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As it happenedended

Brexit no-confidence vote: Theresa May makes speech outside Downing Street after surviving attempt to bring down her government

MPs voted along party lines during the vote 

Lizzy Buchan
Political Correspondent
Wednesday 16 January 2019 17:59 EST
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Theresa May delivers statement outside Number 10 Downing Street following second vote of confidence in her government

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Theresa May has appealed for other political parties to work with her on Brexit, after avoiding a dramatic bid to topple her government in the wake of the historic Commons defeat of her Brexit deal.

MPs rejected Jeremy Corbyn's motion of no confidence in the government by a margin of 325 to 306 after Tory Brexiteers and the DUP rowed in behind the prime minister.

Ms May's narrow reprieve came less than 24 hours after the crushing defeat of her Brexit deal in the Commons, and now paves the way for cross-party talks on a plan B.

Conservative rebels and members of the Democratic Unionist Party who consigned the PM to the worst defeat in parliamentary history on Wednesday rallied behind her to see off the threat of a general election.

Welcoming the result, Ms May told the Commons: “I am pleased that this house has expressed its confidence in the government.

“I do not take this responsibility lightly and my government will continue its work to increase our prosperity, guarantee our security and to strengthen our union."

She invited opposition leaders to meet her for late-night talks on Wednesday, saying she "stands ready to work with any member of this House to deliver on Brexit".

The move triggered an immediate row as Mr Corbyn's spokesman said he would not meet Ms May unless she ruled out a no-deal Brexit.

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It comes after a dramatic day in the Commons, where opposition MPs lined up to rubbish Ms May's administration and decry the lack of support for her central policy - the Brexit deal.

The Labour leader said her "zombie government" was unable to govern and declared her "Frankenstein" Brexit deal officially dead.

"There can’t be meaningful talks about how to find a deal that reflects the majority in parliament and that can command a majority in parliament while the threat of no deal, which would be disastrous for the country ... is still on the table. That must come off the table", his spokesperson later said.

If you would like to see how the vote unfolded, please see what was our live coverage below:

The government survives 325 to 306, with a majority of 19.

Lizzy Buchan16 January 2019 19:17

Jeremy Corbyn is on his feet. He says the House rejected May's deal emphatically yesterday and last week it proved it did not support a no deal.

He calls on the government to rule out a no-deal Brexit now before any talks can take place.

Lizzy Buchan16 January 2019 19:19

Ian Blackford, the SNP Westminster leader, welcomes the idea of talks with Theresa May. But he says the issues of extending article 50 and a people vote HAVE to be on the table.

Lizzy Buchan16 January 2019 19:20

Ed Davey, the Lib Dem former cabinet minister, said it's important for his party to ensure no deal is off the table.

Nigel Dodds, the DUP leader in Westminster, says the result shows the importance of the confidence and supply agreement between his party and the Tories. He gets jeers but does not care - he says it shows the strength of the partnership. May would have lost by one vote without his party's backing.

Lizzy Buchan16 January 2019 19:22

Immediately after surviving the vote, Theresa May stood up to give a short statement.

She said: "I do not take this responsibility lightly. And my government will continue its work to increase our prosperity, to guarantee our security, and to strengthen our union.

"And yes, we will also continue to work to deliver on the solemn promise we made to the people of this country to deliver on the result of the referendum, and leave the European Union. I believe this duty is shared by every member of this House.

"And we have a responsibility to identify a way forward that can secure the backing of the House.

"To that end, I have proposed a series of meetings between senior parliamentarians and representatives of the Government over the coming days.

"And I would like to invite the leaders of parliamentary parties to meet with me individually, and I would like to start these meetings tonight."

She vowed to approach these meetings in a "constructive spirit" but warned MPs that they must find solutions that are negotiable with the EU.

She added: "I stand ready to work with any member of this House to deliver on Brexit, and ensure that this House retains the confidence of the British people."

Lizzy Buchan16 January 2019 19:34

PA has done a great breakdown of how MPs voted in the confidence motion. 

There were 314 Conservative MPs who voted against the no confidence motion, joined by all 10 DUP MPs and Independent Lady Sylvia Hermon.

There were 251 Labour MPs who voted for the motion.

They were joined by 35 SNP, 11 Liberal Democrats, four Plaid Cymru, Green Party MP Caroline Lucas, and Independent MPs Frank Field, Kelvin Hopkins, Stephen Lloyd and Jared O'Mara.

Lizzy Buchan16 January 2019 19:39

Does Jeremy Corbyn’s failure to secure a general election mean he will now support a Final Say referendum, asks John Rentoul, the Independent's chief political commentator.

Read his rapid take here: 

Lizzy Buchan16 January 2019 19:47

In the wake of the vote, the leaders of the other opposition parties have written to Jeremy Corbyn urging him to back a People's Vote rather than calling multiple confidence motions.

Lizzy Buchan16 January 2019 19:51

Theresa May's official spokesman said that the Westminster leaders of Labour, the Liberal Democrats, the SNP and Plaid Cymru had been invited to meet Ms May later tonight.

However, a no-deal Brexit will not be taken off the table, despite Mr Corbyn's insistence it was a prerequisite for talks, he added.

The spokesman said: "The PM has been very clear that the British public voted to leave the European Union.

"We want to leave with a deal but she is determined to deliver on the verdict of the British public and that is to leave the EU on March 29 this year."

Asked by a reporter if he was "taking no-deal off the table in response to the opposition leader", he replied: "I am not."

Lizzy Buchan16 January 2019 20:10

Jeremy Corbyn's spokesman suggested that he would not meet the PM, repeating his demand that no deal be ruled out before any talks started.

He said: "There can't be meaningful talks about how to find a deal that reflects the majority in parliament and that can command a majority in parliament while the threat of no deal, which would be disastrous for the country... is still on the table.

"That must come off the table.

"It's effectively a blackmail and makes meaningful talks on a real solution that can command a majority in parliament impossible."

Lizzy Buchan16 January 2019 20:16

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