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As it happenedended

Brexit vote result - LIVE: Cabinet ministers rebel as Theresa May's bid to keep no-deal Brexit on the table ends in yet another humiliating defeat

Follow The Independent's live coverage of the day's political events

Ashley Cowburn
Political Correspondent
Wednesday 13 March 2019 17:52 EDT
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What happens now with Brexit?

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Theresa May has suffered a humiliating defeat after MPs voted to completely take the option of a no-deal Brexit off the table.

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.

Ms May's motion said the Commons "declines to approve" leaving without a deal on March 29, but said the only way to avoid this is to pass an agreement. The amendment passed by MPs removed this caveat and simply said the Commons "rejects" a no-deal Brexit.

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​Earlier, chancellor Philip Hammond used his Spring Statement to downgrade growth forecasts and warn MPs that uncertainty over Brexit was damaging the economy.

It came after ministers revealed plans to scrap tariffs in the event of the UK crashing out of the European Union without a deal as MPs prepare to vote on a no-deal Brexit.

Under a temporary and unilateral regime, EU goods arriving from the Republic of Ireland and remaining in Northern Ireland will not be subject to tariffs – a prospect likely to increase the risk UK jobs would be lost. Charges will however be payable on goods moving from the EU into the rest of the UK via Northern Ireland under a schedule of rates also released today.

Boris Johnson, speaking on LBC, he is absolutely certain there "will be a deal". 

"There will be, no matter what happens, a deal. There will be an arrangement by which the UK and the EU part company," he said.

Shehab.Khan13 March 2019 09:23

Boris Johnson has said it is "absurd" that tonight's vote on no-deal is a "free vote".

"She needs to tell her cabinet to put up or shut up," he told LBC. 

Shehab.Khan13 March 2019 09:27

Speaker John Bercow will select a number of amendments for debate in the House of Commons tonight.

The Prime Minister's motion states that the House declines to approve Brexit on March 29 in the absence of a Withdrawal Agreement or future relationship framework, but notes that no-deal remains the default unless both the UK and EU ratify an agreement.

Here is a full list of the amendments on the order paper: 

Shehab.Khan13 March 2019 09:35

No no-deal ever

Tabled by Midlands MPs Caroline Spelman and Jack Dromey and backed by senior figures from all sides of the Commons including Sir Oliver Letwin, Hilary Benn, Nick Boles and Yvette Cooper, as well as all 11 members of the new Independent Group, this amendment simply rejects a no-deal Brexit at any time and under any circumstances.

Shehab.Khan13 March 2019 09:36

Revoke Article 50

Tabled by the Scottish National Party's Angus MacNeil and backed by europhile MPs including Tory grandee Kenneth Clarke, Labour's Keith Vaz and Plaid Cymru's Westminster leader Liz Saville Roberts, this amendment calls on the Government to halt Brexit by revoking its notice of intention to leave under Article 50 of the EU treaties.

Shehab.Khan13 March 2019 09:45

Plaid Cymru

Tabled by the Welsh nationalist party's four MPs, this would require the Government to extend Article 50 negotiations to 2021 and hold a referendum at the end of that period on leaving with a deal or remaining in the EU.

Shehab.Khan13 March 2019 09:48

Independent Group

Backed by all 11 former Labour and Tory MPs who defected to form The Independent Group, this would rule out no-deal under any circumstances and state the the Commons has the power to instruct the Prime Minister to request an extension of negotiations, revoke Article 50 or hold a second referendum. A second Independent Group amendment simply rules out leaving without a Withdrawal Agreement or future relationship framework.

Shehab.Khan13 March 2019 09:55

Malthouse Compromise

Tabled by a group of Conservative MPs drawn from both Leave and Remain wings of the party, this amendment calls for a delay to Brexit day from March 29 to May 22 to give time for preparations to leave without a deal. It says the Government should then offer a "standstill" agreement with the EU and its member states, lasting up to the end of 2021 at the latest, during which the UK would pay into EU budgets and observe legal obligations while a permanent relationship is negotiated.

Shehab.Khan13 March 2019 09:58

We've got a hectic day ahead of us, in what should be a momentous day in British politics - here is a breakdown of some of the major events that are happening today:

12.00 - We have our weekly rendition of Prime Minister's Questions

12.45 - Once PMQs comes to an end, the Chancellor, Philip Hammond, will be taking to the dispatch box to deliver the Spring Statement 

14.30 - The motion on no-deal Brexit will be put forward, the vote could take place at any time after this, but we expect it will be around 19.00 (but this isn't confirmed!). 

Shehab.Khan13 March 2019 10:07

Here is The Independent's chief political commentator, John Rentoul, explaining what will happen with Brexit now: 

Shehab.Khan13 March 2019 10:13

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