Conservative rebels win bid to let MPs take control of EU exit plans if Theresa May loses vote
Prime minister suffers humiliating double defeat in Commons
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Your support makes all the difference.Theresa May has suffered two humiliating defeats in parliament as MPs flex their muscles ahead of a Commons showdown over her deal.
In extraordinary scenes, the government was found to be in contempt of parliament over its refusal to publish key Brexit papers after opposition MPs won a narrow victory to force their hand.
Tory rebels then inflicted a further defeat on the prime minister, by backing an amendment that would give MPs control over Brexit if Ms May's deal is voted down next week.
It comes as the prime minister began a five-day Commons debate on her Brexit blueprint, which culminates in crunch votes that could threaten her leadership and her government.
See below for live updates
Looking ahead, MPs are preparing to begin five days of debate on the prime minister's Brexit deal. This includes up to eight hours of debate on December 4, 5, 6 and 10 - with the crunch votes expected on December 11.
First up, there will be a quick debate on what is known as the programme motion - which sets out the timescale and framework of the debate. Amendments have been tabled by two Labour MPs to extend the time for debate.
There is also a significant amendment from Tory rebel Dominic Grieve, a former attorney general. It would give MPs a say on what happens next if the Brexit deal is voted down next week.
The government absolutely does NOT want this to happen. Interestingly, it has been backed by 16 Tory MPs. Some are the usual rebels, like Anna Soubry and Sarah Wollaston but other signatories are surprising, such as Oliver Letwin and Nick Boles.
One to watch.
My colleague Ben Kentish has written a piece on the Dominic Grieve amendment, where Tory rebels hope parliament can seize control of Brexit if MPs reject Theresa May's deal.
More here:
The BBC has failed to reach an agreement for a TV debate between Jeremy Corbyn and Theresa May amid an impasse between Labour and No10.
Interesting observation from Sky News' political editor. Kevin Foster, the Torbay MP, is the latest to speak at length in support of the government. He is a parliamentary private secretary - a junior ministerial aide who is bound to toe the government line.
Are they trying to buy time before the vote?
The BBC has scrapped its plans to hold a potential Brexit debate between Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn after failing to find a proposal suiting both party leaders, my colleague Ashley Cowburn writes.
Read his piece here:
MPs are now voting on the government amendment to the contempt motion, tabled by Commons leader Andrea Leadsom. It would refer the matter to the Privileges Committee to consider, effectively kicking it into the long grass.
The amendment is DEFEATED.
Ayes - 307
Noes - 311
Majority - 4 votes
So the government's attempt to pass the matter to the privileges committee has been thwarted.
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