Image copyright HOC Image caption The government lost by 11 votes

Rebel Conservative MPs have joined forces with Labour to inflict a fresh blow on Theresa May's government in a Commons Brexit vote.

It means the government will have to come up with revised plans within three days if Mrs May's EU withdrawal deal is rejected by MPs next week.

It could also open the door to alternatives, such as a referendum.

No 10 said Mrs May's deal was in the national interest but if MPs disagreed, the government would "respond quickly".

The setback for the PM came as MPs started five days of debate on the withdrawal agreement with the EU, and the framework for future relations, ahead of the meaningful vote next Tuesday.

The government was expecting to have 21 days to come up with a "plan B" for Brexit if, as widely expected, Mrs May's deal is voted down.

But MPs backed calls for it to respond within three working Parliamentary days, a deadline likely to fall on Monday 21 January.

Theresa May lost by 11 votes, with 297 MPs siding with the government and 308 against.

Among those voting against were 17 Conservatives, including former ministers Justine Greening, Sam Gyimah and Jo Johnson who want to see another referendum to decide whether the UK should leave or not.

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Former attorney general Dominic Grieve, the Conservative MP who led the rebellion, said he hoped for a "serious dialogue" between government and Parliament on alternatives to Mrs May's deal to avert a possible crisis.

He told ITV's Peston that it would be up to Mrs May to decide what she wanted to do if her deal was rejected, but MPs would be able to vote on any motion she put forward within seven days.

While the PM would have the right to say she wanted the Commons to re-consider her deal, he said MPs could amend the motion, telling her in effect "we want you to do something else".

Fellow rebel Sarah Wollaston said she and other MPs opposed to a no-deal exit were engaged in a "guerrilla campaign" to show that it would never get the consent of Parliament.

'Huge implications for Brexit'

Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Bercow: "Anti-Brexit sticker belongs to my wife"

By BBC Parliamentary Correspondent Mark D'Arcy

The new Grieve amendment, now passed by MPs, means that in the event the PM loses next week, the Commons will then have a chance to vote on alternative policies - everything from a "managed no-deal" to a further referendum, via a "Norway option" or a reheated version of the current deal, could be on the table.

If a majority could be found for anything, it would not have the force of law - but it would at least indicate a policy which had the support of MPs.

This is, in short, a massive ruling by the Speaker, made, apparently, against the advice of the Commons Clerk, Sir David Natzler.

I don't want to delve too deeply into the arcana of Business of the House motions only amendable by ministers of the Crown, but this drove a coach and horses through accepted normal practice, and will have huge implications for the course of Brexit.

Read Mark's full blog

But Conservative Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg, who favours leaving without a withdrawal agreement, said it would not stop the UK exiting on 29 March.

"It merely requires a motion to be tabled not even debated," he said.

And prisons minister Rory Stewart, who backs the PM's deal, said requiring Mrs May to restart complex negotiations with the EU and come back with changes in three days, was "unreasonable".

He said Mr Grieve was "trying to provide more support for what he wants, which is a second referendum".

Downing Street said it would consider the repercussions of Wednesday's defeat but its intention had always been to "provide certainty" as soon as possible.

Labour has said it will table a motion of no confidence in the government if Mrs May's deal is voted down.

Shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer said Parliament had to "take control of what happens next" and suggested delaying the date of the UK's exit beyond 29 March might be "inevitable".

He warned the UK's options were narrowing given the need to avoid, at all costs, a no-deal exit which he claimed was "simply not viable for practical reasons".

Commons Speaker John Bercow faced an angry backlash from some Conservative MPs over his decision to allow MPs to vote on the issue.

Quick guide: What is a no-deal Brexit? A "no-deal" Brexit is where the UK would cut ties with the European Union overnight without a transition period. Theresa May's government, and many others, believe this would be hugely damaging and want a more gradual withdrawal. But if Parliament can't agree on that, and nothing else takes its place, the UK could still leave without a deal. This would mean the UK would not have to obey EU rules. Instead, it would need to follow World Trade Organization terms on trade. Many businesses would see new taxes on imports, exports and services, which are likely to increase their operating costs. That means the prices of some goods in UK shops could go up. The UK would also lose the trade agreements it had with other countries as a member of the EU, all of which would need to be renegotiated alongside the new agreement with the EU itself. Manufacturers in the UK expect to face delays in components coming across the border. The UK would be free to set its own immigration controls. However some UK professionals working in the EU and UK expats could face uncertainty. Some countries, such as Spain, Germany and the Netherlands, have given temporary guarantees about residency status and rights, but there is not yet an agreed policy for UK citizens across the EU in the event of a no-deal Brexit. The situation for holidays and business trips is a little clearer, as the European Commission has said that even in a no-deal scenario, UK travellers won't need a visa for short visits of up to 90 days. The border between Northern Ireland and the Irish republic would become an external frontier for the EU with customs and immigration controls, though how and where any checks would be made is not clear. Some Leave supporters think that leaving without a deal would be positive if the right preparations were made. They say criticism is scaremongering and any short term pain would be for long term gain. But critics - including both Brexit supporters and opponents - say that leaving without a deal would be a disaster for the UK: driving up food prices, leading to shortages of goods and gridlock on some roads in the South East resulting from extra border checks.

The MPs claim Mr Bercow broke Commons rules and ignored the advice of his own clerks.

Commons leader Andrea Leadsom was among MPs to challenge his ruling in a series of points of order after Prime Minister's Questions.

They argued that the business motion, tabled by the government, was not amendable and said the Speaker was breaking with precedent.

Mr Bercow said he had made an "honest judgement" after consulting his clerks but rejected calls from Ms Leadsom to publish the advice he had received.

He insisted he was "not setting himself up against the government but championing the rights of the House of Commons", adding that if people wanted to vote against the amendment they could.

But a number of Tory MPs said the decision cast doubt on Mr Bercow's impartiality, with Crispin Blunt questioning whether he remained a "neutral referee of our affairs".

The Commons defeat was the second in the space of 24 hours for the government on Brexit.

On Tuesday, MPs, headed by former Tory ministers Mr Grieve and Oliver Letwin, defied the government on an amendment aimed at making it more difficult to leave the EU without a deal.

The clashes in the Commons came as the PM, who cancelled a vote on her deal last month at the last minute to avoid a humiliating defeat, launched a fresh push to convince MPs.

She is hoping new proposals on Northern Ireland will change enough MPs' minds to save the deal.

Under the plans, the Northern Ireland Assembly would have a say on new EU rules if the backstop plan to prevent physical checks on the Irish border comes into force after Brexit.

But the Democratic Unionist Party, on whom Theresa May relies for her Commons majority, have already rejected the so-called "Stormont lock" plans as "cosmetic" and "meaningless".

Ministers have also accepted calls for MPs to be able to vote next year on alternatives to activating the backstop, such as extending the proposed 21-month transition period.

Need some guidance?

If you feel like you ought to know more about Brexit...</s>London: British MPs are set to hold a critical vote on January 15 on the Brexit agreement negotiated by Prime Minister Theresa May with the European Union, her spokesman said Tuesday.The House of Commons will on Wednesday resume a debate on the deal that was halted in December when May postponed the vote in the face of widespread opposition.

May told her weekly cabinet meeting that, subject to approval by MPs, “she would close the debate next Tuesday, January 15, when the vote will take place”, her spokesman said.

He confirmed that the prime minister was still seeking assurances from the EU on controversial elements of the Brexit deal relating to Northern Ireland, in a bid to convince critics to back the agreement.

These assurances are set to be delivered to lawmakers before they vote, although not before they start their debate on Wednesday.

“The work to secure those assurances is ongoing. I think what’s important is that if we are to secure assurances, MPs are aware of what they are before the vote takes place,” the spokesman said.

Elsewhere, he denied reports that British officials were talking to European officials about possibly delaying Brexit to avoid leaving the bloc on March 29 without a deal.

“There are people in the European Union who are discussing this issue, but that is not the position of the UK government,” he said.</s>Dramatic scenes in the Commons on Wednesday saw MPs challenge the Speaker in angry points of order for more than an hour, and the House divide into almost equal factions.

For John Bercow’s critics on the government benches, he had undermined the authority of his office and established a dangerous precedent by allowing MPs to amend a motion hitherto regarded as unamendable.

To his admirers, who included Conservatives as well as opposition MPs, he was a fearless champion of the right of parliament to assert itself against the executive.

Leaving the argument over procedure aside, however, the House’s approval of Dominic Grieve’s amendment to the motion on Theresa May’s Brexit deal could prove to be a hinge moment in the story of Britain’s withdrawal from the European Union.

It represents parliament’s long-anticipated move to take control of a process that the minority Conservative government has shown itself incapable of managing successfully.

If the prime minister’s deal is rejected, as expected, next Tuesday, she will have just three sitting days to come back to parliament with a motion outlining what she proposes to do next.

That motion will be amendable, allowing MPs to test support for alternatives, including a Norway-plus model that would see Britain remaining in the single market and the customs union, and a second referendum that could stop Brexit.

MPs demonstrated in a vote on Tuesday night that a majority opposes leaving the EU without a deal. But if the prime minister is unable to pass her deal, what chance do the alternatives have of winning a majority?

Before the Christmas recess, support for Norway-plus appeared to be seeping away as Remainers, particularly on the Labour benches, started to believe that a second referendum was achievable. Labour seemed poised to take the steps agreed at its party conference last year that would lead it to support a second referendum, favoured by most of its members.

Since parliament returned this week, however, the Labour leadership’s lack of enthusiasm for a second vote has remained undiminished and some wavering MPs have become anxious about the potential toxicity of another referendum.

In the chamber yesterday, Conservatives Oliver Letwin and Ken Clarke were negotiating in public with shadow Brexit secretary, Keir Starmer, about the kind of compromise Labour could accept.

A cross-party majority has revealed itself at Westminster this week to oppose a no-deal Brexit and assert parliamentary control over the withdrawal process. But it has yet to marshal itself behind a single plan for Brexit, without which Britain will crash out of the EU on March 29th.</s>LONDON: British MPs voted on Wednesday (Jan 9) to force Prime Minister Theresa May to quickly set out an alternative plan for Brexit if she loses a crucial vote on her EU withdrawal deal next week, in a second parliamentary defeat in 24 hours.

The House of Commons voted to reduce the time the government has to explain its "plan B" from 21 sitting days to three if, as expected, lawmakers reject the draft Brexit agreement in a vote on Tuesday.

Members of May's own Conservative party led the revolt amid fears that delaying the decision raises the risks of Britain crashing out of the European Union on March 29 with no deal at all.

It was the second setback in as many days for the prime minister, after MPs voted late on Tuesday to deny the government certain taxation powers in a no-deal scenario - another attempt to avoid such an outcome.

Speaking to MPs earlier, May said: "The only way to avoid no deal is to vote for the deal."

But her spokesman added: "If that were not to take place ... we would respond quickly and provide certainty on the way forward."

The parliamentary manoeuvres came at the start of five days of debate on the deal May struck with the EU last November, which has been strongly opposed from lawmakers on all sides of the House of Commons.



She set out further clarifications she hopes will win over her own Conservative MPs and Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), which props up her government in parliament.

The most controversial element of the agreement is the "backstop" arrangement, which could see Northern Ireland continue to follow certain EU trade rules after Brexit to avoid border checks with Ireland.

The government has now offered guarantees to local lawmakers in the province over the operation of the backstop, and on the free flow of trade between Northern Ireland and mainland Britain.

But DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds said the proposals were "meaningless and cosmetic", adding he would keep pressing for changes to the overall deal.

May is also still seeking assurances on the operation of the backstop from European leaders, which she hopes to deliver before the vote next week.

The prime minister has already postponed the vote once - in December - to avoid defeat, and has said a loss for the government would plunge Britain into "uncharted territory".

But without the DUP's support, and with many of May's Conservative MP still strongly opposed, the deal cannot pass.

The prime minister has warned that defeat will lead to a no-deal Brexit, or possibly no departure from the bloc.

Both revolts this week have been driven by Conservative MPs who fear what they see as the potentially disastrous impact of leaving the EU in March with no arrangements in place to replace four decades of membership.

Late on Tuesday, 303 MPs - among them more than a dozen former Conservative ministers - voted to restrict the government's taxation powers in a "no deal" scenario, against 296 who backed May.

The government said it was an "inconvenience" but would not stop preparations for leaving the EU.

Wednesday's amendment has more weight, requiring May, is she loses the divorce deal vote, to explain her "plan B" by the latest on Monday, Jan 21. It passed by 308 votes to 297.

"The government's decision to delay the meaningful vote has run down the clock and increased the risk of a no deal Brexit," Labour's Brexit spokesman Keir Starmer said.

"If the prime minister's Brexit deal is defeated next week, she must return to parliament as soon as possible and give MPs a real say on what happens next."

There was a major row in the Commons over whether the amendment could even be put to a vote, with Speaker John Bercow apparently disregarding the advice of his own clerks that it could not.

Several Conservative MPs accused Bercow of being biased against Brexit, but he insisted he was only supporting the right of MPs to challenge the government.

Labour has said it will seek a confidence vote in the government if it loses next week, and leader Jeremy Corbyn demanded she "do the right thing" and call a general election.

Conservative lawmaker and former minister Ken Clarke meanwhile repeated his call for Brexit to be delayed while parliament decides what to do next.

Despite the support of a majority of MPs to avoid a "no deal" scenario, without agreement on an alternative Britain is legally on course to leave the EU in March unless it delays or cancels the process.

May insists Brexit will happen in March, but there is growing talk of delaying the two-year Article 50 exit process.</s>The most important House of Commons vote in decades is being held on Tuesday 15 January.

MPs are deciding whether to accept or reject the 585-page Brexit deal the UK has signed with Brussels.

It's widely expected the deal will be voted down, which raises the question of what happens next.

Despite Westminster war-gaming obsessively for months, no one really knows how it will pan out.

However, there are some things we know will happen, some that could well happen, and some outside choices.

Here's what we know.

When is the Brexit vote?

MPs are holding a 'meaningful vote' on the Brexit deal from 7pm on Tuesday 15 January in the House of Commons.

It comes after five days of debate, closed by a speech from Theresa May herself.

The vote will be after 7pm, and could be some hours later, because amendments have to be voted on first.

What does the Brexit meaningful vote mean?

MPs are deciding whether to approve a Brexit 'withdrawal agreement' between the UK and the EU.

The deal ensures there is no cliff-edge on March 29 by carrying on EU rules in a "transition period" to December 2020.

It also commits the UK to paying a £39billion divorce bill in return for guaranteeing we won't be locked out of EU arrangements.

However, there is still no solution to avoid customs checks between Northern Ireland (in the UK) and the Republic (in the EU) after 2020.

So the deal includes a 'backstop' clause that, if there's still no solution by 2021, will trap the UK under EU customs rules. This will stop us signing trade deals with the rest of the world.

Will Theresa May win the Brexit vote?

More than 100 Tory MPs, and the Tories' 10 DUP allies, said before Christmas they would vote against the deal.

Because of this, the deal was delayed in order to win more concessions from the EU.

But most MPs refused to change their mind because the EU refused to reopen the actual deal. Instead Brussels only gave "assurances" around the deal that critics said weren't enough.

What happens next if Theresa May loses the Brexit vote?

Some or all of these options will happen if Theresa May loses the Brexit vote.

No Deal planning will be ramped up - and ministers will quit

Billions of pounds have already been spent on No Deal planning - and you can expect billions more.

This includes turning the M20 motorway into a lorry park and spending £100million to boost ferry capacity across the Channel.

A chunk of Acts of Parliament, plus more than 500 'secondary' emergency laws, will need to be rushed through Parliament.

Thousands of extra border officers and Home Office officials are being hired to deal with extra paperwork.

Several Tory ministers are expected to quit the government if No Deal Brexit starts looking inevitable.

Theresa May will be forced to reveal her Plan B

The Prime Minister is expected to make a statement on the night if she loses the vote.

Her spokesman insisted she would move "quickly and provide certainty on the way forward" if the vote is lost.

By law she will be forced to come back to Parliament with a formal Plan B within three sitting days - so on Monday 21 January.

She must make a statement on the government's next steps.

After another seven sitting days - so by Thursday 31 January - MPs get a vote on those next steps. However, the vote may not actually have any legal effect.

She might force MPs to vote "again and again"

Theresa May previously refused to rule out holding the vote on her Brexit deal "again and again and again" if she loses.

She even refused to rule out holding the vote 30 times.

That is despite her warning a second referendum on Brexit would damage trust in democracy.

Technically there is nothing in law to stop her putting similar questions to Parliament to get the right answer. But MPs warned it would be a breach of vital parliamentary convention.

Labour is set to trigger a no confidence vote

Labour says it will force a no confidence vote in the government at some point after a defeat on January 15.

Shadow Cabinet ministers said it would come "immediately", but sources close to Jeremy Corbyn were more coy about the timing.

There is a huge hurdle to Labour winning a no confidence vote.

The DUP - whose 10 MPs are crucial to victory for both sides - has said it won't back a no-confidence vote unless the Brexit deal passes. But Labour are intending a no confidence vote if it fails.

So the best Labour can hope for might be for the DUP to abstain - in other words, not to back either side.

If Labour does win a no confidence vote, it triggers a 14-day countdown clock.

And if no one can command a Commons majority within 14 days...

We could have a snap general election

A general election is triggered automatically if no party can win the Commons' confidence within two weeks.

That could throw us into a campaign and vote on March 7 at the earliest - just weeks before we leave the EU.

A new government would open up a whole new flowchart of possibilities, which we won't get into properly here.

But it could well involve delaying Brexit and trying to renegotiate, especially if Labour takes power.

Remain MPs will push for a second EU referendum

Remain-backers have already been pushing for a second EU referendum, and those calls will only grow.

There is no majority for it in the House of Commons yet.

But Jeremy Corbyn is facing pressure to back it from more of his members in the Labour Party.

He has promised to leave it as an "option on the table" - in his view, a last resort - if the deal is voted down.

However, the exact path to a second referendum still isn't clear. And most say it couldn't be arranged in time before March 29.

The date of Brexit could be delayed - or cancelled

Britain could extend the 29 March date of Brexit - if the EU agrees to as well.

There would need to be a concrete reason to do this, and it'd probably be a short extension.

Also, the EU is holding its Parliamentary elections at the end of May, which would get in the way - badly.

Alternatively, Brexit can be cancelled without the EU's permission by revoking our notification to leave under Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty.

But while this is legally possible, don't expect it to happen under a Tory government any time soon.

MPs will try to block a No Deal Brexit

Pretty much the only thing MPs agree on is they don't want a No Deal Brexit.

So expect them to pull out every trick (and amendment) in the book to try and block it in Parliament.

Government minister Chris Heaton-Harris insisted there isn't a way to block No Deal. And that's true in the sense that No Deal is the default option, written into law.

But MPs won an amendment that will force the government to seek approval for No Deal spending. In theory, MPs could try and use this to block it from happening.

Theresa May could resign - and force a Tory leadership race

Theresa May could, in theory, be forced to quit by the "men in grey suits" of her Cabinet.

In this case, a new leader would take perhaps a month or two to choose.

First MPs would narrow the candidates down to two; then the 100,000 or so Tory members would vote between the final picks.

The winner would become Prime Minister, without needing to call a general election, and could take Brexit in a dramatically different direction.

Cabinet ministers could force Britain to choose another option

If Theresa May faces undeniable pressure from within, or there's a new leader, there could be a new option for Brexit.

Ones that have been mentioned include the much-discussed Norway option, staying in the European Economic Area.

Remainers are largely in favour but Brexiteers say it would tie our hands and keep us bound to the EU.

And if none of that comes to anything?

We leave on 29 March 2019 with no deal.</s>British Prime Minister Theresa May suffered an early defeat to her Brexit plans on Wednesday when members of parliament demanded the government come up with a plan B.

The parliament demanded the alternative plan should be submitted within days if she loses a vote on her deal to leave the EU.

It is less than three months before Britain is due to leave the EU.

The parliament began a five-day battle over May’s Brexit plan with a show of force – undermining her preferred timetable if MPs vote down her deal on Tuesday.

May has refused to retreat from her unpopular deal, which envisages close trading ties with the EU after leaving in March.

She also prefer to press ahead with the vote that she looks set to lose after failing to win over her nominal Northern Irish allies.

Losing the vote would deepen the uncertainty over the future of Brexit, Britain’s biggest shift in foreign and trade policy for more than 40 years.

The possible loss could open the way for several different outcomes, ranging from a disorderly exit to another referendum.

MPs voted 308-297 in favour of demanding the government come up with an alternative plan within three working days after Tuesday’s vote, rather than a planned 21-day limit.

It was a largely symbolic vote aimed at putting pressure on the government.

There were turbulent scenes in parliament when some in May’s Conservative Party accused the speaker of bias.

May’s spokesman said the government’s advice was that parliament could not change its so-called business motion.

The motion sets out the procedure for the Brexit vote, but played down the impact of the vote for its overall plans.

“We are doing everything we can to win the meaningful vote that happens on Tuesday,” the spokesman said.

“But it is also the intention, if that were not to take place that we respond quickly to provide certainty on the way forward following that vote.”

Combined with a vote late on Tuesday when the government lost on the finance bill, the defeats underline May’s precarious position in parliament and the difficult she will have in winning approval for her Brexit deal.

The opposition Labour Party has said that it will immediately table a vote of no confidence in the government if May loses the vote.

With the likelihood of a no-deal Brexit rising, the EU is looking at how Brexit might be postponed.

Pro-EU campaigners are testing ways Britain could hold another referendum after voters narrowly backed leaving in 2016.

Britain is due to leave the EU on March 29, at 2300 GMT.

The government needs 318 votes to get a deal through the 650-seat House of Commons, as seven members of Irish nationalist party Sinn Fein do not sit, four speakers and deputy speakers do not vote and the four tellers are not counted.</s>MPs will begin debating Theresa May’s Brexit deal again this week, though materially very little has changed since the prime minister pulled the vote last month. Here’s what to expect in the coming days and the aftermath of the vote.

What will happen in parliament?

The debate is scheduled to last for five more days, with a final vote on 15 January. Brexit secretary Steve Barclay will open the debate on Wednesday 9 January, when it will be closed by May’s de-facto deputy David Lidington, and other cabinet ministers will open and close the debate on the subsequent days, including Michael Gove, Greg Clark, Sajid Javid and Jeremy Hunt. On the final day, the prime minister will close the debate, just before the vote.

Previously the government had “themes” for the different days of debate, including the economy and the union.

More than 100 MPs spoke in the debate before the vote was pulled last month and many had been concerned they would not be permitted to speak again. The government has said however that it intends for the MPs to be able to make contributions again.

What has changed since the vote was pulled?

Nothing, though Downing Street says negotiations are ongoing with the European Union. MPs are now in the strange position of having a new debate while they are still unclear about the outcome of those talks.

No 10 said restarting the debate before a conclusion had been reached was because of a commitment to hold the vote before 21 January.

May told Andrew Marr on Sunday that MPs could expect reassurances in the next few days in three areas: on Northern Ireland; on the role of parliament in future negotiations; and from the EU27 member states.

What is Theresa May still seeking?

The prime minister is seeking legally binding reassurances on the backstop, to ensure those customs arrangements to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland would be temporary.

It is still unclear what form that assurance could take – though EU sources have suggested an “exchange of letters “– or if that will be enough to reassure enough hardline Brexiters and her supply-and-confidence partners, the DUP.

No 10 have said the sought-after clarification will only be published just before next week’s final vote, and would not emerge before the long-awaited five-day Brexit debate begins on Wednesday afternoon.

Brussels is willing to repeat that the target for achieving a free-trade deal is the end of 2020, which if achieved would avoid the need for the unpopular Irish backstop to come into force, but the UK is sceptical that deadline can be achieved. The EU will not give ground on any adjustment to the withdrawal agreement itself.

The UK wants the EU to commit to a legally binding target to finalise trade talks by the end of 2021. The UK believes this would allow a realistic amount of time to conclude the free-trade deal and limit the Irish backstop to a year.

Will MPs get a chance to debate those changes?

Downing Street said it is the intention that MPs have some time to discuss what, if anything, the prime minister has achieved in her discussions with Brussels, rather than springing it on MPs just before they vote.

What happens if the vote is lost?

More than 100 MPs have so far committed to voting against this deal and few seemed to have been pacified over the Christmas break. Cabinet sources said May had acknowledged she may lose the vote and said things would “move quickly” if that happens.

If the margin of defeat is less than predicted, May could try putting the same deal again to the Commons if she manages to get another concession from the EU, enough to argue the new motion is substantially different.

Labour could also then table a vote of no confidence in the government, though it is unclear whether the party could win it, especially without the backing of the DUP, who have said they will support the government unless May’s deal passes.</s>John Bercow sparked furious Commons scenes as MPs argued over the potential process of how to bring forward a Brexit plan B.

The Commons Speaker faced a backlash from Conservative MPs after selecting a proposal from Tory former minister Dominic Grieve, which attempts to speed up the process for the Government to reveal what it will do next if Theresa May’s deal is rejected.

Mr Grieve’s amendment was tabled against a Government motion detailing the timetable for the Brexit deal debate, which Tory MPs argued was “unamendable”.

But Mr Bercow stood by his decision to allow a vote on the amendment – which was ultimately approved by 308 votes to 297, majority 11 – amid personal criticism and calls for him to go from Tory MPs during more than 60 minutes of points of order.

The Speaker also did not confirm that his decision was taken with agreement from the Commons clerk Sir David Natzler following questions by Commons Leader Andrea Leadsom.

Mr Grieve, supported by fellow Tory rebels, wants the Government to return with a revised EU exit plan within three sitting days if the Prime Minister’s deal is defeated next week.

MPs heard the original process outlined in the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, which requires a statement within 21 days, takes precedence.

Outlining his decision to select the amendment, Mr Bercow said: “My understanding is the motion is amendable, I’m clear in my mind about that.”

After heckles from the Tory benches, he added: “I’m trying to do the right thing and make the right judgments. That is what I have tried to do and what I will go on doing.”

Tory former minister Mark Francois, deputy chairman of the Eurosceptic European Research Group (ERG), claimed Mr Bercow was not following his own rules.

He later yelled “ridiculous” and “that is utter sophistry”, but Mr Bercow defended his decision.

The Speaker later confirmed he consulted the clerk and officials, saying the advice was given to him “privately and that’s absolutely proper”.

He said: “It’s also true I had a written note from the clerk from which I quoted in responding to the first point of order.”

Tory MP David Morris (Morecambe and Lunesdale) leapt to his feet and repeatedly shouted: “Publish it!”

Mr Bercow added there was not full written advice nor a brief.

Tory Brexiteers raised several concerns while Conservative former minister Crispin Blunt, raising a further point of order, called on Mr Bercow to “reflect” on his position.

He said: “You said you would serve nine years, there has been the controversy of the recommendations of the Dame Laura Cox inquiry into the House of Commons, you have been defended particularly by two members on the other side about the importance of you being sustained in this position beyond nine years in order to oversee the discussions of the Brexit issue.”

He added: “For many of us we will now have an unshakeable conviction that the referee of our affairs, not least because you gave your opinion and your vote on the issue of Brexit publicly, that we will have an unshakeable conviction that the referee is no longer neutral.

“I just invite you to reflect on the conclusion that many of us will have inevitably have come to.”

Tory MP Adam Holloway (Gravesham) later accused Mr Bercow of having a “derogatory” sticker about Brexit in his car.

He said: “We’ve all noticed in recent months a sticker in your car making derogatory comments about Brexit. Have you driven that car with the sticker on?”

Mr Bercow said that was a “factual error” and told MPs the car belonged to his wife.

He said: “That sticker on the subject of Brexit happens to be affixed to or in the windscreen of my wife’s car, and I’m sure he wouldn’t suggest for one moment that a wife is somehow the property or chattel of her husband. She is entitled to her views, that sticker is not mine and that’s the end of it.”

Mr Bercow’s comment drew huge cheers and applause from Labour and SNP MPs.

Conservative former cabinet minister Ken Clarke earlier said he found it “unbelievable” that some MPs were trying to stop the Commons expressing its opinion on the matter.

He said: “I would suggest to some of my honourable friends, the ones that are getting somewhat overexcited, that perhaps they should don a yellow jacket and go outside.”</s>As MPs headed back after the holidays, there have been furious protests outside the Houses of Parliament from both pro and anti-Brexit groups. The Met has announced “enhanced” policing to be enforced ahead of the Brexit deadline, after protesters shouted slurs of “fascist” and “Nazi” at MPs and journalists, prompting the Commons speaker to write to the police force appealing for help. Public outrage is ramping up as the Brexit deadline is rapidly approaching: The UK is currently set to leave the EU on March 29 at 11pm.

Up next on the Brexit agenda, MPs will resume the debate on Theresa May’s draft Brexit deal which was cut short in December. The debate precedes MPs’ chance to vote on the deal - the vote was due to take place in December, but was postponed by the government when defeat became inevitable. Now, the Prime Minister has insisted the vote will go ahead on Tuesday, January 15, and not be delayed again. READ MORE: What exactly does Theresa May's Brexit deal say? The key points explained

WILL THE DEAL BE ACCEPTED? At the moment, hopes aren’t particularly high of MPs approving Theresa May’s hard-won Brexit deal, despite her assurances that this is the best the EU will offer. The main sticking point is the so-called Brexit backstop - the backup plan to avoid a hard border in Ireland - and whether the UK will be able to call it off unilaterally. On Tuesday, a spokesman for the Prime Minister said fresh assurances were being sought from the EU to ensure the UK would not become trapped in a sort of customs arrangement. He said: “In terms of the assurances that we are seeking from the EU, that work is ongoing.” But what these assurances might be has not been revealed, and it’s hard to see what could be done at this stage to assuage MPs concerns.

What happens next is dependent on the vote on January 15, and whether it passes or not. If it passes, this will allow the Brexit draft to be introduced as the EU Withdrawal Agreement Bill and go through the usual procedures to be written into law. Then the UK will officially leave the EU on March 29, initiating a two-year transition period during which further negotiations would take place. But what if, as is looking likely, the deal is rejected?

WHAT IF THE DEAL IS REJECTED? The truth is that no one really knows what would happen - Theresa May herself called it “unchartered territory”. We do know that, in the event of a rejection, the Government has 21 days to set out a plan of action. There are, broadly, five things which could happen: Mrs May would have to get an extension on Article 50 and try to get some solid amendments on the deal to bring it back to Parliament for a second vote. Ideally, this would be a judgement from the European Court of Justice that the backstop is only temporary. Mrs May could try to delay the process by revoke Article 50 to allow the whole thing to start all over again. This would be very hard for the Government to justify without asking voters, which leads us to…

The public is asked, essentially, are you still sure you want this? It would be a huge U-turn for the government and a hard one for the Prime Minister to survive. Which leads us to… If the defeat is big, and the Government’s plan is unsatisfactory, Labour could call a vote of no-confidence in the Conservative Government. If the motion is backed in Parliament, a new government with the support of a majority of MPs must be formed in 14 days. If that is not achieved, Parliament will be dissolved and a general election held. The government has begun to seriously ramp up no-deal planning, despite more than 200 MPs signing a letter to Mrs May urging her to rule the option out. If it does occur, the UK will leave the EU on March 29 and be under World Trade Organisation trading rules, with deep uncertainty about supply of goods, services, medicines, and movement of people. READ MORE: What could a no-deal Brexit really mean for you and me?</s>Theresa May’s Brexit plans have received a major setback after she suffered a second damaging Commons defeat within 24 hours.

MPs backed an amendment demanding the Government return within three sitting days with a new plan if it is defeated in next week’s crunch vote on the Prime Minister’s Brexit deal.

The House voted by 308 to 297 in favour of the amendment tabled by the pro-Remain Tory MP Dominic Grieve with the support of other Conservative rebels.

Earlier there were furious scenes in the chamber as other Tory MPs angrily accused Speaker John Bercow of flouting Commons rules in allowing the vote to go ahead.

A series of MPs rose to complain that the Government motion should not have been amendable.

But Mr Bercow defended his decision saying: “My understanding is the motion is amendable, I’m clear in my mind about that.”

Amid jeers and heckles from the Tory benches, he said: “I’m trying to do the right thing and make the right judgments.

“That is what I have tried to do and what I will go on doing.”

The vote came hard on the heels of Tuesday night’s Commons defeat for the Government on a motion intended to limit its powers to change taxes in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

A senior Downing Street source said they were “surprised” Mr Bercow permitted the division as ministers had received advice the business motion was unamendable.

The source declined to say whether the advice had come from Commons clerks, but made clear the Government could draw on expertise from beyond its own ranks in such cases.

Previously, the Government had three weeks to bring forward new proposals if it is defeated in the meaningful vote on Tuesday with a further vote to take place a week later.

The No 10 source said the Prime Minister had always intended to respond quickly if she loses the vote.

“But it is also the intention if that were not to take place, that we would respond quickly and provide certainty on the way forward following that vote.”

Nevertheless the vote will be seen as another blow to the Prime Minister’s authority as she struggles to win support for her Withdrawal Agreement.

It took place at the start of five days of debate in the Commons after she dramatically pulled a vote last month following a warning by the whips that she was facing certain defeat.

Mr Grieve said the amendment was an attempt to “accelerate the process” if the vote was lost so as to avoid the prospects of a no-deal Brexit.

“I realise there are a few of my colleagues who believe that if the Government’s deal is rejected we should simply do nothing and leave the EU on March 29 with no deal at all and with all, to my mind, the calamitous consequences that would follow on from it,” he told the BBC.

“I disagree with that, and so I think do the vast majority of Members of Parliament.

“The only way we can move forward if the Government’s deal is not acceptable to Parliament is for Parliament to engage with Government and find a solution, which is what I am trying to do.”

In the Commons, Tory anger was directed towards Mr Bercow who many MPs have long suspected is unduly sympathetic to the Remain cause.

Amid chaotic scenes, Brexiteer former minister Crispin Blunt, warned many no longer regarded him as a neutral arbiter of Commons proceedings and urged him to “reflect” on his position.

“For many of us we will now have an unshakeable conviction that the referee of our affairs … is no longer neutral,” he said.

“I just invite you to reflect on the conclusion that many of us will have inevitably have come to.”

The Leader of the House Andrea Leadsom said there were “some concerns” about his decision and asked him to confirm it was taken with “full advice” from the Commons clerk Sir David Natzler.

Mr Bercow said he had consulted privately with the clerk and other officials, but did not confirm his decision was taken with agreement from Sir David.

Earlier, in Prime Minister’s Questions, Jeremy Corbyn urged Mrs May to accept the will of the House as expressed in Tuesday’s vote and rule out a no-deal Brexit.

Mrs May retorted: “The only way to avoid no-deal is to vote for the deal.”
After a vote by MPs in the House of Commons, the government is required to table an alternative Brexit plan within 3 days of the vote, if it fails to pass a majority on January 15.