Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

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
Comments
Theresa May delivers statement outside Number 10 Downing Street following second vote of confidence in her government

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

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.

Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events

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:

Theresa May can get her Brexit deal through parliament if she negotiates a compromise with the Labour party, John McDonnell told BBC radio.

I think there could be a compromise, most probably on the basis on what Labour is advocating."

Shehab.Khan16 January 2019 08:51

Germany's economy minister, Peter Altmaier, has said the EU should allow additional time for Brexit if needed

Shehab.Khan16 January 2019 08:52

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn left his home in Islington, north London, at around 8.30am.

He refused to answer questions from reporters on whether the vote of no confidence is a distraction or if he will win it, and simply wished everyone a good morning.

Shehab.Khan16 January 2019 08:55

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte has warned that the clock is ticking and that time is running out to reach a Brexit deal. 

It is now up to the British to indicate what they want.

We have a little bit more time, but it is really going down to the wire.

We still hope to reach an agreement before they leave at the end of March."

Shehab.Khan16 January 2019 08:57

Shadow chancellor John McDonnell said there has been no approach from Downing Street to Jeremy Corbyn to enter discussions on the way forward on Brexit, according to BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

After Number 10 made clear that Theresa May remained committed to securing an "independent trade policy" after Britain leaves the EU, he warned she was in danger of "negating" any talks before they started.

She is now laying conditions down about those discussions which look as though they will prevent any discussion of a permanent customs union.

That is what most of the other opposition parties support so she seems to be negating the discussions before they have even started."

Shehab.Khan16 January 2019 09:01

Irish foreign minister Simon Coveney says the EU is no "no mood" to change the Withdrawal Agreement significantly after Theresa May's defeat in Westminster on Tuesday.

Shehab.Khan16 January 2019 09:05

Speaking on RTE's Morning Ireland programme Mr Coveney said:There is so much still to happen in Westminster in the next few days before it becomes clear what Britain is asking for.

It's hard for us as EU leaders to respond in a helpful way if we still don't know what they are asking for.

We need to hold our nerve this week. There's a motion of no confidence today, I believe that will be lost, and my understanding is that the Prime Minister's intention then is to try and reach across parties to try and find a way of getting a majority in Westminster to support a new approach.

When we understand what that new approach is, which we get next Monday, we'll try and respond in a helpful way."

Shehab.Khan16 January 2019 09:12

Guy Verhofstadt, the European Parliament's Brexit co-ordinator and a self-declared "humble Belgian", says "it's time the national interest overtakes narrow party politics" in the UK.

Benjamin Kentish16 January 2019 09:14

Andrea Leadsom's suggestion that Jeremy Corbyn will not be included in Theresa May's conversations with other parties has not gone done well with some of the "senior parliamentarians" that the prime minister said she wanted to hold discussions with.

Here's Yvette Cooper, chair of the Commons home affairs committee...

Benjamin Kentish16 January 2019 09:18

Here is the full 'vote of no confidence' process 

Shehab.Khan16 January 2019 09:25

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in