MPs have emphatically rejected Jeremy Corbyn's Brexit vision, placing huge pressure on the Labour leader to row in behind a second referendum.
Mr Corbyn told Labour MPs earlier this week that he was ready to back a Final Say vote "to prevent a damaging Tory Brexit being forced on the country" if his plan was defeated.
The move came during a series of Commons votes, which saw a surprise Brexiteer rebellion on a bid by Labour's Yvette Cooper to cement the prime minister's promise to allow MPs to rule out a no-deal exit.
Ms May tried to take the heat out of the clash by allowing MPs to vote on delaying the UK's EU withdrawal beyond March 29 amid threats of a ministerial resignations.
Meanwhile, Labour was embroiled in fresh controversy after Derby North MP Chris Williamson was suspended for saying the party had been "too apologetic" over antisemitism.
As it happened...
MPs from the newly-formed Independent Group has tabled an amendment seeking to pave the way for a second Brexit referendum.
The move comes after Labour's announcement the party would back attempts in the Commons for a fresh public vote, if it fails to force MPs to adopt its own Brexit plans in a series of votes on Wednesday evening in the chamber.
The fresh bid has the support of MPs in the Scottish National Party, the Liberal Democrats, and Plaid Cymru - increasing the chances of it being selected by the Commons Speaker on Wednesday morning.
Third of ‘most critical’ no-deal Brexit preparations are behind schedule, government admits
Nearly one-third of the “most critical” preparations for a no-deal Brexit are behind schedule, according to newly released government papers on the implications of a disorderly exit from the EU.
The documents – published on Tuesday after demands from MPs – also say that UK citizens are not preparing for a no-deal scenario as it is not viewed as a “sufficiently credible” outcome by the public.
Reporting analysis supplied to the cabinet, the documents add that leaving the bloc without a deal could leave the UK economy between 6.3 and 9 per cent smaller after 15 years than it would otherwise have been.
Corbyn facing furious backlash from MPs after shifting Labour towards supporting second referendum
Jeremy Corbyn has faced a furious backlash from his own MPs after he dramatically shifted Labour‘s Brexit stance in favour a second referendum.
Brexiteers on his own benches warned the move could cause “catastrophic” damage to support in Labour heartlands and acted as a “distraction” to finding a way out of the Brexit chaos.
The Labour leader won plaudits from pro-EU MPs when he ended months of uncertainty by rowing in behind a Final Say vote, if his own softer Brexit plan is rejected by MPs, as expected.
MPs will this evening given another chance to vote on Theresa May's negotiating strategy for Brexit on Wednesday night.
The Commons will vote on a series of amendments to the government motion ahead of another "meaningful vote" on the withdrawal agreement next month.
It will be down to Speaker John Bercow which proposals are selected for a vote. Any successful amendments will not have the force of law but will carry heavy political weight.
Labour MP filmed telling activists party is too 'apologetic' about antisemitism
One of Jeremy Corbyn’s closest allies has attacked his own party for being “too apologetic” over accusations of antisemitism.
Derby North MP Chris Williamson was filmed telling a meeting of pro-Corbyn activists Labour should have pushed back more during the long-running row over antisemitism within the party.
Speaking to a meeting in Sheffield of the Momentum group on Tuesday evening, Mr Williamson said it was wrong that his party, which had done more than any other to combat racism, had allowed itself to be portrayed as racist.
Fiona Onasanya MP may wear electronic tag in Commons after early release from prison
MP Fiona Onasanya may have to wear an electronic tag in the House of Commons if she attends key Brexit votes, after being released from prison today one month into her sentence.
Jailed last month for perverting the course of justice, the Peterborough MP, who has been disowned by the Labour Party and refused to stand down as an MP, did not comment as she was driven out of HMP Bronzfield in Ashford in Surrey on Tuesday.
It means she will be able to attend crucial votes in the Commons on Wednesday on Theresa May's plans to take Britain out of the European Union.
Jacob Rees-Mogg - the chair of the hardline group of Conservative Brexiteers in the European Research Group - told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that people who want an extension to Article 50, are "using it by and large to try and stop Brexit".
He added: "Because, otherwise you just have this repeat at the end of June.
"Because, if there is still no majority in Parliament for the Prime Minister's deal, or any tweaks that can be got to it by the end of June, we are still faced with the same situation."
Asked if there were any circumstances in which he could vote for Mrs May's withdrawal deal, Mr Rees-Mogg said: "I can live with the de facto removal of the backstop, even if it isn't de jure.
"What do I mean by that?
"I mean that if there is a clear date that says the backstop ends, and that that is in the text of the treaty, or equivalent to the text of the treaty.
"If it were to be an appendix to the treaty - bear in mind the Irish backstop is in itself an appendix to the treaty - so, if you had a further appendix that said this will not go beyond a particular date - and a short date, not a long date - then that would remove the backstop in the lifetime of parliament.
"And that would have a reasonable effect, from my point of view."
Opinion: Theresa May has decided the only way forward on Brexit is to defeat herself
Theresa May said she will herself introduce legislation to let the commons vote to delay Article 50, then told them not to do it. The government is literally defeating itself, says political sketch writer Tom Peck
Tom Watson demands suspension of Labour MP who claimed party was 'too apologetic' over antisemitism
On Labour MP Chris Williamson's remarks (see the previous post), a party spokesperson has just issued the following statement: “These comments are deeply offensive and inappropriate and fall below the standards we expect of MPs. Downplaying the problem of antisemitism makes it harder for us to tackle it. Chris Williamson should apologise immediately and withdraw his remarks.”
It is understood Labour's chief whip, Nick Brown, and the general secretary of Labour are consulting about what action to take next.
May dodges deadly blow to her premiership after capitulation to Remain rebels on Brexit delay
Theresa May looks set to escape a catastrophic blow to her administration but only after a humiliating climbdown from her staunch opposition to delaying Brexit.
Wednesday had promised to bring the prime minister mass-frontbench resignations and a crushing Commons defeat, but Remainer rebels relented after she agreed to give them a way to stop a no-deal Brexit and push withdrawal beyond 29 March.
But the political costs of her capitulation to the Remain wing of her party could be heavy, with some Brexiteer backbenchers outraged that she went back on months of repeated vows to leave the EU at the end of March.
MPs are gearing up for ANOTHER key Brexit moment tonight, where they will have the chance to vote on the government's strategy.
But what is actually going on?
In a nutshell, the Commons has been presented with a neutral motion by Theresa May - which basically says it has considered the Brexit process. MPs table amendments to this motion, where they will try to nudge the strategy in various directions.
It will be down to Speaker John Bercow which proposals are selected for a vote tonight. Any successful amendments will not have the force of law but will carry heavy political weight as a signal to Downing Street and Brussels of what kind of Brexit MPs are likely to approve.
Here are the key amendments:
Cooper
Labour former minister Yvette Cooper is trying to pin the PM down to the commitments she made to the Commons on Tuesday to give MPs the chance to delay Brexit if her deal is defeated.
May's promise was similar to an earlier plan by Ms Cooper and Tory Sir Oliver Letwin. While Sir Oliver said there was now "no need" for the Cooper-Letwin Bill, Ms Cooper said she would lay a cross-party amendment to secure confirmation of the PM's commitment.
Costa
Tory backbencher Alberto Costa is demanding Ms May seeks a treaty on citizens' rights after Brexit.
His amendment, which has the backing of around 60 Conservatives, calls for a separate agreement with the European Union to protect the rights of expats even if there is a no-deal Brexit. Labour is also expected to support the amendment.
Spelman/Dromey
Conservative MP Dame Caroline Spelman and Labour's Jack Dromey, who last month tabled a successful amendment opposing a no-deal Brexit, will table an amendment to "pave the way" for the Cooper/Letwin Bill to give MPs the opportunity to extend Article 50.
The pair said they would seek assurances from ministers to to secure confirmation of the Prime Minister's commitments during the debate on Wednesday.
They said if they receive the assurances they will not push the amendments to a vote.
Labour
Jeremy Corbyn's amendment will seek support for his party's five Brexit demands.
The party is calling for a permanent and comprehensive customs union with the EU; dynamic alignment on rights and protections, and commitments on participation in EU agencies and funding programmes.
It is also seeking "unambiguous" agreements on the detail of future security arrangements and close alignment with the single market.
Leslie
MPs from The Independent Group (TIG), along with support from the SNP, Liberal Democrats and Plaid Cymru, have tabled an amendment to pave the way for a second EU referendum.
It would instruct the Prime Minister to table a motion for debate and a decision before March 8, setting out the steps necessary for preparing a public vote on whether to leave the EU on terms agreed by Parliament or remain a member.
TIG member Chris Leslie said the amendment would require Mrs May to "take the steps needed now so the public could take control and break through the Brexit gridlock".
SNP
The SNP's amendment requires the PM to immediately rule out a no-deal Brexit "under any and all circumstances" and regardless of exit date.
The party's Westminster leader Ian Blackford said Parliament must take control and "force the UK Government to do the right thing by immediately ruling out a no-deal Brexit under any and all circumstances".
Sajid Javid has pledged the government will back a move to protect the rights of EU citizens if there is a no-deal Brexit – a day after Theresa May dismissed it.
The home secretary stunned and delighted a committee of MPs by saying there was “nothing” wrong with the amendment, tabled by a Tory MP.
However, he was blindsided when told the prime minister had suggested the government would fight the amendment, saying: “When did you hear that? From who.”
More here from our deputy political editor Rob Merrick, who is watching the Home Affairs Committee.
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Outsourced workers in two government departments earn no more than the minimum wage. It's time for ministers to listen to the calls of those on strike and bring them back inhouse, writes Labour's Rebecca Long-Bailey
