Prime Minister Boris Johnson pauses his Brexit bill after MPs reject his timetable for it
The PM says he will speak to EU leaders about Parliament's request for a delay - but stress his policy remains leaving on 31 October
European Council President Donald Tusk says he will 'recommend the EU27 accept the UK request for an extension'
MPs voted by a majority of 30 to approve the first stage of the government's Withdrawal Agreement Bill
But they rejected the government's planned timetable for the legislation by a majority of 14
Ministers wanted the bill to complete all of its Commons stages by Thursday in a bid to meet its Brexit deadline
Opposition MPs said that was not enough time to properly scrutinise the legislation
Commons leader Jacob Rees-Mogg says it is 'very hard' to see how Brexit deal laws can now be passed by 31 October
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MPs have voted to approve the EU (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill at second reading.
Ayes: 329
Noes: 299
Majority: 30
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Image source, HoCHouse of Commons
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Before the debate concluded Independent (once a Conservative) MP David Gauke asked if the government would ensure Parliament could vote on extending the transition period to 1 July, 2020, "if negotiations do not look like we are going to get a free trade agreement by the end of the year".
In response Justice Secretary Robert Buckland said he would "bring forward an amendment to that effect which would allow Parliament to have its say".
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Vicki Young
Chief Political Correspondent
I think that what's going to happen is that some Labour MPs will vote for the deal - for the bill - in the first vote.
But they don't like the way that it's being pushed through here [in the Commons].
That could be the point that the government becomes unstuck and no one I've spoken to today is willing to call which way that will go - they're all just saying "it will be very close".
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Vicki Young
Chief Political Correspondent
The government is quietly confident they may have the numbers.
It would be the first time MPs have backed any kind of Brexit deal in this very long process.
It depends on Labour MPs - many of them in constituencies where most of the people voted Brexit - backing the government.
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MPs are now voting on the EU (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill at second reading.
The result will be announced at around 19:15 BST.
Image source, AFP/ Getty ImagesThe 110-page bill will give legal effect to the withdrawal deal negotiated by Mr Johnson in Brussels last week.
It ditches the backstop - the controversial measure designed to prevent a return to physical checks on the Irish border.
It would see the whole of the UK leave the EU customs union, meaning it could strike trade deals with other countries in the future.
But customs checks on some goods travelling travel onwards to Ireland and the EU single market would be introduced.
The Withdrawal Agreement Bill will also turn any agreed transition period into law, fulfil requirements on the rights of EU citizens in the UK after Brexit, and allow ministers to make "divorce payments" to the EU foreseen under the current deal.
For more detail on the bill, read our BBC Reality Check piece here.
Second reading is the name for the first main hurdle a bill must pass on the way to becoming law.
The debate gives MPs the chance to discuss the general principles of the proposed legislation.
If passed, MPs will then move on to voting for the programme motion – that is the motion setting out the amount of time MPs are allowed to debate the bill at its next stages.
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Image source, ParliamentLabour leader Jeremy Corbyn has just arrived in the chamber, to watch the end of Nick Thomas-Symonds's speech. Justice Secretary Robert Buckland is now summing up for the government.
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Image source, ParliamentThe benches in the House of Commons are beginning to fill up, as MPs get ready to vote on the second reading of the EU (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill. Prime Minister Boris Johnson arrived on the government front bench a few moments ago.
The vote is expected at around 19:00 BST.
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"Weariness with politics is no good reason to wave through a bill of such huge significance in 36 hours," says shadow solicitor general Nick Thomas-Symonds winding up the debate for the opposition.
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Conservative MP and Leaver Michael Tomlinson says those objecting to the lack of time for scrutiny over this bill were "the same people who rushed through the Benn Act".
"Where were the voices complaining at that time about the lack of parliamentary scrutiny?" he asks.
He argues their objections today are not about principle but about "convenience".
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Brexit-backing Conservative MP Bob Seely says 104 Labour MPs are in Leave-majority seats.
"If I were them, I would be listening to my constituents more than my party leadership," he says.
"Their constituents are likely to be around longer than their party leadership."
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The timetable for the Withdrawal Agreement Bill is "clearly designed to frustrate scrutiny", says the Lib Dem's Tom Brake, whose party wants to cancel Brexit.
He confirms his party will support the amendment attaching a confirmatory referendum to the bill.
He says it provides "a sensible way out of the catastrophe".
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Image source, HoCLabour MP and Remain supporter Liz Kendall says: "If we want frictionless trade, we will have to sign up to EU rules but give up our say over how those rules are decided - in which case what is the point of Brexit?
"If we want to break free from these rules the EU will not give us frictionless trade - in which case what is the price of Brexit and crucially who will pay?"
Image source, UK Parliament/Jessica TaylorBoris Johnson told MPs he would abandon the bill if they voted against his timetable
Image source, UK Parliament/Jessica TaylorJeremy Corbyn said Labour would vote against the timetable, calling it an 'abuse' of Parliament
Image source, UK Parliament/Jessica TaylorThe debate also saw an intervention from Boris Johnson's brother, Jo
Image source, UK PARLIAMENT/JESSICA TAYLORSammy Wilson was among the DUP MPs who criticised the PM's Brexit deal
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"The European Union tends to take its time in negotiating trade arrangements with [non-member] countries," says the SNP's Westminster leader Ian Blackford, a firm opponent of the government's Brexit deal who plans to vote against the timetabling motion.
He adds: "I don't think many people realistically believe that we'll have a trade arrangement in place by the middle of next year, and if the government doesn't extend in the middle of next year, that's it - we crash out with on a no-deal basis at the end of 2020."