route that can secure a substantial and sustainable majority to leave the EU with a deal, she adds.

The prime minister says now the government can look forward to obtaining legally binding changes to the withdrawal agreement with regards to the backstop, allowing no hard border between Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Negotiations with the EU "will not be easy", but MPs have now made it clear what it needs to approve the Withdrawal Agreement, she says.

The House has also reaffirmed its view that it does not want to leave without a deal, she says, but simply opposing no-deal is not enough to stop it.

She says the government will now double its efforts to get a deal that the House can support, and invites the leader of the Opposition for discussions on how to do this.

House of Commons
Parliament

Theresa May outlines the next steps forward to MPs, following the success of the Brady amendment.

House of Commons
Parliament

The amendment from Conservative Sir Graham Brady, which supports the PM's deal on condition that "alternative arrangements" are found to replace the NI backstop, is carried.

For: 317

Against: 301

Majority: 16

Vicki Young
Chief Political Correspondent

[The Spelman amendment] is the first government defeat of the evening. MPs... saying they are not prepared to leave the EU without a deal.

It's important to say this is not binding on the government, but nevertheless it is probably the clearest vote that we've had demonstrating that MPs are against the idea of no-deal.

This was a cross-party amendment. Caroline Spelman, senior Conservative, alongside her Labour neighbouring MP Jack Dromey.

And it looks like Labour MPs have decided to get behind that in larger numbers.

Vince Cable, the leader of the Liberal Democrats - which opposes Brexit and wants another referendum - criticised Theresa May's promise to try and reopen negotiations with the EU.

"This is foolish and certainly dangerous because it's raising expectations of something that's very unlikely to be delivered," he said.

"The negotiations with the EU finished last year, it's been very clear they're not being reopened, the government accepted it at the time. The only problem they have is the rebellion in the Conservative Party.

"To go back now, to waste another two weeks seeking a solution they're not going to get on the basis of these alternative ideas to the backstop, which are not spelt out - nobody explained today what they were.

"We think they were the proposals that were discussed at the Chequers summit last year which were rejected as impractical.

"So how on earth are the European Union going to negotiate with something so nebulous?"

Justice Minister Rory Stewart says it will be "hugely helpful" if the Graham Brady amendment passes.

"In order to get change from Europe you need to demonstrate there is a majority in Parliament for something," he says.

If you can say to the EU 'change this sentence, change this paragraph' and we guarantee this deal will pass - that is quite a powerful thing to say."

House of Commons
Parliament

MPs are now voting on the last amendment tonight - from Tory Sir Graham Brady, who's the chairman of the 1922 committee - the Conservative backbench committee.

This amendment calls on the government to replace the backstop with "alternative arrangements". The amendment states that MPs would support the withdrawal agreement with this change.

This amendment has been approved by the PM, so she will be voting for it, and expecting other Tory MPs to do so as well.

House of Commons
Parliament

The amendment proposed by Conservative MP Dame Caroline Spelman and Labour MP Jack Dromey - which rejects the UK leaving the EU with no-deal - passes.

For: 318

Against: 310

Majority: 8

BBC News Channel

There is some thought that the next amendment - backed by the Conservative MP Dame Caroline Spelman and Labour's Jack Dromey - could go through, says BBC chief political correspondent. Vicki Young.

"The key thing here will be Labour MPs," she says. "From other Labour MPs talking about this, they say there are may be 15 Labour MPs who voted with the government.

"Some of them are very concerned to be seen to block Brexit, to delay article 50, delay Brexit happening.

"Fifteen of them it seems may well have decided to vote against what Jeremy Corbyn wanted and to vote with the government. That has scuppered Yvette Cooper's attempts to take no deal off the table. That may not happen here."

Mark D'Arcy
Parliamentary Correspondent

BBC Parliamentary Correspondent Mark D'Arcy says another amendment (the Reeves amendment) bites the dust, although it was less forceful than the Cooper amendment.

The next amendment is from Conservative MP Caroline Spelman and Labour MP Jack Dromey, who are concerned about the impact of a no-deal Brexit on manufacturing industries particularly in their Midlands constituencies, he says.

He adds that the amendment is interesting as it is the only one which explicitly rules out no-deal, rather than pushing for the extension of the Article 50 period.