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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:

Jeremy Corbyn is now opening the no-confidence debate.

He says the government cannot pass its main business then it must go back to the country decide.

He says: "The fixed terms parliament act was never intended to prop up a zombie government - and this is a zombie government."

Corbyn says May has consistently claimed her deal is good for Britain's workers - and she should have no fear of putting it to the people.

Lizzy Buchan16 January 2019 13:09

SNP's Pete Wishart intervenes, asking what Labour's policy on Brexit would be in an election.

Cobryn says Labour is a democratic party and the party will decide what policy it fights a general election on.

Lizzy Buchan16 January 2019 13:17

Jeremy Corbyn resumes his speech. He says the government had numerous opportunities to engage with other parties and the public but they have not. It is too late.

Corbyn says May has not reached out to him. She has wasted two years recklessly ploughing on with her doomed strategy.

Lizzy Buchan16 January 2019 13:21

Tory MP George Freeman intervenes, asking which Scarlet Pimpernel will come to cross-party talks - the leader of the opposition who campaigns for Remain in the South East or the leader who campaigns for Brexit in the North.

Corbyn says there have been no talks or any offer from the PM. That is not recognising the scale of the defeat.

He moves onto problems with Universal Credit, the Windrush scandal and wider failings.

People across the country, whether they voted Leave or Remain, know the system does not work for them, he says.

Lizzy Buchan16 January 2019 13:26

Tory MP Anna Soubry says he is making powerful arguments, not very well but powerful nonetheless. Can he explain why the Tories are six points ahead in the polls? Is it because he is the most hopeless opposition leader ever?

Corbyn says he looks forward to testing opinion at the ballot box.

Labour's David Lammy asks him to rule out a no-deal Brexit.

Corbyn says Labour has ruled it out and business secretary Greg Clark has as well.

Lizzy Buchan16 January 2019 13:33

Interesting little snapshot of Jeremy Corbyn's morning from the Times' sketchwriter. 

Lizzy Buchan16 January 2019 13:36

Jeremy Corbyn says an election 'would give new impetus to negotiations, a new PM with a new mandate, able not just to break the deadlock on Brexit but to bring fresh ideas' to problems such as low pay, UC, rising poverty, the scandal of inadequate social care for our elderly etc.

He says May should have nothing to fear from an election if she thinks her deal is good and she is committed to tackling burning injustices.

He says it is incumbent on MPs to rule out a no-deal and come up with a better solution.

'Every previous PM in this situation would have resigned and called an election and it is the duty of this House to lead where the government has failed,' he says.

Lizzy Buchan16 January 2019 13:37

Lots of cheers and stamping of feet from Tory MPs as Theresa May stands to respond.

She says an election is the worst thing the government could do as it would 'deepen division when we need unity', bring chaos and delay when the UK needs to move forward.

A general election is not in the national interest at such a crucial period in our history, she says. Parliament must finish the job of delivering on Brexit.

Lizzy Buchan16 January 2019 13:41

SNP's Pete Wishart asks what shred of credibility she has - why doesn't she just go?

May says he can express her opinion in the vote later.

John Baron, a Tory MP, says she was only defeated by 230 votes and urges her to KBO (Keep buggering on - in the words of Winston Churchill) to save the UK from a hard-left Labour government.

May says he is right.

Lizzy Buchan16 January 2019 13:45

Tory MP James Morris asks May to rule out a second referendum.

May says the country has had a referendum.

Brexiteer Mark Francois says they have disagreed over Europe in the past but he knows political opportunism when he sees it. He is a "Conservative first and last" and the whole of the European Research Group of Tory Brexiteers will back her tonight.

May says she looks forward to debating with him in future.

Lizzy Buchan16 January 2019 13:49

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