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As it happenedended

Brexit news - live: Three ministers resign as MPs vote to seize control over EU exit from May

Follow The Independent's live coverage of today's political events 

Benjamin Kentish,Lizzy Buchan
Monday 25 March 2019 20:59 EDT
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House of Commons votes 329 to 302 to approve Letwin's amendment A: The Brexit Next Steps motion

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Theresa May has suffered another humiliating defeat in the Commons after MPs dramatically wrested control of the Brexit process from the government.

Pro-EU Tory ministers Steve Brine, Alistair Burt and Richard Harrington resigned from their posts to back a cross-party bid to hold indicative votes on Wednesday, allowing the Commons to test support for different Brexit options.

Some 30 Conservative MPs rebelled against the government to support the amendment tabled by Tory MP Sir Oliver Letwin, potentially paving the way for a softer Brexit deal that keeps the UK closer to Brussels.

It comes after the prime minister admitted there was "still not sufficient support" to bring her Brexit deal back to the Commons for a third "meaningful vote". MPs have overwhelmingly rejected her plan twice already.

Please allow a moment for the liveblog to load

Benjamin Kentish25 March 2019 14:26

NEW: Jeremy Corbyn has just emerged from a meeting with Theresa May to discuss Brexit.

Speaking afterwards, a Labour spokesperson said: 

"Jeremy Corbyn and Theresa May met for over an hour in Parliament and had a frank and comprehensive exchange of views.

"Jeremy Corbyn made clear there was no basis for bringing back the meaningful vote on Theresa May's deal for a third time 

"The Labour leader did not accept the prime minister’s suggestion that the withdrawal agreement could be separated from the political declaration."

Benjamin Kentish25 March 2019 14:40

A bit more on the talks between Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn...

Also present at the meeting were: Stephen Barclay (Brexit secretary), Julian Smith (government chief whip), Sir Keir Starmer (shadow Brexit secretary) and Nick Brown (shadow chief whip).

It is understood that the government said it would not be bound by the outcome of any indicative votes held by parliament. Ms May also said she had not made a final decision on whether to hold a third "meaningful vote" on her Brexit deal tomorrow.

Benjamin Kentish25 March 2019 15:00

The government has just tabled the legislation, called a "statutory instrument", that will delay Brexit from 29 March until either 12 April or 22 May.

Here's the key part:

Benjamin Kentish25 March 2019 15:15

Theresa May is now speaking in the Commons.

She says MPs need to understand that "changing the withdrawal agreement is simply not an option".

She says she had always been clear that the EU would not necessarily agree to a delay to Brexit on the terms the UK requested - and it did not.

May says she has concluded that there is "still not sufficient support" in the Commons to bring back the deal for a third "meaningful vote". 

Benjamin Kentish25 March 2019 15:36

Turning to the amendment tabled by Sir Oliver Letwin, which would pave the way for the Commons to hold "indicative votes" on Brexit, Theresa May says the motion would be "an unwelcome precedent to set, which would overturn the balance of our democratic institutions".

The government will therefore oppose it, she says, but will seek to provide government time for indicative votes. MPs would be free to put forward suggestions, she adds.

But the prime minister says she is "sceptical" about holding indicative votes, saying past experience suggests they will led to "contradictory outcomes or no outcome at all".

She makes clear she cannot commit to delivering the outcome of indicative votes, because it may not be deliverable. 

Benjamin Kentish25 March 2019 15:39

Theresa May finishes by saying that if MPs back her deal the UK would leave the European Union in less than two months. 

Benjamin Kentish25 March 2019 15:40

Jeremy Corbyn is now speaking. 

He quotes Theresa May's deputy, David Lidington, saying that a short, one-off delay to Brexit would be "downright reckless", but says this is exactly what the prime minister has secured.

Criticising Ms May's condemnation of parliament last week, the Labour leader says it was "wholly inappropriate for the prime minister to try to pit the people against MPs". He says she should "reflect" on her "dangerous and irresponsible" statement at a time when MPs are facing threats to the their safety.

Mr Corbyn confirms that Labour will back Sir Oliver Letwin's amendment calling for indicative votes, and says it is "ridiculous" for the prime minister to suggest that parliament taking control would be overturning democratic institutions. Instead of trying to hold a third vote on her unchanged deal, he says, Ms May should agree to abide by the outcome of indicative votes.

Benjamin Kentish25 March 2019 15:46

Theresa May re-iterates that she cannot commit to following the outcome of indicative votes, saying it is not known what the options are or what will be selected.

She says "no one would want to support an option which contradicts the manifesto on which they stood on election to this House."

MPs have a duty to respect the result of the 2016 referendum, she says.

Benjamin Kentish25 March 2019 15:49

The SNP's Ian Blackford demands that Theresa May apologise for her attack on MPs last week, which he calls "Trumpesque".

He says: 

"We don't need such raw populism at a time like this. It is truly flabbergasting."

Benjamin Kentish25 March 2019 15:52

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