Brexit vote - LIVE: Theresa May caves in to Tory rebels in major negotiations climbdown

​Theresa May has caved in to Tory rebels in an eleventh-hour climbdown on the government’s flagship Brexit legislation.

In a key victory for pro-EU backbenchers, the government opened the door to MPs taking control of the negotiations if ministers fail to strike a deal in Brussels.

The revolt appeared to be called off only after Robert Buckland, the solicitor general, agreed that there was "merit" in plans to allow MPs to vote on the proposed Brexit strategy and said his would be the basis of further discussions with rebels.

The rebels want MPs to be given a vote on the next steps if there is no deal by the end of November. It is unclear whether ministers will agree to that time limit, which is likely to be proposed in a further amendment to be tabled in the House of Lords.

Nevertheless, for the first time, Theresa May appeared to be entertaining the idea of a deadline for success in the talks.

In total, the government hoped to overturn 14 amendments made in the Lords to the EU (Withdrawal) Bill, but there was a risk of a Tory rebellion on a series of knife-edge votes.

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17:44

New: MPs have voted by 324 to 298 reject the Lords amendment on a meaningful vote. Majority for the government of 26.

 

 

17:21

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‘Murdoch can get stuffed’: MPs vow to defy ‘bullying and threatening’ newspaper headlines on Brexit vote

The Sun’s front page says that MPs 'have a choice', adding: 'Great Britain or Great Betrayal'

17:02

MPs voted by 326 votes to 301, majority 25, to disagree with Lords amendment 37, which was part of an attempt to remove the exit day from the Bill and allow the Commons to rethink its approach.

16:48

More on the government concession here: 

16:42

MPs voted 324 to 302, majority 22, to disagree with Lords amendment 110.

This had sought to give greater powers to the "sifting committee", which would be established to decide whether statutory instruments proposed by ministers to amend retained EU law after Brexit would require a Commons vote.

16:40

16:20

16:19

Tory minister quits over Brexit on day of crucial EU withdrawal votes

The ex-minister said 'I cannot, in all good conscience, support how our country’s current exit from the EU looks'

15:46

Here we go. It's the turn of Phillip Lee, who resigned as a justice minister this morning.

 

He says he is "devastated" by the decision but that the government and Parliament has a duty to act in the best interests of the public - using the example of the death penalty, which has public support but which was stopped by Parliament.

 

The government's current Brexit policy is "detrimental to the people we were elected to serve".

 

He receives a round of applause as he finishes his speech.

15:39

Interesting...

 

15:36

Sir Bill Cash, one of the most senior Tory Brexiteers, is now speaking.

 

He says it is "complete nonsense - junk" to suggest the amendment on the meaningful vote is anything other than an attempt to reverse the decision of the people. 

 

He says:

 

"This is just a cover for the reversal of the decision, and I do find it quite extraordinary that there should be some attempt to throw it back to the House of Lords."

 

 

15:31

15:24

15:24

Anna Soubry, one of the leading Tory rebels, accuses the government of "horse trading" over Dominic Grieve's amendment and says they should just adopt it.

 

She lays into MPs who refuse to vote with their conscience, business leaders who refuse to speak out publicly, and journalists who are "mute" on the matter of Brexit.

15:17

Robert Buckland, the solicitor general, tells Dominic Grieve the government is willing to "engage positively" on his amendment, which he says has "much merit" and will be the basis for a "structured discussion".

 

Ministers are doing all they can to win the vote - effectively negotiating with their own backbenchers in the middle of the debate - but will it be enough?

 

 

15:10

15:06

Solicitor general Robert Buckland offers to meet Grieve tomorrow to discuss the government's plans. 

 

Might be a bit late for that - but fascinating to watch, as Grieve is clearly not budging yet. Government trying hard to win him over.

15:05

15:03

Grieve says: "If we want to stop Brexit there are plenty of other ways of doing it. We can replace the government and put in place a government that will try to stop it, but we would still have to get consent of our EU partners, having triggered article 50.

 

"So there is a complete constitutional incoherence in imagining this ;legislation in the way that it is presented would lead to that dastardly outcome."

 

Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg intervenes, saying there could be a vote of no confidence if needs be.

 

Grieve says that would create chaos.

 

Remain-backing MP Justine Greening says it would be sensible to have a process in place, rather than a vote of no confidence in the PM and then a snap election.

15:00

Tory rebel leader Dominic Grieve is speaking now.

 

He says his eleventh-hour amendment was to help David Davis and says he is surprised that the government won't back it.

 

Grieve says the tone of the Brexit discussion has become "truly chilling", adding: "You open your newspaper and discover you are about to prevent Brexit."

 

"If we continue this way we will make mistakes and we will not achieve the best possible outcome," he says.

 

"If we don't achieve a deal there will be an immense crisis," he adds.

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