Rarely has a government suffered such a well-deserved defeat. No amount of bullying, arm-twisting, even making one MP weep, could save the day. Nor did plain lying about its true intent rescue Theresa May from humiliation this evening. She saw it coming, the whips told her it would happen – but on she went, full steam ahead intent, obdurate and wrong. There’s a pattern here.

She and her Brexiteers’ determination to deny parliament a vote gave the game away: who wouldn’t smell a nest of rats?

She and her Brexiteers’ determination to deny parliament a vote gave the game away: who wouldn’t smell a nest of rats? At the referendum the Brexiteers said sovereignty was sacred; but now it turns out that “taking back control” means rule by their diktat, without the deliberation of our sovereign parliament.

What’s truly shocking about tonight’s vote on the amendment to May’s flagship Brexit bill is how few rebels there were in the end: how few Tory MPs were willing to insist on that sovereignty, to ensure parliament debates, scrutinises and amends the most important decision of our lifetime. And it happens in a statute before the final terms are take–it-or-leave-it immutable.

The woolliest of last-minute assurances from Tory minister Dominic Raab, of improvements at a later stage, was excuse enough for many to crumble. George Freeman made a gallant declaration of defiance – and 40 minutes later crept into the government lobby. If they really meant to give a meaningful vote, why did they take such a risk with this one?

Brexiteers, whom John Major called “bastards”, have a long history of rebellion: David Davis rebelled 90 times, Liam Fox 19, Andrea Leadsom seven, Bill Cash and John Redwood countless. But the remainer side has a feeble history of crumbling, claiming “loyalty” to cover its pathetic pusillanimity.

Labour will have to make a choice on Brexit, and soon | Rafael Behr Read more

But never mind, 12 votes from 12 brave Tory men and women – led by Dominic Grieve – were enough – just – to save us from a bad Brexit deal steamrollered through. Let’s hope others in their party are inspired by them to grow a backbone on future crucial votes, such as on Henry VIII powers that would turn governments, present and future, into autocrats.

• Polly Toynbee is a Guardian columnist