Brexit news: UK to request Article 50 extension to delay EU exit until at least June
May finally wins a key showdown but cabinet unity in tatters as top ministers oppose her motion
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Your support makes all the difference.MPs have overwhelmingly voted to delay Brexit after the Commons backed a motion ordering Theresa May to ask the EU to extend article 50 until at least June.
Amid dramatic scenes, Labour provoked fury among pro-EU MPs by abstaining on a bid for a Final Say referendum, which was defeated by 249 votes.
Rebel calls to allow parliament to take control of the Brexit process through "indicative votes" were also defeated, though narrowly.
It comes after the US president Donald Trump also made an explosive intervention into the debate, saying a public vote would be "unfair" and he was "surprised at how badly" the Brexit talks had gone.
But worryingly for Ms May cabinet unity crumbled when it came to a free vote on the government's Brexit delay motion.
Eight of her top ministers voted against it – and a further 180 Conservative MPs did likewise.
Ms May will now eye a third vote on her withdrawal agreement while Britain asks the EU for a delay to the date of its exit from the bloc.
See below how we covered Thursday's events live
Welcome to The Independent's live coverage of what is set to be another momentous day in British politics.
Chancellor Philip Hammond is doing the media rounds this morning. He said he hoped Ms May's Withdrawal Agreement could secure a Commons majority, but said it was also necessary for MPs to "explore other options".
Speaking on Sky News, he said:
I am very happy with the Prime Minister's deal. I would be delighted if a consensus emerges behind the Prime Minister's deal over the next day or two.
But I think we also have to explore other options for Parliament to express a view about how we resolve this impasse."
For those of you that missed the action yesterday, it was all a bit chaotic last night but in summary, the government put down a motion to rule out a no-deal Brexit on 29 March.
But MPs voted by 312 votes to 308 in favour of an amendment that was stronger than the government's own motion in its opposition to a no-deal outcome in any scenario.
The amendment being passed forced the government to whip against its original motion – as it had been changed.
Here is a quick summary of what happened from our Political Editor, Joe Watts:
Austrian foreign minister Karin Kneissl said the outcome of last night's vote was "predictable" but claimed the EU still does not know what kind of agreement the UK wants.
She told BBC Radio 4's Today programme:
We still do not know what London really wants because we know that they don't want to quit without an agreement and because of the to be expected chaos, but we do not know what kind of agreement is desired."
Ms Kneissl said a short technical extension could be granted, but that the EU would have to know "what exactly is the additional value of contents that London offers in order to renegotiate something".
On a longer extension, she said: "That would be possible if we were not in the year 2019: we are still on schedule for the European Parliament elections and here I see some problem... there is a certain deadline - not because one wants to put pressure on London but because of the schedule in terms of elections."
Philip Hammond told Sky:
"I am confident that we will get to a deal which allows us to leave the EU in an orderly fashion and to have a future close trading partnership with the EU.
"The process of getting there may not be entirely smooth but I am confident that will be the outcome."
He said he was not willing to vote for the Spelman amendment ruling out no-deal in all circumstances, because it was a "unicorn" which proposed an outcome without the means to deliver it.
Mr Hammond played down suggestions that Speaker John Bercow may invoke parliamentary convention to prevent Theresa May from repeatedly tabling the same proposals.
"There are various conventions in Parliament, but if there is clear evidence that there is a body of support growing for the Prime Minister's deal, the Commons will find a way to ensure that support is expressed," he said.
Health Minister Stephen Hammond, who rebelled in Wednesday night's key no-deal vote, said he was not given permission to abstain.
Asked if he was given assurances that he would keep his job if he abstained, Mr Hammond told Today: "I personally hadn't, but I believe some colleagues may have been."
Conservative MP Johnny Mercer tweeted a screengrab of some abuse he'd received over the latest Commons vote:
Just a reminder that tonight MPs will be voting on whether to extend Article 50.
The government's motion calls for a one-off extension of Article 50, delaying the scheduled Brexit date of 29 March to 30 June if MPs approve the deal negotiated with the EU by next Wednesday.
It is more than likely that, like last night, this motion will be amended before MPs vote on it.
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