Theresa May has lost control of Brexit after Parliament seized the reigns in a landmark vote.
MPs took control of the Parliamentary timetable by backing an amendment put forward by former Tory minister Sir Oliver Letwin which gives MPs the chance to have their say on a series of options.
The government whipped MPs to vote against the plan by promising their own series of indicative votes.
But the amendment was passed by 27 votes after a number of Tories defied the government whip.
Health minister Steve Brine and Foreign Office minister Alistair Burt followed Richard Harrington in leaving their posts in order to back a plan put forward by Sir Oliver Letwin.
A total of 29 Tory MPs defied the whip to vote for the plan - including one of May's oldest friends and longtime ally Damian Green.
Ed Vaizey accidentally voted both ways thinking he was voting against Labour's amendment which was pulled.
He wanted to vote in favour of Oliver Letwin's amendment but the two votes cancelled each other out.
Richard Harrington said in his letter to the Prime Minister the "government's approach to Brexit is playing roulette with the lives and livelihoods of the vast majority of people".
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Former Tory ministers Andrew Mitchell and George Freeman were also voted for the plan - as did the Prime Minister's friend and longtime ally Damian Green.
But a plan to avoid no deal put forward by Labour's Margaret Beckett lost by just three votes.
The UK has been given until April 12 to agree a deal and then must either crash out of the EU or delay for an alternative plan.
But under the plan put forward by Sir Oliver, MPs will be given a say on a number of different options.
The result is another humiliation for Mrs May, who earlier warned MPs not to "overturn the balance of our democratic institutions" which means the Government normally controls business of the House.
She made clear she would not feel bound by the result of any indicative votes - which could include a "softer" Norway-style deal, or a second referendum.
"No Government could give a blank cheque to commit to an outcome without knowing what it is," she said.
"So I cannot commit the Government to delivering the outcome of any votes held by this House. But I do commit to engaging constructively with this process."
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said: "The Government's approach has been an abject failure and this House must now find a solution."
He told MPs: "The Government must take this process seriously. We do not know what the House will decide on Wednesday. But I know there are many members of this House who have been working for alternative solutions, and we must debate those to find a consensus.
"And this House must also consider whether any deal should be put to the people for a confirmatory vote."
Before the vote, Shadow Brexit Secretary Keir Starmer told the Commons: “The PM has lost control of the meaningful vote. She has no idea when it might be put or whether it is winnable.
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“She has lost control of the negotiations. That much is clear from the EU. The PM also appears to have lost control of her party. And today, she is likely to lose control of Parliament.”
Labour backed the amendment put forward by veteran Tory Oliver Letwin.
They decided not to move their own amendment which also called for MPs to have their say on a series of options.
But Mrs May defended her opposition to Tory MP Sir Oliver’s plan for MPs to take control of the Parliamentary timetable.
“No Government could give a blank cheque to commit to an outcome without knowing what it is,” she said.
Ministers have promised to allow time for MPs to hold so-called indicative votes and to “engage constructively” with MPs.
But former cabinet minister Sir Oliver insisted his plan was sensible rather than “a unicorn” way forward.
He urged MPs to be prepared to compromise and sign up to all the options they could live with.
“If we all vote just for our first preference we all know we will never get to a solution,” he said.
Labour MPs will not necessarily get a free vote on all the options, which could benefit those backing a softer Brexit.
The PM continues to oppose staying in a customs union as it would make the Tory party ungovernable.
But she met Jeremy Corbyn yesterday who has called for MPs to get a say. He branded her approach “a national embarrassment”.
