Summary

  • MPs vote by 286 to 344 to reject the government’s withdrawal agreement - on the day the UK was due to leave the EU

  • The Commons has been debating a motion on the terms of the UK's exit

  • The political declaration, which sets out the future relationship, was not considered

  • The vote - the third time the government had been defeated over its deal - throws the UK’s plans into more confusion

  • Theresa May says the result will have "grave" implications and the "legal default" was that the UK would leave the EU on 12 April

  • Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn urges the PM to call an election

  • Thousands of Leave supporters gather outside Parliament to protest against Brexit delay

  1. 'Parliament must bring these matters to a belated conclusion'published at 19:51 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2019

    Brexit statement

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Sir Nicholas SoamesImage source, HoC

    Conservative MP Sir Nicholas Soames says the UK's reputation has "diminished" both at home and abroad, and that it shames him to say this.

    "The government should be able to get on with the work of creating a more hope-filled country," he says, adding: "Brexit has distracted the government from the great issues we face."

    "Brexit has sucked the lifeblood out of government," he says, adding: "Like many others, I find myself truly distraught, at the painful, intractable position this country finds itself in."

    Sir Nicholas says it's now time that Parliament did its duty and "brings these matters to a belated conclusion".

  2. 'Parliament must seize control and it starts tonight'published at 19:41 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2019

    Brexit statement

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Stephen GethinsImage source, HoC

    SNP's Europe spokesperson Stephen Gethins begins his speech by noting "what a state to be in - it is a tragedy".

    He adds that the SNP will be supporting the Letwin amendment this evening.

    "This is a Tory party determined to take the rest of us down with them," he says, adding that the Letwin amendment intends to stop this.

    The message to the prime minister must be that this government "are unlikely to get us out of this mess", he adds.

    "I wouldn't let this lot anywhere near the TV remote in my house," Mr Gethins says.

    It becomes more pointless every hour to debate the prime minister's deal, he adds: "Parliament must seize control and it starts tonight."

  3. Letwin clear he will not drop amendmentpublished at 19:30 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2019

    Brexit statement

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Tory MP Sir Oliver Letwin says the convention that the government has control over the parliamentary timetable only dates back to 1906, and is therefore not part of the "ancient" constitution.

    The amendment he has backed which would provide time for possible indicative votes on Wednesday is "not some kind of massive constitutional revolution", he says.

    He adds that he will "go on voting" in favour of the PM's deal, which he describes as "perfectly OK".

    Concluding his remarks, Sir Oliver Letwin says: "We have to press this amendment tonight."

  4. Potential indicative votes to last a few days?published at 19:29 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2019

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  5. Starmer: Parliament must take back controlpublished at 19:07 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2019

    Brexit statement

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Sir Keir Starmer says if there is a majority found through indicative votes, the government must support it and not ignore it "or there's not much point going through the exercise in the first place".

    He adds that European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker has been clear that the withdrawal agreement and political declaration are in the same negotiated package and go together, suggesting the prime minister could not split the two up to get her deal through.

    Sir Keir says Labour will be supporting all amendments this evening.

    "The prime minister is surviving by the hour to get through until Wednesday, but enough is enough. We cannot go on like this and Parliament must take back control," he concludes.

  6. Starmer: May has lost control of the Brexit processpublished at 18:55 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2019

    Brexit statement

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Sir Keir StarmerImage source, HoC

    Shadow Brexit secretary Keir Starmer says the prime minister has got herself and the government into "a hopeless position", having "ignored Parliament for the best part of two years".

    The prime minister has lost control of the meaningful vote, he says, adding: "Theresa May has lost control of the Brexit process and the negotiations."

    Sir Keir says Theresa May has no answer to what happens if her deal falls again this week, noting that "we must now find a way forwards".

    "Of course we need to see the options," Sir Keir says, adding that the Labour Party would whip against no deal.

    On the comments Theresa May made about MPs in her statement outside Downing Street last Wednesday, Sir Keir says "there's no way out on the basis of a narrative of 'people vs MPs'."

  7. MP fails to get guarantee over indicative votes processpublished at 18:49 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2019

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Oliver LetwinImage source, HoC

    Tory MP Sir Oliver Letwin - one of those behind the amendment calling for MPs to take control of the parliamentary agenda on Wednesday - says ministers' objection to the amendment is "ostensibly" simply "constitutional".

    He asks David Lidington whether the government intends to replicate "exactly" the process set out in the amendment in its own plan for a debate on alternative options.

    "I can't give a commitment immediately for that level of detail," says Mr Lidington in reply.

    "It may be that my right honourable friend the Secretary of State [Stephen Barclay] will be able to respond to that point in greater detail in his wind-up speech," he adds.

  8. 'Premature' to talk about voting instructions - Lidingtonpublished at 18:26 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2019

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    David LidingtonImage source, HoC

    Conservative MP Victoria Prentis asks whether any so-called indicative votes held later this week would be "free votes" for Tory MPs.

    Cabinet Office Minister David Lidington replies that it would be "premature to say anything at this stage about whipping" - the process by which party managers tell MPs which way to vote.

    "At the moment, we don't know exactly what the content of any options might be, nor what amendments might be tabled," he adds.

  9. Lidington sets out timetable for indicative votespublished at 18:14 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2019

    Brexit statement

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Cabinet Office Minister David Lidington says the government will provide time to allow indicative votes to proceed if the Letwin amendment fails this evening.

    "We would set aside time to have a first date debate later this week...we would then consider and consult about what, if any, other time might be needed," he adds.

    Mr Lidington says if Sir Oliver Letwin's amendment passes, decisions on indicative votes would be a matter for Sir Oliver and the House.

  10. Grieve: Government 'boxing itself in'published at 18:10 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2019

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Dominic GrieveImage source, HoC

    Intervening, Tory MP Dominic Grieve says the government is "boxing itself in" with the options available to resolve the current deadlock in Parliament.

    "A national crisis should be requiring us to look more widely," he says.

    Cabinet Office Minister David Lidington replies that the prime minister is "motivated entirely" by the national interest.

  11. MPs have responsibility not to encourage 'wicked people', says Lidingtonpublished at 18:05 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2019

    Brexit statement

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Coat of Arms unveiled in honour of MP Jo CoxImage source, UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor
    Image caption,

    Coat of Arms unveiled in honour of MP Jo Cox

    Labour MP Stephen Doughty intervenes to raise a concern about the prime minister's statement last week in which she blamed MPs for the delay to Brexit.

    He says at this is not the time for politicians to be "raising the heat".

    David Lidington replies: "Looking up at the memorial shield to Jo Cox, I am very sharply reminded of the fact that many members of the House have been subject to the most appalling threats.

    "Every one of us has a responsibility to ensure no encouragement is given to those wicked people."

  12. The prime minister elect?published at 17:59 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2019

    Brexit statement

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Labour MP Ian Murray refers to Mr Lidington as "the prime minister elect".

    At the weekend there were rumours that Mr Lidington could take over from Theresa May as a caretaker prime minister.

  13. Brexit debate beginspublished at 17:53 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2019

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Minister for the Cabinet Office David Lidington opens the debate by telling MPs they voted both against a no-deal Brexit and in favour of extending Article 50.

    "Neither [vote] was legally binding - but in each case the government has honoured the wishes of the House," he says.

    "I hope that might provide a modicum of assurance that in this government we don't intend to be dismissive of what the House decides."

  14. Bercow selects three amendments to Brexit motionpublished at 17:50 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2019

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Speaker John BercowImage source, HoC

    Speaker John Bercow has announced he has provisionally selected the following three amendments to the government’s motion to be debated this afternoon:

    Amendment (d) – Labour frontbench

    Calls on the government to “provide sufficient parliamentary time this week” for indicative votes. It mentions Common Market 2.0, customs union and a public vote.

    Amendment (a) – Letwin/Grieve/Benn

    Takes power to control business in the Commons away from the government on Wednesday, to allow MPs to put forward business motions relating to Brexit - most likely indicative votes.

    If more than one business motion is submitted, Mr Bercow will decide which one has "precedence".

    Whatever is happening in the Commons on Wednesday will be interrupted at 2pm.

    MPs will have one hour to debate the business motion before moving on to the main business. It does not set out the process for indicative votes.

    Amendment (f) – Beckett

    If the UK is seven days away from leaving without a deal, the government must move a motion within two sitting days (or recall Parliament) to vote on whether to leave without a deal or request an extension "to give time for Parliament to determine a different approach".

    The MPs behind these amendments will have the opportunity to put them to a vote from 22.00 GMT.

  15. MPs to debate Brexit motionpublished at 17:37 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2019

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Debate on the PM's Brexit statement has now finished.

    MPs will soon begin debating a neutral motion on the government's Brexit strategy, along with those of the seven tabled amendments selected shortly by the Speaker.

  16. Not implementing MPs' choices would damage PM - Umunnapublished at 17:36 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2019

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Chuka UmunnaImage source, HoC

    Former Labour - now Independent Group - MP Chuka Umunna said it would damage the PM’s credibility with her European counterparts if she did not implement an "alternative way forward" endorsed by MPs.

    "How on Earth could she remain in office in those circumstances?" he asks.

    Theresa May replied that she would "engage constructively" with the results of any votes on alternatives to the government's Brexit deal.

  17. 'Government is the servant of Parliament'published at 17:31 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2019

    BBC News Channel

    Constitutional expert Professor Meg Russell says the prime minister is right to say that if MPs are demanding a certain type of Brexit, she cannot deliver that on her own.

    However, she adds: "At the same time, there are things she can promise to do on her own - for example, if MPs demand a referendum that is entirely within the PM's power to deliver.

    "There is a degree to which it could be seen as a bit disingenuous and inappropriate to say that if Parliament wants something you will not act.

    "Government is the servant of Parliament - that's the way it works.

    "Parliament can, at the end of the day, sack the government.

    "The way the mood is at the moment I would not rule out that happening."

  18. Former Labour leader asks for no-deal guaranteepublished at 17:17 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2019

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Ed MilibandImage source, HoC

    Former Labour leader Ed Miliband asks the PM whether she will not take the UK out of the EU without a deal on 12 April if the Commons "continues to vote against no deal".

    Theresa May replies that "if we are not going to leave the European Union without a deal, then we need to clearly have a deal which enables us to leave the European Union".

  19. PM's strategy 'to get through the day'published at 17:03 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2019

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  20. 'Not sufficient support' for meaningful votepublished at 17:02 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2019

    Theresa May says the best path forward is for the UK to leave the EU with a deal on 22 May.

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