MPs reject Brexit deal by a thumping 230 votes
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.
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Hide AdBut there was little doubt in Westminster that Mrs May would hang on '“Â 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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Hide AdLabour 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.'