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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 prime minister said that she had held "constructive meetings" with the leader of the Lib Dems and the SNP and Plaid Cymru tonight.

She said she was disappointed that Jeremy Corbyn had not taken part but emphasised that her "door remains open". 

"It's time for us to come together, put the national interest first and deliver on the referendum," she said, in remarks aimed directly at voters.

Zamira Rahim16 January 2019 22:07

Across the channel France's parliament has adopted a law allowing for emergency measures to deal with the UK's 29 March exit from the EU. 

The country's National Assembly has voted on the final reading of a special law drafted to handle a no-deal Brexit.

The law includes things like extra customs officers after 29 March, and a temporary rule allowing Britons employed in France to keep their jobs even though they will no longer be EU citizens.

Zamira Rahim16 January 2019 22:24

David Lammy has responded to Theresa May's latest remarks by declaring that the prime minister sounds "like a broken record".

"After two and a half years of damaging the country's economy and international standing while failing to get consensus in Parliament, her refusal to change tack is a historic mistake," he said.

"If the Prime Minister really cares about the national interest, she would give the public the final say over this Brexit mess, with the option to stay in the EU."

Zamira Rahim16 January 2019 22:35

Labour MP Ben Bradshaw has accused the prime minister of being "in a total state of denial" about how radically her Brexit plan needs to change.

Zamira Rahim16 January 2019 22:57

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