ES News email The latest headlines in your inbox twice a day Monday - Friday plus breaking news updates Enter your email address Continue Please enter an email address Email address is invalid Fill out this field Email address is invalid You already have an account. Please log in Register with your social account or click here to log in I would like to receive lunchtime headlines Monday - Friday plus breaking news alerts, by email Update newsletter preferences

MPs have voted overwhelmingly to give Theresa May the power to trigger the start of Britain’s divorce talks from the European Union.

The House of Commons approved the Brexit bill at third reading, which allows the Prime Minister to begin withdrawal talks under Article 50 of the EU treaties.

After two days of debate, The European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill entered its final stages in the Commons on Wednesday.

The House voted in favour of the bill by 494 to 122 - a majority of 372.

MPs voted on amendments before the final vote was held shortly after 8pm.

It will now have to pass through the House of Lords before Mrs May can invoke Article 50, which she has promised to do by April.

The key vote caused more problems for Labour than the Prime Minister as Jeremy Corbyn faced another revolt in his own ranks.

A senior Labour source had earlier said that Mr Corbyn was "confident" of the support of his shadow cabinet in voting for the bill.

But senior frontbencher Clive Lewis sensationally resigned as shadow business secretary ahead of the vote.

The Norwich South MP said he handed his resignation with a “heavy heart” as planned to vote against the Article 50 bill and defy leader Mr Corbyn.

He said: "I cannot vote for something I believe will ultimately harm the city I have the honour to represent, love and call home."

Mr Corbyn faced a renewed wave of defiance as 52 Labour MPs voted against the bill at final reading, five more than voted against it as second reading last week.

Shadow home secretary Diane Abbott, who last week blamed a migraine for a failure to attend a key vote on the Bill, backed the triggering of Article 50.

As Mr Lewis announced his resignation, Mr Corbyn appeared to leave the door open for his return to the shadow cabinet, remarking: "I wish Clive well and look forward to working with him in the future."

Asked if the comment meant Mr Lewis could return to the shadow cabinet at some point, a Labour source said they "wouldn't rule anything out".

After the vote, Mr Corbyn tweeted: "Real fight starts now. Over next two years Labour will use every opportunity to ensure Brexit protects jobs, living standards & the economy."

A total of 11 Labour junior shadow ministers and three whips, who are meant to enforce party discipline, voted against triggering Article 50.

The frontbenchers were Rosena Allin-Khan, Kevin Brennan, Lyn Brown, Ruth Cadbury, Rupa Huq, Chi Onwurah, Stephen Pound, Andy Slaughter, Catherine West, Alan Whitehead and Daniel Zeichner.

The whips were Thangam Debbonaire, Vicky Foxcroft and Jeff Smith.

Some 47 pro-Remain Labour MPs defied the leadership to oppose the European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill at second reading and Mr Corbyn was expected to face a renewed wave of defiance.

Former Chancellor Ken Clarke was the only Conservative to vote against the bill on Wednesday.

Last week, the Article 50 people passed its second reading by 498 votes to 114.

Brexit secretary David Davis said the result was “a big majority for getting on with negotiating Britain’s exit from the EU” and that he “respected the strong views on all sides”.

In a statement released after the vote, he said: “We’ve seen a historic vote tonight - a big majority for getting on with negotiating our exit from the EU and a strong, new partnership with its member states.

“It has been a serious debate, a healthy debate, with contributions from MPs representing all parts of the UK, and I respect the strong views on all sides.

“The decision on EU membership has been made by the people we serve. It is now time for everyone, whichever way they voted in the Referendum, to unite to make a success of the important task at hand for our country.”

As Lindsay Hoyle, the deputy speaker, called the third reading in the Commons vote former SNP leader and former Scottish first minister Alex Salmond raised a point of order.

He said that the last time the Commons passed a bill with no report stage, as no amendments were passed in committee, and no debate at third reading was when the Defence of Realm Act was passed in 1914.

The Commons did not stay age a third reading debate because MPs ran out of time.

A Government source warned peers not to delay the Bill's progress through the Lords.

"The Lords will face an overwhelming public call to be abolished if they now try and frustrate this Bill - they must get on and deliver the will of the British people," the source said.