The final Commons defeat for Theresa May was delivered on Thursday as 47 Conservative MPs defied a three-line whip to prevent the suspension of parliament this autumn for force through a no-deal Brexit.

For weeks, MPs has been asking, in the words of one consistent rebel, whether the anti no-deal Tories had the "cojones" to really stand up to the government. And on Thursday, they gave their answer: yes they did and in big numbers.

Seventeen MPs voting for an amendment to block an attempt by the incoming prime minister to prorogue parliament in order to facilitate no deal if necessary on 31 October. Thirty abstained. This is the beginning of a new rebel alliance.

For the Eurosceptic rebels, who have spent the past three decades bringing down their leaders from the green benches, are in the ascendancy now.

Their candidate Boris Johnson looks set to enter Downing Street next week and he will be carried in on the shoulders of the Brexit purists who drove Theresa May out in order to bring in their own choice for leader.


Now is the time for the true believers - the Maastricht rebels Iain Duncan Smith and John Whittingdale and modern day 'freedom fighters' Priti Patel, Jacob Rees-Mogg - to take the reins of government.

But as they enter power, those stripped of it are poised to become a potent force of the backbenchers.

Thursday's vote wasn't just significant because it made it extremely difficult for Mr Johnson to suspend parliament should be win the leadership race. It was also a warning shot to the incoming prime minister that the anti no dealers were organised and ready to mimic their old adversaries when they move out of government and onto the green benches.

Margot James, the culture minister, who quit her job to vote for the amendment was clear about her motives. This was the moment to take a stand.

"Virtually all sectors of our economy are telling us they don't want to see this country leave without a deal, I just cannot understand conservative colleagues flying in the face of that strong business opinion," the former entrepreneur-turned-MP told me in the aftermath of her resignation.

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Her resignation is likely to just be the tip of the spear in the war this group is about to unleash on Mr Johnson's administration.

Ms James thinks his election will precipitate more resignations. "I think there are others who think, like me, that we couldn't possibly sign up to Boris' 'do or die' Brexit, deal or no deal, by 31 October," she said.

"So if he does prevail I think there would be more resignations, yes."

And they could come as the new prime minister is crowned.

If you are Chancellor Philip Hammond, Business Secretary Greg Clark, International Development Secretary Rory Stewart or Justice Secretary David Gauke, do you want for Mr Johnson to sack you or leave on your own terms?

For weeks the two men vying for the Tory crown have pushed the party to a version of Brexit that may play well with the party membership but is unconscionable for dozens of Conservative MPs.

Most have shifted from remain to an acceptance the UK must quit the EU. But with a no deal? The Brexiteers liked to talk about their immovable red lines on the customs union and the Irish backstop, now their adversaries have found theirs and are prepared to go over the top to prevent it.

It has been crystal clear for weeks that Mr Johnson's two-pronged promise to leave the EU deal or no deal by Halloween and unite the party was farcical.

You can't push through a no-deal Brexit without splitting the party, perhaps fatally. That isn't "defeatism" or "negativity", it's political reality.

And the precariousness of Mr Johnson's position in No. 10 will be made evident as soon as he is crowned the new Conservative king should government ministers decide to walk en masse.

An undermining start, but perhaps fitting for a new prime minister who will face chaos as soon as his reign starts. He has a working majority of just four.

There has been plenty of criticism that the anti no-dealers were reluctant rebels at best and cowardly ones at worst.

But today the quiet Tories roared. They are, finally, prepared to really fight. These benches will not be kept silent as Brexit reaches the end game. Mr Johnson needs to find a deal.