Reaction as MPs vote to seek Brexit delay

1. MPs vote for government motion to seek delay to Brexit by 413 to 202
2. It comes after MPs reject the UK leaving the EU without a deal by 321 to 278 votes on Wednesday
3. Theresa May is to make a third attempt to get her deal through Parliament in the next week
4. Speaker John Bercow blocks amendment on rejecting a second referendum - prompting anger from Brexiteers
5. Labour abstains on an amendment calling for another referendum

Brexit votes: What happened today?

UK Parliament/Mark Duffy

On the third consecutive day of Brexit votes, the focus for MPs was on whether the government should seek an extension of Article 50 from the EU, to allow Brexit to be delayed.

• MPs voted to ask the European Union for an extension to the Brexit process beyond 29 March by 413 votes to 202, a government majority of 211.
• Most Conservative MPs, including Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay and six other cabinet ministers, voted against delaying Brexit, meaning Theresa May got the motion through on the back of Labour and other opposition votes.
• The government's chief whip Julian Lewis abstained on the vote.
• An amendment calling for another referendum was heavily defeated, with Labour MPs ordered to abstain on the vote.
• But seventeen Labour MPs defied the whip to vote against another referendum - and shadow ministerial aide Ruth Smeeth and Labour whip Stephanie Peacock resigned in order to do so.Twenty four Labour MPs also defied the whip by voting for another referendum.
• Another amendment tabled by senior Labour backbencher Hilary Benn, which would have enabled Parliament to take control of parliamentary business and the Brexit process next week, was rejected by just two votes.

Which ministers voted against the government's motion?

Seven cabinet ministers voted against the government motion to seek a delay to Brexit, among them Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay.

Chief Whip Julian Smith abstained.

The government had allowed a free vote on the motion, so these ministers did not defy the whip.

Also voting against the motion were cabinet ministers Gavin Williamson, Liam Fox, Andrea Leadsom, Chris Grayling, Penny Mordaunt and Liz Truss.

Twenty two other ministers voted against the motion.

The Welsh Secretary, Alun Cairns, voted both ways. This is technically an abstention.

Labour whip quits to vote against referendum

How did your MP vote?

BBC

Check how your MP voted in the latest Brexit vote using our look-up tool.

The Commons backed a motion which requires the government to seek a delay to the Brexit process.

The motion, put forward by the government, passed by 413 votes to 202.

'Labour flunk it'

Sports minister disagrees with Brexit delay

Business groups welcome Brexit delay

Business groups have welcomed Parliament voting to seek a delay to Brexit.

But the CBI said that without a "radically new approach" to Brexit, a delay could only be "a stay of execution".

The British Chambers of Commerce added that it "leaves firms with no real clarity on the future."

The pound fell a third of a cent against the dollar immediately following the vote.

More Tory MPs voted against Article 50 extension than for it

'A government that has lost complete control'

Recap: What does the motion mean?

Theresa May is expected to return to the Commons next week for another vote on her twice-defeated Brexit deal.

If her deal is passed by next Wednesday (20 March, specified in the government motion), the PM will go to Brussels the following day to request a short Brexit delay to a date no later than 30 June to give herself time to pass legislative changes.

But if the Commons has not passed a resolution approving the negotiated Withdrawal Agreement by 20 March, then the motion said it is "highly likely" the European Council would require a "clear purpose for any extension" and to determine its length.

The motion adds that any extension beyond 30 June would "require the United Kingdom to hold European Parliament elections in May 2019".

No.10: May did not want to delay Brexit

Penny Mordaunt on voting against Brexit delay

Government chief whip abstained on Brexit delay

Rees-Mogg says fresh referendum 'now off the table'

Most Conservatives did not side with PM on vote

BBC

Brexit Secretary's vote the 'maddest thing this week'?

Fresh referendum 'not dead' - Independent Group MP

BBC News Channel

BBC

Independent Group MP Chuka Umunna says calls for a "People's Vote" are not dead, despite a decisive defeat for an amendment calling for another referendum.

Ultimately a decision must be made to represent the constituents, Mr Umunna says.

"We are saying we are going to keep on making this argument for a People's Vote," he says: "that's what democracy is about."

"If not now, when?" he questions, asking why Jeremy Corbyn and Labour did not support the amendment this evening.

Cabinet ministers vote against delay

Seven cabinet ministers voted against the government motion to extend Article 50, including Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay, who spoke on behalf of the government during the debate.

The others were:

• International Trade Secretary Liam Fox
• Transport Secretary Chris Grayling
• International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt
• Chief Secretary to the Treasury Liz Truss
• Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson
• Commons Leader Andrea Leadsom.

Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns voted both ways - technically abstaining.

Conservative MPs were given a free vote on the motion.

Vote steers UK away from cliff-edge, says Lucas

EU may agree a long delay 'through gritted teeth'

BBC News Channel

BBC

On the issue of delaying Brexit by extending Article 50, the BBC's Europe editor Katya Adler says "it is European leaders who will have the final say."

"There is not the appetite to have a long extension which could overshadow not only European elections in May, but also other EU business," she says.

The "nightmare scenario" for EU leaders is a long extension to allow for a general election which could prove "inconclusive".

However she adds that "EU leaders don't want a no-deal Brexit" so may back a long extension if necessary.

"They may say yes through very gritted teeth."