MPs voted by 391 to 242 to reject the deal, a majority of 149 votes, leaving the future of Brexit hanging in the balance. The Prime Minister dashed to Strasbourg last night in a bid to secure legally-binding changes to the backstop, which is aimed at preventing a hard Irish border. But Mrs May’s 11th hour agreement with the EU was not enough to win over the majority of the European Research Group (ERG) of 100 pro-Brexit Tories led by Jacob Rees-Mogg or the DUP, whose 10 votes prop up the Government.
On a day of high drama in Westminster, Attorney General Geoffrey Cox refused to backtrack on his legal advice that the UK could be permanently trapped in the backstop.
Mr Cox admitted that while the risk was reduced it could not be ruled out, shifting momentum against Mrs May.
