Third time unlucky for Theresa May's Brexit deal
Theresa May's Brexit deal was given its last rites after MPs voted to reject her EU withdrawal plan for a third time.
On what was supposed to be Brexit Day, the Prime Minister asked MPs to approve part of her deal – the withdrawal agreement covering the terms of exit – in a desperate attempt to trigger an EU departure on May 22.
But like two previous meaningful votes it was thrown out, this time by 343-286, a reduced margin of 58, with Labour, the DUP, the SNP and Tory Brexiteers including Sir Bill Cash and Owen Paterson continuing to oppose it.
Brexit Live updates: MPs vote against Withdrawal Agreement for a third time
As MPs voted thousands of pro-Brexit protesters gathered outside the Commons waving Union Jack flags, placards and banners.
The Prime Minister told MPs the implications of the defeat were "grave" with the UK due to leave the EU now on April with no time to legislate for a deal.
She said she will continue to press the case for an “orderly Brexit”, but added: "I fear we are reaching the limits of this process in this House."
The defeat means MPs will continue alternative Brexit options on Monday – all of which have previously been rejected –while the Government is also likely to ask the EU for a further extension of Article 50.
It also means the UK is likely to have to participate in European elections in May, a situation branded "a complete betrayal" by a West Midlands MEP.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn reiterated his call for the Prime Minister to resign and again called for a General Election.
Dozens of Tories came across to back the PM's deal for the first time. They included potential leadership candidates Boris Johnson and Dominic Raab, who both said they it may represent the only chance of getting any sort of Brexit at all.
Prominent Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg, chairman of the European Research Group, also backed the deal, something he previously said was "impossible" without the support of the unionists.
Mr Raab said: "The choice is between the risk of being held in the backstop by the EU for a period, without being able to control our exit, and on the other hand a significant risk of losing Brexit altogether.
"Neither are palatable. Both could have been avoided if the Government had shown the requisite resolve and will."
Walsall North MP Eddie Hughes was another Brexiteer to switch sides and back the PM's deal.
He opposed the deal in both previous meaningful votes over concerns about the Irish backstop, but said backing it was the only course of action left to secure any kind of Brexit after Remain-backing MPs "took 'no deal' off the table".
Mr Hughes warned that defeat for the "far from perfect" deal brought forward the "real possibility" of a second referendum, which he called "a crazy idea" that his constituents were against.
"I want to be able to look back and say I took the last opportunity for us to get out of the EU," he said.
Other Conservatives refused to budge, With Stone MP Sir Bill Cash saying the Irish backstop issue “drives a coach and horses through our precious union”.
Labour also continued its opposition of the deal.
Wolverhampton South East MP Pat McFadden reiterated his call for a public vote on whatever Brexit deal was agreed, and said the offer on the table was "the most blindfold Brexit" of all.
He said MPs had been asked to vote to leave "with no idea at all on what the future relationship between the EU and the UK should be".
Mr McFadden added: "The separation of Withdrawal Agreement from future relationship, with the new factor of a Tory leadership contest, rendered worthless every promise that has been made about the future – on workers’ rights, standards or anything else."
Attorney General Geoffrey Cox had earlier attempted to gain more support for the deal by announcing that the Commons would be consulted on the next phase of the negotiations, which Mrs May has pledged to leave in advance of.
He added that the UK would now have to ask the EU for an additional extension to Article 50, requiring the country to participate in May's European elections.
Euro MP Bill Etheridge said: "We have seen a complete betrayal of the democratic voice of the people of the West Midlands.
"The Euro elections will see the collapse of the old parties, and I look forward to being there and playing my part in the democratic revolution."
