THERESA May has hinted she could have one last attempt at getting her Brexit deal through Parliament next week as she looks to avoid the chaos of a snap general election.

The Commons defeated the PM's bid to leave the EU on May 22, by 58 votes yesterday - plunging the country into further chaos.

10 Theresa May's deal has been voted down for a third time Credit: UK PARLIAMENT

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The Government is now likely to request a long delay to Brexit, lasting up to a year which casts huge doubt on whether we will ever even leave.

Mrs May's loss also ramps up the chances of a snap election dragging Brits back to the polls for the third time in four years. She hinted at this, saying "I fear we are reaching the limits of this process" after the numbers were called out.

As Britain's future hangs in the balance:

More than 30 Tory rebels joined the DUP and opposition parties to vote down the deal

Mrs May prepared a plan for a FOURTH "meaningful vote" next week

"meaningful vote" next week MPs warned that No Deal and a soft Brexit are now much more likely

The EU called an emergency summit as a top Eurocrat openly mocked Brexiteers

Pro-Brexit activists flooded Westminster in protest at MPs' antics

The result will spark huge anger directed at all sides from the majority of the British public who just want to see the country exit the EU.

The Government, hardline Remainers, Brexiteer rebels and the DUP will all be blamed for dooming the PM's deal to defeat three times over.

It also raises questions about Mrs May's own future - she vowed to quit if the deal passed, suggesting she will now try to stay in office even though her position could prove untenable, slamming the brakes on the jostling for her successor in the Tory party.

A total of 286 MPs voted in favour of the deal, with 344 against - 34 Tory MPs rebelled along with the whole DUP, while just five Labour Brexiteers came round to Mrs May's deal.

After her defeat, Mrs May suggested she is considering calling a fresh General Election as the only way to break the deadlock.

We are reaching the limits of this process Theresa May

She blasted: "I fear we are reaching the limits of this process in this house.

"This house has rejected No Deal. It has rejected no Brexit. On Wednesday it rejected all the variations of the deal on the table.

"And today it has rejected approving the withdrawal agreement alone and continuing a process on the future."

The PM said it was "almost certain" that Britain would end up taking part in May's European Parliament elections - while Brussels bosses summoned EU leaders to an emergency summit on April 10 and warned No Deal is now "a likely scenario".

Irish leader Leo Varadkar said: "It is not clear that the UK has fully understood that No Deal is not off the agenda. Rather, it’s a growing possibility."

Opposition leaders including Jeremy Corbyn demanded a snap election as they called for the PM to step down immediately - while Remainers said the result means Brexit should now be cancelled.

The Labour boss said: "This deal now has to change. There has to be an alternative found. And if the Prime Minister can’t accept that then she must go, not at an indeterminate date in the future but now."

Leading Brexiteer Steve Baker raged: "This must be the final defeat for Theresa May’s deal. It’s finished. And we must move on.

“It has not passed. It will not pass. I regret to say it is time for Theresa May to follow through on her words and make way so that a new leader can deliver a withdrawal agreement which will be passed by Parliament.

“This has been a tragic waste of time and energy for the country. We can waste no more.”

On Monday, MPs will hold a second round of "indicative votes" designed to find a way forward on Brexit - with the most likely outcome set to be staying in the EU customs union.

The PM could then make one final bid to get her deal passed, by pitting it against the winner of the indicative votes.

Loyal Tories hit out at rebels who doomed the withdrawal agreement by voting No.

Michael Fabricant said: "If Brexiteers think that a victory has been won, because Remainers and Labour voted down the deal, think again.

"On Monday, the Remainer Parliament will try to keep us in the customs union which means our obeying EU legislation and having no say in making them. Worse than before!"

LAST GASP

Speaking minutes before the vote, Mrs May hit back at claims she should never have announced a third vote on the agreement because it was always doomed to failure.

The PM told Parliament: "Today should have been the day that the United Kingdom left the European Union.

"That we're not leaving today is a matter of deep personal regret to me but I remain committed to the UK leaving the European Union.

"There are those who say you're probably going to lose today, so why bother? I bother because this is the last opportunity to guarantee Brexit.

"If we do not vote for this motion today, people will ask - why did you not vote for Brexit?"

If we do not vote for this motion today, people will ask - why did you not vote for Brexit? Theresa May

Mrs May concluded: "When the division bell rings, every one of us will have to look into our hearts and decide what's best for our constituents and for our country."

Mrs May received a glimmer of hope this morning as a key group of Labour MPs hinted they could be won over at the last minute - while ex-Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab also came on side.

But in the end just five Labour figures voted for the deal, nowhere near enough to make up for the Tory and DUP holdouts.

The DUP's deputy leader Nigel Dodds said after the vote that he'd rather stay in the EU than risk weakening the Union.

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As the Commons debate started this morning, Boris Johnson confirmed he would vote for the deal despite denouncing it over and over again.

He said: "Today is the day we promised the country we would leave the European Union. I bitterly regret that we have failed to keep that promise. Instead we will today vote on the withdrawal agreement.

"I have been and remain intensely critical of the deal. But we have a choice to make now, and that means choosing between options that actually exist.

"I have come to the sad conclusion that neither this government nor this parliament is willing to leave with No Deal. We therefore run the risk of being forced to accept an even worse version of Brexit or losing Brexit altogether.

"It is very painful to vote for this deal. But I hope we can now work together to remedy its defects, avoid the backstop trap and strive to deliver the Brexit people voted for."

He was joined in his support for the motion by Dominic Raab, who quit as Brexit Secretary in protest at the deal last November.

Mr Raab told Parliament this afternoon: "I still believe it to be a bad deal. But we potentially now face an even worse alternative that could reverse Brexit and betray our democracy.

"Anger is not a political strategy - we must assess the specific and tangible decision before us."

THIRD TIME UNLUCKY

Opening the debate this morning, Attorney General Geoffrey Cox warned it was the "last opportunity" to secure the country's exit from the EU.

But the DUP's Sammy Wilson hit back, storming: "Why would we vote today for a con trick that breaks up the United Kingdom?"

Michael Howard, the ex-Tory leader and passionate Brexiteer, called on MPs to give in and back the PM's deal.

He told LBC: "We were told we were going to leave today, I wanted to leave today and I expected to leave today so this is a very sad day.

"If you weigh up the balance of risks, the least risky is her deal and I beg MPs to vote for it."

The first "meaningful vote" was defeated by 230 votes in January, with the margin of defeat cut to 149 earlier this month.

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After the deal fell, Remainer MPs will make a second bid to whip up a majority for a soft Brexit on Monday.

Plans to keep Britain in the EU customs union failed by just six votes on Wednesday night.

Rebel ringleaders believe they can get a majority of MPs behind the scheme in a second round of "indicative votes" next week.

10 The House of Commons voted against the withdrawal agreement Credit: UK PARLIAMENT

10 John Bercow during tonight's crunch debate Credit: UK Parliament/Mark Duffy

10 Jacob Rees-Mogg with a pro-Brexit protester outside Parliament Credit: Reuters

10 Westminster has been flooded with protesters Credit: London News Pictures

Nigel Farage says 'today should have been our independence day' but he can't back Theresa May's Brexit deal

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