MPs reject Brexit deal by a thumping 230 votes

MPs have rejected Theresa May's Brexit plans by an emphatic 432 votes to 202 in a historic vote which has thrown the future of her administration and the UK's EU withdrawal into doubt.
Prime Minister Theresa May speaks after losing a vote on her Brexit deal in the House of Commons, London. Picture: House of Commons/PA WirePrime Minister Theresa May speaks after losing a vote on her Brexit deal in the House of Commons, London. Picture: House of Commons/PA Wire
Prime Minister Theresa May speaks after losing a vote on her Brexit deal in the House of Commons, London. Picture: House of Commons/PA Wire

The humiliating rebuff was delivered in the House of Commons just moments after the Prime Minister made a last-ditch appeal for MPs to back the Withdrawal Agreement which she sealed with Brussels in November after almost two years of negotiation.

The 230-vote margin of defeat was by far the worst suffered by any Government in a meaningful division since 1924 and in normal circumstances would be enough to force a Prime Minister from office.

Prime Minister Theresa May speaks after losing a vote on her Brexit deal in the House of Commons, London. Picture: House of Commons/PA WirePrime Minister Theresa May speaks after losing a vote on her Brexit deal in the House of Commons, London. Picture: House of Commons/PA Wire
Prime Minister Theresa May speaks after losing a vote on her Brexit deal in the House of Commons, London. Picture: House of Commons/PA Wire
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Protesters gather outside Sheffield Town Hall as MPs prepare for Brexit deal vot...
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But there was little doubt in Westminster that Mrs May would hang on '“ and was likely to survive a motion of no-confidence tabled by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.

Mrs May now has until January 21 to set out a Plan B '“ expected to involve going back to Brussels to seek further concessions, with the clock ticking on the scheduled date of Brexit in just 73 days' time on March 29 .

In a statement immediately after her drubbing, Mrs May said: "The House has spoken and this Government will listen."

She offered cross-party talks with MPs across the House to determine a way forward.

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Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn told the House of Commons: 'This is a catastrophic defeat for this Government. She can't surely believe that after two years of failure that she is capable of negoitating a good deal for the people of this country.

'I have tabled a motion of no-confidence in this Government and I am pleased that motion will debated tomorrow so this House can give its verdict on the sheer incompentence of this Government.'