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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:

Michel Barnier is talking to MEPs at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, discussing the events that took place in the UK last night. 

Here is Nigel Farage's response: 

Shehab.Khan16 January 2019 08:09

Several MEPs giving their response to what they have just heard from Mr Barnier. 

Julie Girling is a former Tory MEP who had the whip withdrawn when she voted on a resolution that said not enough progress had been made in the Brexit negotiations. 

Shehab.Khan16 January 2019 08:12

US investment bank Goldman Sachs has said that the vote has skewed the risk further towards a softer, later Brexit or no Brexit at all.

Shehab.Khan16 January 2019 08:15

Labour MPs will pile pressure on Jeremy Corbyn to back a second referendum on Wednesday amid reports of a new push in parliament to give the British public a Final Say on Brexit.

But the Labour leader is set to defy calls by tabling repeat votes of no confidence.

Shehab.Khan16 January 2019 08:18

The prospect of a "no-deal" Brexit that neither party wants, in the wake of Prime Minister Theresa May's parliament defeat, is much close said EU economics commissioner Pierre Moscovici.

"No-one wants a 'no-deal' Brexit, but we are getting close to this," Moscovici told France 2 television this morning.

Shehab.Khan16 January 2019 08:22
Shehab.Khan16 January 2019 08:27

Brexiteer Tory MP Steve Baker has said he will support Ms May in the confidence vote this evening but did say that there is "no way" the Northern Ireland backstop will make it through parliament.

Shehab.Khan16 January 2019 08:30

Here is Michel Barnier reacting to parliament's rejection of Theresa May's Brexit deal 

Shehab.Khan16 January 2019 08:34

French European affairs minister Nathalie Loiseau has said that France and Europe are both preparing in case of a no-deal Brexit

Shehab.Khan16 January 2019 08:42
Shehab.Khan16 January 2019 08:45

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