Third time unlucky for May's Brexit deal

On the day Britain was supposed to have left the European Union, the Prime Minister asked MPs to approve part of her deal – the withdrawal agreement covering the terms of exit – in a desperate attempt secure departure by May 22.

But once more the deal was thrown out, by a margin of 343-286, although the margin of 58 votes was smaller than on the previous two votes.

Most Labour and Liberal Democrat MPs voted against the deal, along with the DUP, the SNP and Tory Brexiteers including Owen Paterson.

As the MPs voted, thousands of pro-Brexit protesters gathered outside the Commons waving Union Jack flags, placards and banners.

Mr Paterson called for Mrs May to resign soon, saying it was time for a fresh team to deliver Britain's exit from the EU.

But his Tory colleagues Daniel Kawczynski and Philip Dunne warned that the defeat would achieve the opposite of what the Brexiteers were hoping for.

Mr Kawczynski, MP for Shrewsbury and Atcham, said he thought another referendum or general election were now the most likely outcomes.

Mr Kawczynski, who like Mr Paterson is a member of the pro-Brexit European Research Group, had previously opposed the deal, but this week appealed for Brexiteers to back it to guarantee that Britain left the EU.

He said Labour, Liberal Democrat, SNP and Plaid Cymru MPs had behaved in a cynical way to disrupt the process.

“I know it is the job of the opposition to hold the Government to account, but I think they have been putting party political gain before the interests of the country.

“I’m also disappointed that a number of my colleagues couldn’t support the deal.”

Mr Kawczynski said there would now be further votes on Monday, one of them will be for a customs union with the EU, and another for a second referendum, which he thought was the most likely outcome.

“A customs union would prevent us from striking independent trade deals, and the European Court of Justice will continue to oversee legislation in this country

“Another referendum will not resolve the matter, particularly if it comes out 52-48 in favour of remaining in the EU, and I don’t see how a general election is going to sort it out as it looks like the result will be the same.”

Mr Dunne said he was dismayed that Parliament had once more chosen muddle over moving forward.

"The vote on the Withdrawal Agreement provided legal certainty of leaving the EU with frictionless trade for the transition period," he said. "This is now not certain, not least because the House of Commons again this week voted decisively against no deal.

"On Monday we have another go at achieving a majority for a different proposal.

"But the vote today has raised the prospect of a much softer Brexit and significant further delay on terms likely to be dictated by the EU.

"So the ardent Brexiteers have effectively voted to give control back to Brussels."

Mark Pritchard, MP for The Wrekin, also spoke of his disappointment that the agreement had not been passed.

“All those who voted against it are inadvertently, or purposely, trying to stop Brexit,” he said.

“I will continue to push for Brexit and honour the instruction of the British people in the 2016 referendum. Parliament is not above the people.”

However, Mr Paterson said the legal position was now that Britain could leave the EU without a deal, and trigger Article 24 of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade to ensure we continued to trade smoothly with the EU.

“It would also mean we are not minus £39 billion, and I think there are a lot of uses we could find for that money in North Shropshire," he said.

Mr Paterson said had Mrs May not persisted with her deal, and looked at the alternative arrangements he had suggested to them as long ago as October, then the present chaotic situation could have been avoided.

“The Government acted to actually delay its own legislation, if it had not done that we could have been out at 11pm last night, the whole thing would have been over.”