170 of the 314 Conservative MPs signed a letter warning Prime Minister Theresa May not to delay Brexit

As many as 10 Cabinet ministers including Sajid Javid and Jeremy Hunt are believed to have signed it

The letter states that the disgruntled MPs 'want to leave the EU on April 12 or very soon afterwards'

The PM has confirmed that she would step down within weeks if Parliament approves her withdrawal deal

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said 'the last thing this country needs right now is a general election'

A number of pro-Brexit demonstrators wearing yellow vests have rallied outside Parliament for a second day

Theresa May faces a rebellion after more than half of Conservative MPs demanded that Brexit should not be delayed by more than a few months.

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A letter calling for Britain to leave the EU soon, even if it means a no-deal Brexit, was signed by 170 of the 314 Tory Members of Parliament and sent to the Prime Minister after her withdrawal deal was rejected for a third time on Friday.

As many as 10 Cabinet ministers - including Sajid Javid and Jeremy Hunt - and 20 other members of the Government are believed to have signed the letter.

Mrs May comfortably survived a no-confidence motion within the Conservative party by 83 votes in December - but if all of the 170 Tory MPs who signed yesterday's letter voted against her she would now lose.

After surviving the motion, with 117 MPs voting against her, she is now immune from another internal leadership challenge for a year.

The Conservative Party's chairman Brandon Lewis said he was aware of the document but had not seen it.

One pro-Brexit minister who signed the letter said the group 'want to leave the EU on April 12 or very soon afterwards', adding that if the PM's deal is voted down again then MPs will vote to dissolve Parliament and hold a general election, the Sun reported.

Pressure to secure a result on Brexit continues to grow as a number of activists wearing yellow vests rallied in the capital today after thousands descended on Westminster last night following the Prime Minister's defeat in the Commons.

Theresa May heads back to Downing Street after her deal was defeated in the Commons for a third time on Friday

Michael Gove seen out jogging on Saturday

Former Brexit secretary Dominic Raab arrives home the day after Prime Minister Theresa May was defeated for a third time on the Withdrawal Agreement in Parliament

The House of Commons will hold another round of indicative votes on Monday but are expected to use a voting system which will whittle down the options to the most popular one

Dominic Grieve MP at his local Beaconsfield Conservative AGM, before a no confidence motion was passed last night

Former foreign secretary Boris Johnson cycles in south London this morning following the Prime Minister's defeat

On Saturday thousands of Eurostar passengers were left stranded at St Pancras after a lone protester clambered onto the station roof with a St George's flag on Friday night and stayed there for 12 hours.

The 44-year-old man was arrested by police but all Eurostar trains into the station were cancelled on Saturday morning until 11am. Pictures from the station showed thousands of stranded people trying to rearrange their plans.

Mrs May's critical loss at the hands of MPs means the country's departure from the EU is likely to be delayed by many months and a general election could be called.

Cabinet ministers will attempt to seize Brexit by telling Mrs May the time has come to 'embrace no deal', according to reports.

It was claimed Mrs May will speak with her ministers tomorrow night as calls are made for Cabinet to vote on how to proceed following the Prime Minister's defeat.

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The Telegraph reported that Mrs May's chief of staff Gavin Barwell was told by ministers that the time has come for the Cabinet to vote on either no deal or membership of a customs union.

Pro-Brexit 'yellow vest' protesters demonstrate in London for the second day following Theresa May's defeat in Westminster

Today marks the second day of Brexit protests after thousands of demonstrators rallied in the nation's capital yesterday

Activists were seen holding British flags and wearing yellow high-visibility vests, similar to those worn by French protesters

Old Belfast Road in Carrickcarnon: Campaigners erected six mock checkpoints along the Northern Ireland and Irish Republic border on Saturday

One Cabinet minister told the paper: 'Cabinet needs to vote and decide on the Government position. David Cameron did it before the referendum when he asked ministers to put on record their positions. We have got to put our names to something.

'The Remainers clearly want a customs union as an alternative but there isn't a majority for that - it would destroy the party.

'We would end up with a Ramsay MacDonald-esque government where we would be completely at odds with our own party. It's time to be bold, we need to embrace no deal.'

The Prime Minister is said to be considering holding a general election, but senior backbenchers told the Telegraph the Conservative Party would not tolerate another election under Mrs May's leadership.

Chris Grayling voiced his opposition to a general election after Mrs May signalled the nation could be going to the polls following her defeat in the Commons.

The Transport Secretary said Mrs May and her Cabinet would hold discussions this weekend on how to go proceed, but warned that an election would be a last resort because of the chaos it would bring.

Eurostar suspended all services to and from St Pancras due to a trespasser who appeared to be a man waving a St George flag whilst standing on the roof of a terminal

Travel chaos: Thousands of frustrated passengers at London St Pancras after Eurostar suspended trains to and from London

Thousands of Eurostar passengers were stranded at St Pancras when a lone protester clambered onto the station roof

The station was crowded with frustrated passengers and their belongings as the incident caused delays this morning

Pictured: St Pancras station as Eurostar trains were stopped for hours after a demonstrator climbed onto a terminal roof

At 8.44am National Rail announced that the trespass incident at London St Pancras International had ended allowing all lines to reopen, but disruption to services will continue until 11am

Britain is gripped by Brexit protests following Theresa May's failure to pass her deal on Friday (pictured: Demonstrators block traffic in Trafalgar Square)

Demonstrators face off with police officers during a pro-Brexit rally in Parliament Square last night as the crisis deepens

He told Sky News: 'I think the last thing this country needs right now is a general election, we have got to sort out the Brexit process.

'We cannot throw everything up in the air. I know Jeremy Corbyn might like it, it is why he has voted against his own policy today, but I do not see how this country benefits from the chaos of a six or seven week general election campaign.'

Mr Grayling, who ran Mrs May's 2016 leadership campaign, said he did not believe the Prime Minister should step down yet.

'Theresa May has already said she is going to go, but in the middle of this situation I do not think it would help to have an immediate Conservative leadership contest,' he said.

The Prime Minister could call an early election, giving just six weeks' notice, if she has the backing of two-thirds of MPs, according to the Fixed-term Parliaments Act.

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Another route to a general election would be if a motion of no confidence in the Government is passed by a majority of MPs and no alternative government is formed within 14 days.

March to Leave protesters are pictured outside Number 10 Downing Street last night as chaos continues to grip the nation

Brexit supporters were pictured burning a European Union flag near Trafalgar Square following the March to Leave protest

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Brexit supporters joined together in protest on the day the United Kingdom was due to leave the European Union

The country is now facing the chaos of a general election to break the Brexit deadlock (pictured: Officers clash with demonstrators in London)

Conservative ministers and MPs are likely to demand that Mrs May is replaced by a new party leader before an election takes place.

The timetable and rules for a leadership contest would be set by the 1922 executive committee and then approved by the Conservative party's board.

There will almost certainly be division over what the party's manifesto policy on Brexit would be, with many backbenchers likely to stand with their own individual pledges.

Jeremy Corbyn, pictured March 29, accused the Government of 'running down the clock' and 'bullying and threatening' MPs in order to force through Theresa May's Brexit deal

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn today accused the Government of 'running down the clock' and 'bullying and threatening' MPs in order to force through Theresa May's Brexit deal.

Mr Corbyn also refused to say whether his party would offer an option to remain in the European Union during a second round of indicative votes in the House of Commons on Monday.

He was speaking from Newport in South Wales on Saturday as he joined Labour candidate Ruth Jones ahead of the Newport West by-election next week.

But speaking from the suburb of Pillgwenlly, Mr Corbyn said his priority was to end the 'chaos' in Westminster by reaching out across the House of Commons and getting support for Labour's alternative plans for a Brexit deal.

Asked if Labour's indicative vote would include an option of giving the public a confirmatory referendum on any Brexit deal, Mr Corbyn said: 'That is the Labour position so far but there hasn't been enough support for that across the floor in the House of Commons.

'But the absolute priority at the moment is to end this chaos the Government has brought us to by their endlessly running down the clock and basically bullying and threatening people. The bullying hasn't worked the threats hasn't worked. It's time now for the sensible people to take over.

'This is a very dangerous period because if we crash out without a deal then the supply chains get interrupted, jobs are at stake, and also the sense of security of many EU nationals living in Britain, and of course British people living across Europe.'

Mr Corbyn refused to say whether the option to remain would be on a Labour ballot paper, saying: 'The question on the referendum was a choice of all options.'

Mr Corbyn said Labour would propose a deal involving a customs union with the EU to protect the issue of a hard border in Northern Ireland.

'No deal? No problem!' Brexiteers are pictured burning a European Union flag during protests in Trafalgar Square last night

The Prime Minister could call an early election, giving just six weeks’ notice, if she has the backing of two-thirds of MPs (pictured: Brexit supporters block traffic in Trafalgar Square)

Another route to a general election would be if a motion of no confidence in the Government is passed by a majority of MPs and no alternative government is formed within 14 days (pictured: Protesters in Trafalgar Square)

He said: 'We are working very hard on that and reaching out to people all across the Commons, and I have been doing that all this week and obviously I'll be doing that all this weekend.'

Mr Corbyn added: 'However people voted in the referendum, no-one voted to lose their jobs, no-one voted to be worse off, and no-one voted to deregulate our society.

'I think the obvious choice is the one I suggested which would be a good economic relationship with Europe that could be negotiated. I'm convinced at that after spending a lot of time meeting with and talking to officials in Europe.'

The Newport West by-election, triggered by the death of Labour MP Paul Flynn, will take place on April 4.

Former Conservative cabinet minister Nicky Morgan has said that there may have to be a government of national unity to end the deadlock over Brexit, telling the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: 'It may well be that if you end up with a cross-party approach to finding a majority in the House of Commons, it might be that you need a cross-party approach to implementing it.

'There have been periods in our history when we have had national unity governments or a coalition for a very specific issue.'

Conservative Party chairman Brandon Lewis rejected the idea of a government of national unity, saying it would not 'change the parliamentary maths'.

Mr Lewis also said the Government remained opposed to a customs union with the EU.

Labour shadow transport secretary Andy McDonald has said he believes it is possible for MPs to achieve a consensus on the way forward on Brexit in next week's indicative votes in the Commons.

Mr McDonald said he believed the SNP could now be prepared to support a proposal for a customs union tabled by veteran Tory former cabinet minister Ken Clarke, which Labour also backs.

‘I fear we are reaching the limits of this process in this House,’ Theresa May said yesterday after her deal was rejected again

Minutes after the Prime Minister's deal was rejected she signalled a general election could now be on its way for the country

'I strongly suspect that they may be prepared to get on board on with that particularly option,' he said.

A general election could see voters facing three ballots in quick succession as it would require a Brexit delay, meaning the country would need to hold European Parliament elections on May 23.

Local elections are scheduled to take place across much of the country on May 2.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has already demanded that Mrs May step aside so a general election can be held.

Following the Government defeat, he told the Commons: 'This is now the third time the Prime Minister's deal has been rejected. When it was defeated the first time, the Prime Minister said it was clear this House does not support the deal.

'Does she now finally accept this House does not support the deal? Because she seemed to indicate just now that she is going to return to this issue again.

'The House has been clear this deal now has to change. If the Prime Minister can't accept that then she must go.'

After her deal failed to win the support of MPs last night Mrs May told the Commons: '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.

'This Government will continue to press the case for the orderly Brexit that the result of the referendum demands.'

On Friday pro-Remain Tory MP Dominic Grieve suffered a vote of no confidence by his local party - meaning the association can try to deselect him as a Tory candidate at the next General Election.

Mr Grieve, a former attorney general, was one of the MPs behind the cross-party move to seize control of Commons business to stage a series of indicative votes on alternatives to Theresa May's deal.

Chairman of the Beaconsfield Constituency Conservative Association Jackson Ng said the no confidence vote motion was passed at the association's annual general meeting.

'Our members had a robust discussion with our MP, Dominic Grieve QC on Brexit before voting on a motion of confidence in him as our MP, which, I can confirm with a heavy heart that he failed to retain,' he said in a statement posted on Twitter.

'He remains our Conservative MP but I will be speaking as soon as possible to my fellow officers and the executive council.'

Conservative chairman Mr Lewis expressed his support for Mr Grieve and said that the vote, passed by 182 to 131 - had no formal standing under party rules.

'Part of the strength of our party is that we are a broad church. Dominic is somebody who has contributed to Parliament, is a clear strong Conservative and he is an asset to the party,' he told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme.

A man holds a flag with the words 'leave means leave' in front of the Winston Churchill statue as protesters rallied yesterday

Tens of thousands of 'betrayed' Brexiteers descended on London yesterday to celebrate Theresa May's latest EU defeat

Crowds marched from south London along the River Thames to Whitehall last night holding 'leave means leave' placards

The opposition in the constituency - which narrowly voted to leave by a majority of 570 votes - to Mr Grieve is reported to have been organised by the former Ukip candidate who stood against him in the 2017 general election, Jon Conway.

Former Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne today tweeted: 'Dominic Grieve is deselected because of his beliefs in campaign led by his ex UKIP opponent. The Tory leadership can stop any deselection if it wants - we frequently did. CCHQ should suspend the local party. Otherwise we are heading for a huge, historic split in the Tory Party.'

A number of Conservative MPs swiftly criticised the no confidence vote after it was announced late on Friday.

Senior Tory backbencher Tom Tugendhat, chairman of the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, said it was 'deeply disappointing'.

He tweeted: 'Few in Parliament have contributed as much to public life as Dominic Grieve. As attorney general and chair of the Intelligence and Security Committee he has served our country dutifully for decades. He deserves thanks and praise, not this. Our party and country would be poorer.'

Former minister Alistair Burt said it was an 'extraordinary decision', adding: 'A quality colleague, brave enough to challenge, but fundamentally a Conservative through and through. Where on earth are we heading with situations like this?'

Former Tory MP Anna Soubry, who was also at the forefront of the Remain wing of the Conservative Party until she defected to join the Independent Group, branded the vote 'disgraceful'.

She tweeted: 'More evidence that the uncompromising dogmatic right is running the @Conservatives @DominicGrieve is one of the finest, most courageous Parliamentarians ever - who has always put his country first & championed all his constituents.'

Several Labour MPs also voiced support for Mr Grieve.

Stella Creasy said the country's politics 'would be poorer without his input'.

Crowds cheer as ex-Ukip leader Nigel Farage said: 'I believe that what's happened over the course of two years is actually one of the saddest and worst chapters in the history of our nation'

One pro-Brexit protestor, draped in English and British flags, carried a cardboard coffin labelled 'democracy' yesterday

Brexiteers were seen proudly holding the burning EU flag while others took photos near Trafalgar Square last night

She said: 'I'm in a different political party to Dominic. We disagree on many things. I doubt Beaconsfield conservatives could find someone more experienced, more capable and more principled than him for their MP.'

Phil Wilson said the vote was 'ridiculous', adding: 'I'm not of the same politics as Dominic Grieve but to deselect him as a Conservative candidate is to diminish politics, see an end to political integrity and deprive politics of a sincere and thoughtful practitioner.'

Mr Grieve blamed an 'orchestrated' campaign to oust him masterminded by a former UKIP candidate - and concerns are rising among Tories who have Remain sympathies that more of them could be targeted.

Senior Eurosceptics have predicted that prominent Remainers such as Sarah Wollaston, Heidi Allen (former Conservative now Independent Group), Antoinette Sandbach, Sam Gymiah, Guto Bebb and Philip Lee will be next to come under fire.

The Prime Minister's deal fell short with 344 MPs blocking her deal and only 286 voting in favour.

Despite an intense whipping effort Mrs May was defied by 34 Tory MPs - 28 hard Brexiteers and six pro-EU Remainers. She also failed to win over the DUP and their 10 MPs.

If all the Brexiteer rebels backed the deal then the Prime Minister would have lost by just two votes - 316 to 314 - and could possibly have gained enough momentum to get the deal over the line next week.

Brexiteer rebels include Priti Patel, the former Aid Secretary seen by some as a possible leadership contender, and former Cabinet ministers Owen Paterson, David Jones and Theresa Villiers.

The group is made of the so-called 'Spartans' in the European Research Group who have vowed never to back the deal. They are led by Steve Baker and Mark Francois.

Following her defeat the SNP's Ian Blackford told the House that Mrs May has to accept her deal has been defeated three times, adding that the Prime Minister 'should now go and we should be having a general election'.

The Prime Minister also hinted that she may have yet another attempt at pushing her withdrawal deal through the Commons next week.

Her fourth attempt can only come after rebel MPs hold a second round of indicative votes on alternatives to her deal on Monday.

Police officers lined up outside the Downing Street security gates this evening as pro-Brexit demonstrations continued

It is believed speaker John Bercow will only hold votes on the options that were closest to passing, including staying in the customs union or holding a second referendum.

The news comes after the EU warned a 'no-deal' scenario is 'likely', following yesterday's defeat for the PM.

Yesterday the Prime Minister confirmed that she will step down within weeks if Parliament approves her deal.

She made the offer at a private meeting of Tory MPs, then told the Commons: 'I have said I am prepared to leave this job earlier than I intended to secure the right outcome for this country.'

Downing Street refused three times to deny that Mrs May was now considering going to the polls. If a national vote is held it would be the third general election in just four years.

Last night former Bank of England governor Lord Mervyn King said the UK should now leave the EU without a deal, but with a six-month delay to ensure adequate preparation.

Lord King, who was governor of the Bank of England from 2003 to 2013, insisted there was little evidence leaving on World Trade Organisation terms would lead to job losses.

The European Commission has warned that Britain is 'likely' to crash out of the bloc without a deal.

A spokeswoman for the bloc's executive branch warned that the EU is now 'fully prepared' for a no-deal scenario, which would strike at midnight on April 12 if the UK hasn't agreed a deal.

European Council President Donald Tusk gave the Prime Minister just 10 days to draw up an alternative plan for an orderly Brexit by April 8, when she will be asked to present it to her 27 EU colleagues at the emergency summit.

Furious Theresa May blasts John Bercow for wrecking her Brexit withdrawal agreement by blocking all amendments before MPs rejected it for a third time John Bercow delivered another blow to the Tories by blocking an amendment from Labour MPs that could have swing behind the deal. Mrs May was defeated Furious Theresa May had a pop at John Bercow for wrecking her Brexit withdrawal agreement by blocking all amendments before MPs rejected it for a third time Theresa May blasted Bercow for intervening to wreck her Brexit plans again as he blocked all amendments to her deal today. One of the proposals the Speaker barred was tabled by Labour backbencher Gareth Snell and sought to guarantee Parliament a say on the trade talks phase of the negotiations. Attorney General Geoffrey Cox said the Government would have accepted the amendment if it had come to a vote - meaning it could have brought some Labour MPs on board and helped Mrs May win today. Before the vote on her Brexit deal last night, Theresa May said it was unfortunate that the Speaker had not selected the Labour amendment because the government would have accepted it. She said: 'Mr Speaker, if you had selected the amendment in the name of the honourable member for Stoke on Trent Central and others, the Government would have accepted it, and if this motion carries today we will bring forward a withdrawal agreement bill that will include commitments to implement that amendment and will discuss the specific drafting of that with those who supported the amendment.' The Speaker has already come under fire for his alleged Remain sympathies, and was accused of sabotaging a third vote on May's deal before the EU summit last week by saying she had to change the deal before it could be brought back to the commons. In the hope of salvaging her concessions, Mrs May promised MPs she would make sure laws implementing the deal still reflect the plan in the event she pulls off an unlikely victory.

Brexit supporters shout through megaphones and carry placards saying 'My leave vote matters, I won't be gagged'

One man in a Union flag shirt holds an American flag over his shoulder as the Brexiteer group march towards College Green

Nigel Farage made an appearance at the protest surrounded by supporters holding Believe in Britain signs yesterday

The Brexit Betrayal: On the day we should have left the EU, Corbyn conspires with Brexiteers to block deal AGAIN plunging Britain into chaos

by Jason Groves and John Stevens for the Daily Mail

Britain was in political paralysis last night after Jeremy Corbyn allied with hardline Eurosceptics to block Brexit.

On the day the UK was meant to leave the EU, MPs threw out Theresa May's withdrawal deal by 344 votes to 286 – wrecking hopes of an orderly departure.

Britain faces having to hold European Parliament elections in May – almost three years after the referendum.

Mrs May even said a general election might be needed to break the deadlock, telling the Commons: 'I fear we are reaching the limits of the process in this House.' Her solicitor general Robert Buckland said: 'The prospect of no Brexit is becoming a very real one indeed.'

Jeremy Corbyn yesterday ordered his MPs to vote against a stripped-down version of Mrs May's exit plan, which Labour had previously indicated it could accept.

Britain was in political paralysis last night after Jeremy Corbyn allied with hardline Eurosceptics to block Brexit

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn speaking after the government's withdrawal agreement was voted down for the third time in the House of Commons on Friday

Immediately following the Government's defeat, the Labour leader called for an election – without offering any solution to resolve the crisis.

Thirty-four Tory rebels, including 28 Brexit hardliners dubbed the Spartans, also voted to reject the withdrawal agreement. Tory chairman Brandon Lewis said: 'Labour just voted against Brexit on Brexit Day. Whatever they say, they don't want us to leave the EU. Labour's promise to honour the referendum result lies in tatters.'

Government sources suggested Mrs May's plan could be put to MPs for a fourth time next week – possibly in a 'run-off' against a soft Brexit option, such as a customs union.

However, Speaker John Bercow has ruled against repeated votes on the same matter.

As supporters of Brexit rallied in Parliament Square:

Mrs May confirmed publicly that she would leave Downing Street 'earlier than I intended' in a bid to heal Tory divisions;

Ministers prepared to ask the EU for a further delay to Brexit at an emergency Brussels summit on April 10;

Tory leadership contenders Boris Johnson and Dominic Raab dropped their opposition and voted for the withdrawal agreement;

A cross-party group of MPs led by Sir Oliver Letwin and Yvette Cooper said they would try to persuade Parliament to back a soft Brexit on Monday;

The European Commission said a No Deal Brexit was now a 'likely' scenario;

The DUP's deputy leader Nigel Dodds said he would rather remain in the EU than risk the break-up of the United Kingdom.

Government sources suggested Mrs May’s plan could be put to MPs for a fourth time next week, but speaker John Bercow has ruled against repeated votes on the same matter

Mrs May, the House of Commons Andrea Leadsom and Attorney General Geoffrey Cox listen as Deputy leader of the DUP Nigel Dodds speaks in the House of Commons on Friday

Solicitor General Robert Buckland (centre right) points at the frontbench of the opposition party next to Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond (right)

Mrs May yesterday dropped the political declaration element of her exit package and let MPs vote only on the withdrawal agreement, which includes the divorce bill, 21-month transition period, protections for citizens' rights and the Irish backstop.

Britain faces a hung Parliament if another general election is held If No 10 does call another general election Britain faces another hung Parliament, according to the latest polling on the issue. The majority of public is also opposed to going back to the polls to break the Brexit deadlock at Westminster. But Theresa May may be forced to call a possible snap general election within weeks if she loses because remainer MPs will try to force her to deliver a soft Brexit or a second referendum. Now she has lost MPs are preparing to force a soft Brexit and long delay to leaving the EU upon May next week. No 10 has threatened to call a general election rather than be forced into a soft Brexit - but looming over that threat is a new forecast of what might happen in a snap election by polling expert Sir John Curtice. But Sir John's latest numbers suggest a near identical Commons would be returned - accept with slightly weaker Tory and Labour parties in a more hung parliament. The figures suggest even the dramatic step of a new general election would do little to break the stalemate. The PM hopes this bleak outlook will persuade Labour MPs to back it as the party has accepted the divorce deal - but she is set to be disappointed. She needs 75 more votes than she got on March 12 to win. Polls since the 2017 election have seen the two main parties mostly neck and neck. The Tories have held a narrow lead in recent months

Opening the debate, Attorney General Geoffrey Cox said Labour had 'not emitted a peep of disagreement with a single clause or article of that agreement, and their position today is that they intend to vote it down. What kind of cynicism is that?'

Mr Corbyn said Labour would never support a 'blind Brexit' shorn of the political declaration that sets out a vision for the UK's future relationship with the EU.

Ahead of the vote, the pro-Corbyn Momentum group suggested MPs could face deselection if they backed the withdrawal agreement, saying: 'After years of botched negotiations, it's time for all Labour MPs to reject May's abysmal deal once and for all. Any Labour MP voting for a deal that leaves us with an uncertain future is undeserving of being a Labour MP.'

Only five Labour MPs voted with the Government.

The 34 Conservative MPs who voted against the exit plan included hardliners from the European Research Group, such as former ministers Steve Baker, Priti Patel and Owen Paterson. They were joined by Remainers including Dominic Grieve and Justine Greening.

Mr Baker said: '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.'

Michael Fabricant, one of 40 Eurosceptic Tories to switch sides and back Mrs May, 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 it.'

Mrs May said the result 'would mean at least a delay and perhaps destroy Brexit'.

On Monday, Sir Oliver will lead a fresh series of 'indicative votes' on Brexit alternatives. If he can build a consensus around a soft Brexit option, such as membership of the single market and customs union, Parliament could order Mrs May to pursue it. Remainer ministers, including Amber Rudd, Greg Clark and David Gauke, were last night urging Mrs May to embrace a customs union policy.

One Cabinet minister told the Mail they believed the UK would end up in a customs union. 'I just can't see what the alternatives are,' said the source.

'The customs union vote is close and there are a lot of people in Cabinet pushing for it.'

Treasury Chief Secretary Liz Truss has told MPs Mrs May should 'play hard ball' and push for No Deal – by refusing to lay the regulations for the European elections.

Mr Raab called on ministers to step up preparations for No Deal.

Government sources last night insisted Mrs May's plan was not dead, pointing out that it was defeated by 'only' 58 votes – down from 149 earlier this month and 230 in January.

Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson has been deployed to try to build bridges with the DUP, whose ten MPs are seen as critical to any chance of the withdrawal agreement passing.

But Mr Dodds insisted: 'I would stay in the European Union and remain, rather than risk Northern Ireland's position. That's how strongly I feel about the union.'

Dominic Raab courts Eurosceptics by backing no deal ahead of fight with Michael Gove and Boris Johnson to be the next Tory leader

Dominic Raab attempted to court Eurosceptic Tories last night after endorsing a No Deal Brexit.

The former Brexit secretary, who is seen as a leading candidate to succeed Theresa May, changed his long-standing position to vote in favour of the withdrawal deal.

Speaking in the Commons, he said he wanted to avoid a long extension to Article 50 delaying Brexit and also to avoid the prospect of the UK taking part in European Parliament elections starting on May 23.

But shortly after the vote he made another pitch to hardliners, posting a clip of his speech, with a statement saying: 'We need to expedite our preparations for a WTO departure.' This is a reference to trading on World Trade Organisation terms, without an EU trade deal.

By switching, he was in the same voting lobby as Boris Johnson, who also abandoned his opposition to the deal this week.

Dominic Raab attempted to court Eurosceptic Tories last night after endorsing a No Deal Brexit

By switching and backing May's deal, he was in the same voting lobby as Boris Johnson, who also abandoned his opposition to the deal this week

Explaining his decision yesterday, Mr Johnson wrote on Twitter that he remained 'intensely critical of the deal'.

But he said: '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.

'A bad deal that we have a chance to improve in the next stage of negotiations must be better than those alternatives.

'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.'

Mr Raab told the Commons he wanted to avoid a long delay to Brexit because of the 'very dangerous and corrosive effect on public trust in our democracy'.

His intervention came as leadership candidates faced a furious backlash from Tory MPs for 'posturing' for the leadership before Brexit had been secured.

Mrs May said on Wednesday she would quit as Tory leader if her Brexit deal went through. But with no sign of a Commons majority, MPs said the leadership contenders should focus on getting Brexit through instead of their own ambitions.

One Cabinet minister raged: 'Everyone is building leadership campaigns and just looking at the prize. But no one is doing anything to get the deal done.

'There's going to be nothing left! They're going to be fighting to be leader of the opposition.'

In the Commons, former Home Office minister Sir Mike Penning said: 'Those running leadership campaigns to replace her should, for God's sake, put it on the back burner until we get this through.'

One member of the Government said the attempts by leadership candidates to court media attention this week were 'unseemly and grubby'.

The MP, who said they had been courted by all the likely contenders, said: 'I told them you've got to sort Brexit first.

'There's no point having a vision if you haven't got Brexit through.'

Allies of Jeremy Hunt furiously denied reports he had already secured the support of 75 MPs, and had another 25 'possibles'. The report, one friend said, was an attempt to portray him as the favourite.

So who are the candidates looking to replace May and what chance have they got?

Michael Gove - 5/2

Unlike Boris and Raab, Gove has kept on board with May's deal and will therefore have greater appeal among his remainer colleagues. He was also seen as a 'high priest of Brexiteers', meaning he could appeal to Tories on both sides of the divide.

The drawback of this position is that hardline leavers and remainers may see him as part of opposing side. His other potential drawback is his perceived disloyalty after he knifed Boris Johnson in last leadership contest.

Mr Gove, 51, the adopted son of a Scottish fish merchant, is a cabinet heavyweight who's served as Education Secretary and Justice Secretary.

His debating skills, intellect and wit put him well above many candidates and is popular with Tory members.

Boris Johnson - 4/1

The 54-year-old former Foreign Secretary is undoubtedly the best-known candidate outside of the Westminster bubble.

His scruffy style, regular TV appearances, chaotic private life and show-off Classics references make him well known to the electorate.

He has experience of power and winning elections, having been twice voted London mayor but was seen as a bumbling foreign secretary.

He is unpopular among many MPs, who may form a 'Stop Boris' campaign to prevent him getting to Number 10.

However, party grassroots members love him and he's top of the ConservativeHome league table.

It has been claimed Home Secretary Sajid Javid (pictured in Downing Street) has floated the idea of a 'dream ticket' with him as Prime Minister and Mr Gove as Chancellor

Former Brexit secretary Dominic Raab fell in line behind the deal today, denting his popularity among hardline Brexiteers

Sajid Javid - 9/1

The Home Secretary, 49, is a remainer who changed to a Brexiteer after the referendum.

He is the son of a bus driver who came to Britain from Pakistan with £1 in his pocket. Javid proved himself in business, becoming head of credit trading at Deutsche Bank.

He has experience of being Culture and Business secretary, a role in which he cracked down on union rights.

His strengths are seen as his extraordinary rags-to-riches back story, but is widely seen as a wooden and poor public speaker.

There were rumours earlier this week that he could form part of the 'Stop Boris' ticket, with Michael Gove potentially in support.

Dominic Raab - 8/1

The 46-year-old former Brexit Secretary and diehard Brexiteer is the son of a Czech-born Jewish refugee who fled the Nazis in 1938 and died of cancer when Raab was 12.

He is relatively inexperienced, lasting only four months as Brexit Secretary. He voted against May in leadership confidence vote. Mr Raab is seen as a skilled debater who honed his skills as an adversarial lawyer with blue chip legal firm Linklaters.

His weekness is that he seen lacking people skills and thus is unlikely to beat a more experienced candidate.

Unlike Boris and Raab, Gove (pictured today) has kept on board with May's deal and will therefore have greater appeal among his remainer colleagues. He was also seen as a 'high priest of Brexiteers', meaning he could appeal to Tories on both sides of the divide

Others in the running include Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt

Others in the running include Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey

How will the next leader be chosen? If Mrs May's deal goes through, the UK is likely to leave the EU on May 22 and she would resign as Tory leader that day but stay on as interim PM while the contest to replace her begins.

Any Tory MP can stand but they need two nominations from colleagues.

A series of secret votes would be held every Tuesday and Thursday among the 314 members of the Conservative Parliamentary Party.

The last-placed candidate is eliminated at every stage and once it is clear who the front-runners are the back-markers usually drop out and support someone else.

After David Cameron stood down following the referendum in 2016 there were five candidates in the first round, who were whittled down to two: Theresa May and Andrea Leadsom.

The final two candidates then move on to the second phase, when party members vote by postal ballot.

Candidates will be expected to make speeches to members and tour the country to try to win support. This second phase is likely to last for up to a month.

Only members who have been in the party for three months or more can vote in a leadership contest, so joining now would not entitle you to a say.

Conservative sources say the whole process could be completed within a month to six weeks.

Jeremy Hunt - 6/1

The Foreign Secretary, 52, is an ex-Remainer who may arouse suspicion among the party's Brexiteer members.

He is the eldest son of Admiral Sir Nicholas Hunt and is married to a Chinese wife and he speaks Mandarin.

He has business experience and, before politics, he set up an educational publisher which was sold for £30million in 2017.

Mr Hunt has widespread cabinet experience and was the longest-serving health secretary in history.

Despite being one of the most experienced ministers in the field, unusually, he has made few political enemies and is therefore seen as someone who could unite the party after devisive battles over Brexit.

Andrea Leadsom - 20/1

The Leader of the Commons gained quite following when she stood for leader in 2016, but her bid fell apart when she made an ill-considered comment comparing her experience as a mother to the childless Mrs May.

Mrs Leadsom is a 55-year-old mother of three and a former city trader.

Since then however, she has blossomed as Leader of the Commons, winning plaudits for taking on Speaker John Bercow.

Popular among members and colleagues, she is now widely expected to have another tilt as leading the party.

Esther McVey - 50/1

The 51-year-old former Welfare Secretary is also an ardent Brexiteer.

She spent the first two years of her life in foster care and was a breakfast TV presenter before becoming a Tory MP on Merseyside.

Won plaudits with members for resigning from Cabinet over Brexit deal and is seen as tough, having braved out vicious targeting by Labour during her time as welfare minister.

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Some in the party say she doesn't have the intellectual fire power for top job and she is ranked 14th in ConservativeHome league table.

Andrea Leadsom is also expected to throw her name into the hat after her bid in 2016