The broadcaster offered to air a debate, but Labour had criticised the proposed format.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Prime Minister Theresa May says "in 2016 in the biggest democratic exercise in history, the people voted to leave the EU."

"We need to deliver a Brexit that respects the British people and sets us on course for a better future outside the EU," she adds.

Theresa May says the UK will have an independent trade policy, and "during the implementation period we will be able to negotiate, sign and ratify trade deals."

The prime minister says "this will only be a moment of opportunity if we can deliver a Brexit that brings our country back together."

She says she knows there are some who want a closer relationship with the EU and another referendum "but the hard truth is we will not bring our country together that way".

"I ask them to think about what the 52% would think if their decision was ignored, and what it would do to our politics."

Theresa May says the government "must respect the views of the 48%" with regards to ensuring the trading relationship with the EU is protected.

"This argument has gone on for too long, it is corrosive to our politics, and we must understand that life depends on compromise."

The DUP supported a motion to find ministers in contempt for withholding the full Brexit legal advice.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

MPs now begin five days of debate on the EU withdrawal agreement, which will conclude with a vote on whether to accept the deal.

Prime Minister Theresa May is opening the debate.

House of Commons
Parliament

MPs have voted in favour of Dominic Grieve's amendment, with 321 voting in favour and 299 against.

This means further motions voted on under EU Withdrawal Act motions can be amended, which supporters of the amendment argued gives MPs more of a say on the future of Brexit.

The Business of the House motion passes without division.

House of Commons
Parliament

MPs are now voting on Conservative MP Dominic Grieve's amendment to the timetabling motion for the Brexit deal debate.

The amendment would allow any further motions voted on in the Commons under the EU Withdrawal Act to be amended.

For example, if the government has to table a new motion after losing the vote on the government's negotiated deal, MPs would be able to amend it.

House of Commons
Parliament

Chair of the Brexit Committee Hilary Benn, who has tabled a similar amendment to Dominic Grieve's to the meaningful vote motion itself, expresses his support for Mr Grieve's amendment, "since it pays more than a passing resemblance to my own".

It is essential that the House of Commons is able to give itself a voice if it rejects the deal, he says, and if the amendment passes, the obstacles to that would be removed.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

SNP MP Joanna Cherry says "this deal is not in the interest of the Scots or anyone in the United Kingdom".

Ms Cherry says "the promises made by the Leave campaign are undeliverable and the result of leaving the EU will have a massive hit on the economy."

She refers to the European Court of Justice's "preliminary opinion that Article 50 can be unilaterally revoked", and suggests this ruling "might have some impact on today's proceedings".

Ms Cherry says the SNP will support Dominic Grieve's amendment "to ensure democracy is not steamrolled by this government".

She calls for the meaningful vote to be "pushed back until the vital verdict from the European Court of Justice is reached".

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Conservative MP Sir Oliver Letwin has also signed Dominic Grieve's amendment, which gives MPs a greater say if the government's Brexit deal is rejected.

He says the change in procedure outlined in the amendment "may become critical to the future of our country".

He says a subsequent vote "may not be relevant" if MPs approve the government's deal next week - which he says he hopes will happen.

But he adds that it would allow MPs to vote for "some solution which would avoid us leaving without a deal".

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Labour MP Clive Efford says his amendments "are there to introduce more flexibility into the timings of debates so that more backbench MPs can get their thoughts down on the record".

Mr Efford's amendments had called for Parliament to debate Brexit for a minimum of 10 hours a day as opposed to eight.

He says MPs are discouraged from making interventions and "sittings usually become a recording studio of statements".

Mr Efford says "he hopes the government are taking note that is is important for everyone to speak in this debate", but will not be pushing his amendments to a vote this evening.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Commons Speaker John Bercow says he has decided that MPs should vote on an amendment to the business motion backed by several Conservative MPs, including Dominic Grieve.

The amendment would seek to give Parliament a greater say in deciding what happens next if the government’s current Brexit deal is rejected next week.

It would do this by allowing MPs to amend the motion that ministers would have to issue on their future plans within 21 days of the deal being defeated.

The requirement for ministers to produce a motion after a defeat is included in the EU withdrawal legislation, although it would be “neutral” – ie usually not amendable.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Former Attorney General, Conservative Dominic Grieve says last year he decided to vote against his own amendments to the EU Withdrawal Bill, after he was persuaded by the prime minister that they would interfere with her ability to negotiate a deal with the EU.

However, this left MPs with an "unsatisfactory procedure to resolve differences of opinion" if MPs do not back the withdrawal agreement next week, he says.

His amendment would offer "a cure to that problem".

Whatever the result of the meaningful vote next week, he says the amendment would give MPs the opportunity to continue the debate in a way that is not a binary choice between the Brexit deal and leaving the EU with no deal at all.

He clarifies that if MPs reject the deal, there would be further amendable motions that could be considered.

There is no incompatibility between this amendment and any existing legislation, he adds.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Shadow leader of the House Valerie Vaz says the opposition are supportive of the Business Motion and "are glad the government has seen sense".

Ms Vaz says Labour will support Conservative MP Dominic Grieve's amendment which seeks to give Parliament a greater say in deciding what happens next if the government's current Brexit deal is rejected next week.

"This amendment would ensure Parliament is given another meaningful say if the deal is defeated next week," she says "no true democrat can be against this motion".

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

The Leader of the House introduces the business motion by stating "the prime minister's negotiation delivers on the Brexit priorities that this country voted for".

Theresa May' proposal, Ms Leadsom continues, delivers on control of the UK's borders, laws and money, takes the UK out of the Common Agricultural Policy and Common Fisheries Policy and "importantly" the UK will be able to negotiate free trade.

It has been a "challenging journey", she adds, with "compromises on all sides".

Andrea Leadsom says the prime minister's deal is "the only deal" and the UK will leave the EU on 29 March 2019.

This motion seeks the framework for the debate, she tells the House.

Ms Leadsom adds the government has "listened carefully" to the House on how best to govern the arrangements for the debate on the Withdrawal Agreement and the Future Framework.

It is "absolutely vital the substantial issues" are properly debated so MPs can take an informed decision in the "national interest".

House of Commons
Parliament

MPs now turn to the Business of the House motion regarding the EU withdrawal debate.

Speaker John Bercow says he has accepted amendments from Labour MP Clive Efford, which would extend Commons sitting hours, as well as Conservative MP Dominic Grieve's potentially significant amendment.

Leader of the House Andrea Leadsom is now tabling the motion.