House of Commons
Parliament

Labour's Chris Bryant says he will vote against the withdrawal agreement.

He adds: "Round and round and round we go. It is not so much like a broken record but one that is on the wrong speed.

"There may be good reasons to vote for it... but it worries me how many have said they absolute loathe this deal, but plan to support it.

"There is a deep deep wound in the body politic and a sticking plaster wont suffice. We need to stitch this country back together."

House of Commons
Parliament

The leader of Plaid Cymru Liz Saville-Roberts criticises the government for bringing back another vote.

She says: "Another day, another Brexit vote which isn't quite the Brexit vote we need, which doesn't quite have the numbers it needs to win, doesn't quite give constituents companies or our four countries the certainty they require.

"Yet here we are again."

She says the British state is "beset with a Tory Westminster government behaving like Olympian Gods as though our constituents, many of whom have livelihoods that depend on our relationship with Europe, as though they were mere pawns in their chess game."

She says bringing the vote is "nothing more than deceit, duplicity and deception from a government in desperation."

She concludes: "Bring on a People's Vote - our salvation in public democracy."

House of Commons
Parliament

Conservative MP Rebecca Pow says she has not spoken in many of the Brexit debates, but it was now her moment as "time and time again we hear from the same people, but not often from the voices of reason".

To shouts of "the men", she says: "I am exasperated of the bickering and it cannot be beyond the men and women of this place to put the good of the nation first."

She adds that today's vote is "one small step for Parliament and one giant leap for the UK".

She concludes: "Can we really countenance voting against Brexit on the day Brexit was meant to be Brexit?"

Norman Smith
Assistant political editor

First thing this morning Mrs May seemed to be heading into a sort of brick wall of Brexiteer opposition.

But the story of the past few hours has been the steady, slow crumbling, like a stale, dry carrot cake, of Brexiteer opposition - with one after another uber-Brexiteers folding.

In the last hour, Dominic Raab, who only this morning was not for turning, was saying he too was going to back Mrs May.

There’s speculation now about what Jacob Rees-Mogg will do, with some of his colleagues saying he too will fold, even though he’s always insisted he will never abandon the DUP, who are still holding out.

At the same time we see Labour MPs in Leave-supporting constituencies doing a wobbly jelly manoeuvre, beginning to wonder if they too should support Mrs May to avoid a long delay.

It means we are heading for a knife-edge vote. My sense is Mrs May will still fall short, which means we then move to Monday when Parliament regains the initiative, when it could pursue a much slower, softer Brexit.

So today is frantic Friday. Next up, manic Monday.

House of Commons
Parliament

Sir Christopher Chope condemns those who have changed their minds to back Theresa May's withdrawal agreement.

He tells the Commons: "Why would you want to hold your nose and vote for something that was so against your instincts and against the interests of the British people?"

Former Tory and member of the Independent Group Anna Soubry praises him for "being consistent".

Katya Adler
Europe Editor

There is little expectation in the EU today that the withdrawal agreement will pass.

If it does, EU leaders will breath a huge sigh of relief.

They are not bothered that the political declaration on post-Brexit EU-UK relations is being kept out of the vote. Brussels has always said it was open to renegotiating it.

The divorce issues in the withdrawal agreement are their priority.

The overwhelming mood in the EU today is one of resignation.

For the first time, EU leaders are looking at a no-deal Brexit as a very real possibility, rather than a distant, unlikely prospect.

It’s forcing them to grapple with internal issues that up until now were viewed as too much of a hot potato.

Primarily it is about what happens on the Ireland/Northern Ireland border in a no-deal scenario.

EU leaders are putting pressure on Dublin to do more to prepare.

The EU priority is to safeguard the single market, meaning that checks and some infrastructure will likely be necessary even if they are away from the border itself.

But we’re not there yet.

If the vote fails today, the prime minister could opt to delay Brexit even longer.

EU leaders plan to hold an emergency summit on 10 April to hear what she decides.

But attitudes hardened at their last meeting.

The EU will insist the UK takes part in European Parliamentary elections in May as a condition for getting a longer extension.

EU leaders’ focus is no longer on the UK and whether it stays or goes.

They see their priority now as damage control - protecting themselves as much as possible from any Brexit fall-out.

House of Commons
Parliament

Former Tory MP and current member of the Independent Group Anna Soubry uses her contibution to the debate to decry those swapping to vote for Theresa May's deal.

She says: "In all the shameful shenanigans [around Brexit], I think we have sunk to new depths today.

"It really isn't good enough for people to stand up and say they are now going to vote for the deal not because they think it will be good for the country... but because it will stop an extension.

"These aren't good reasons."

She adds: "Some are voting on the basis that the PM stands down. That isn't acting with honour. That isn't acting with principle."

House of Commons
Parliament

Former Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab has confirmed he will back the government's withdrawal agreement, despite only hours earlier telling reporters he would vote against it.

He tells the Commons: "We potentially face an even worse alternative that could reverse Brexit and betray our democracy."

He says he "well appreciates" the concerns of those who are against the Irish backstop and assurances the government has got provide "scant political comfort".

But, he adds: "In all of this, however frustrating, I believe we need to proceed with some realism."

Tory MP John Baron appealed to his colleague, pleading with him to think carefully before supporting the government.

But Mr Raab says he cannot countenance an even longer extension or holding European elections in May, so would be voting in favour.

Image source, AFP/Getty Images

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki says he is open to considering a Brexit extension of up to 12 months.

It follows a meeting in Warsaw with the EU's chief negotiator Michel Barnier.

Should Theresa May's deal be rejected again, Mr Morawiecki said he would be open to another Brexit extension should Downing Street ask for one.

Mr Morawiecki added: “The first (option) is a no-deal Brexit, a hard Brexit, which with Michel and the leaders of other countries in the European Council, we want to avoid.

"That’s why during the last summit we gave the British parliament yet another chance to vote.

“But we are also realists and in the case of a negative vote, if this happens, we are open to a proposal to extend the process of the UK leaving the EU.

"Six months, 10 or 12, these options are acceptable for us."

BBC Radio 5 Live

BBC Radio 5 Live reporter Stephen Chittenden is spending the day in Theresa May's constituency of Maidenhead, Berkshire.

Anthony and Tamara are working on a fruit and vegetable stall on the high street.

Anthony says he thinks the prime minister has got "a battle on her hands".

He says: "It’s never going to be an easy thing for her to do. I wouldn’t want the job, I don’t know anybody else that would want it.

“I think she’s doing a great job but she’s up against a lot of other people who aren’t giving her an easy time.”

Tamara says: “I think she’s got a hard job, and it’s not going to be easy for anyone to go in.

"She’s doing the best she can for something that’s unprecedented.”

Click here to listen to live coverage on 5 Live.

Image source, UK Parliament

Poplar and Limehouse MP Jim Fitzpatrick says he is voting for the deal.

"I don't want a no-deal. I've voted against it twice but this is a different proposition.

"It's separating the withdrawal deal, it gives us the opportunities to influence the final political situation and, therefore, from my point of view, it's a better offer.

"I've been saying for some time if it's a choice between her deal or no deal, then I'd take her deal."

In 2016 Mr Fitzpatrick's constituency voted 67.3% in favour of remaining in the EU - however, he has defended his choice.

He added: "I'm getting a lot of traffic from both the constituency and the party.

"I'm explaining that my job is to make decisions by exercising my judgement on what I think is the best for the country, then the constituency, then my party."

House of Commons
Parliament

Prominent Tory Brexiteer Priti Patel said the motion was "yet another disappointment" for people who voted to leave the EU.

She says it is "clear it binds the United Kingdom into agreeing the withdrawal agreement" and after that there would be "no turning back".

Ms Patel said it was a deal "dreamed up, drafted and decided by the EU".

But she said MPs were being forced to make "difficult decisions".

She did not reveal which way she would vote, but concludes: "I do not take the decision I am going to take today at all lightly. There is grave disappointment.

"Leave means leave and I think that is exactly what the British public voted for."

Image source, Getty Images

The March to Leave protest has set off earlier than expected.

Hundreds of demonstrators have started walking from Fulham in south-west London towards Parliament Square.

Many are holding Union Jack flags, placards and banners, with several seen wearing hi-vis vests.

It is the final leg of the march which left Sunderland on 16 March and has been organised by the Leave Means Leave protest group.