Thread by @faisalislam

Being voted on now

https://twitter.com/faisalislam/status/1069913392733929473

Another thumping defeat for Government on Grieve amendment - 321-299 - Commons now has power to amend Governments Plan B if Meaningful Vote lost.

No Deal likelihood plunging.

This is probably the most terrible legislative hour for a sitting UK Government for decades - an unprecedented contempt defeat and a significant procedural defeat on its most important task.

And the PM had to stand up and launch the substantive debate immediately afterwards.

This is all the consequence of the same issue that arose after last year’s General Election- the PM does not have enough MPs...

But - perhaps as appears to be occurring as the PM starts the Meaningful Vote debate - it helps with her last throw of the dice - lay down the gauntlet to the ERG post ECJ/Grieve and say ‘do you want no Brexit or some Brexit?’

So @IoWBobSeely says though it’s bad for the Government to be in contempt of Parliament it is worse for Parliament to be in contempt of the people - by not delivering Brexit

Important backing for the PM from the one non-DUP NI MP, Lady Hermon, who criticises Labour and backs Withdrawal Agreement says NI Business backs it...

Twenty SIx Tory MPs backed Grieve amendment . 26!

Including Soames
Derek Thomas
PM’s close friend Damian Green
Fallon
Boles
Jo Johnson
Freeman
Benyon

As well as more regular Remainer rebels.

DUP voted with Government on Grieve as did 4 Labour MPs
- but still Government defeated...

But overturned by 26 Tory rebels, whose eventual aim is to stop No Deal.

I reported in June 2017 on 30 Tory MPs who told whips they would stop No Deal

news.sky.com/story/no-brexi…

PM making offer to Parliament for MPs to play a bigger role in the next phase of negotiations to feed in their expertise

Corbyn saying that PM lost the opportunity after last year’s General Election to build a consensus ...
No Deal not an option, he says...