Brexit vote: MPs vote for Theresa May to renegotiate Irish backstop with EU
Follow updates from Westminster as they unfolded throughout the day
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Your support makes all the difference.MPs have authorised Theresa May to go back to Brussels to renegotiate a key part of her Brexit deal after a series of dramatic Commons votes.
Different Brexit factions tabled amendments to Ms May’s exit plan, which she was forced to bring back to the Commons on Tuesday after MPs overwhelmingly rejected her Brexit deal earlier this month.
Amid an apparent compromise between Tory Remainers, Brexiteers and her DUP allies, MPs backed a bid by Tory grandee Sir Graham Brady to scrap the Irish backstop and replace it with “alternative arrangements”, requiring the prime minister to go back to Brussels.
However the path ahead looks rocky, as the European Commission immediately sent out a statement saying the deal was “not open for renegotiation”.
Follow updates from Westminster as they unfolded throughout the day
Conservative grandee Sir Oliver Letwin said he was "past caring" what the deal is as long as there was a "smooth exit" and would support the government.
But he defended the Cooper amendment from accusations it was "some kind of constitutional outrage", telling MPs the House of Commons has "undisputed control over its own procedures" and always has done.
He added: "There's nothing improper, there's nothing wrong, there's nothing even unusual about changing standing orders by a majority in this House of Commons and until 1906 the government did not have control of the order paper... there is no need for it to do so in future."
Votes are expected to be held from 7pm, and it is looking like it could be a close one.
To recap, John Bercow will call up to eight votes in this order. NB - MPs can choose not to put them to the vote, and some similar amendments may be scrapped.
Amendment A
The official Labour amendment calls for MPs to be able to vote on options to stop a no-deal exit, such as a customs union with the EU, as well as the possibility of a new Brexit referendum. Mr Corbyn has been careful not to commit Labour to officially back such a poll, though.
Amendment O
Ian Blackford's amendment, also backed by Plaid Cymru, calls for an extension to Article 50, the rejection of a no-deal Brexit and states that "the people of Scotland should not be taken out of the EU against their will".
Amendment G
In a bid to prevent a no-deal Brexit, the cross-party backed proposal from former attorney general Dominic Grieve would effectively wrest control of Commons business from the government for six days in the run-up to exit day on March 29 with the intention of getting MPs to reach a consensus on how to handle it.
Amendment B
Jeremy Corbyn has thrown Labour's weight behind a move by Labour former minister Yvette Cooper, supported by Tories such as Nick Boles, for a new Bill to delay Brexit in order to allow more time to reach a deal.
The move would give parliament control over the Brexit process if May fails to secure a deal by February 26.
Amendment I
A cross-party effort headed by Tory Dame Caroline Spelman rejects the UK quitting the EU without a Withdrawal Agreement.
But Mrs May told MPs: "Unless we're to end up with no Brexit at all, the only way to avoid no deal is to agree a deal."
Another cross-party amendment (J) tabled by Labour's Rachel Reeves, would require the Prime Minister to seek an extension of Article 50 if no deal had been reached by February 26.
Amendment N
Theresa May has backed this amendment that seeks to replace the controversial backstop with unspecified "alternative arrangements" to avoid a hard border in Ireland.
Tabled by Sir Graham Brady, the chairman of the backbench 1922 Committee, it gives May a clear mandate to demand changes from Brussels to the Withdrawal Agreement.
Important development here - ERG organiser Steve Baker says the backbench Tory Brexiteers will back the Brady plan.
He said: “We have collectively agreed to support Brady on the basis of the PM’s promises, especially as regards reopening the withdrawal agreement, and that the backstop is only the worst problem.
“I hope we can now make rapid progress towards the Malthouse Compromise.
“A vote for the Brady amendment is a vote to see if the PM can land a deal that will work. If not then we are not committed.”
MPs have begun voting on the first amendment, which was tabled by Jeremy Corbyn and backed by Labour frontbenchers.
It says MPs should be able to vote on options to stop a no-deal Brexit such as customs union with the EU. It also leaves the door open to a public vote, by asking the government to legislate for a second referendum.
Jeremy Corbyn's amendment has been defeated by 327 votes to 296. Government majority is 31.
MPs are now voting on the SNP amendment tabled by Ian Blackford, the party's Westminster leader.
It says that the Scottish and Welsh assemblies “voted overwhelmingly to reject the prime minister’s deal” and calls for the extension of article 50 and the removal of a no-deal option.
Expected to be defeated.
MPs defeated the SNP Brexit amendment by 327 votes to 39, majority 288.
The proposal sought to extend the Article 50 process, rule out a no-deal Brexit and prevent Scots being taken out of the EU "against their will".
Here's the moment the vote was announced:
MPs are voting on the amendment tabled by ex-attorney general Dominic Grieve now. This is a big one as it seeks to overturn parliament's standing orders to give precedence to backbench business.
The cross-party bid would effectively wrest control of Commons business from the government for six days in the run-up to exit day on March 29 with the intention of getting MPs to reach a consensus on how to handle it.
Dominic Grieve's amendment has been defeated by 321 votes to 301, government majority of 20 votes. It would have meant any backbencher could propose Brexit legislation on a number of days between now and March 29 – a power usually reserved for the executive wing of government.
The news will come as a blow to MPs fighting for a second referendum, as it would have opened the way to legislating for a final say vote.
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