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MPs have rejected another round of Brexit indicative votes in the House of Commons this afternoon.

It came after a dramatic tie in the critical vote, with 310 MPs voting for and 310 against a motion to seize control of Monday’s agenda to stage a fresh round of voting on alternative options for exiting the European Union.

It was the first such tie since 1993 - when it was on another European vote when the Tories were in Government but badly divided.

Under Commons rules, the Speaker John Bercow had the casting vote. He followed precedent, and voted with the Government to stop the voting taking place.

As a result there will be no indicative votes on Monday, clearing the day for a potential attempt by Theresa May to get a consensus Brexit deal through Parliament.

An even more critical vote was held minutes later, resulting in a defeat for the Government by just one vote.

The Cooper-Boles Bill, which aims to rule out a no-deal Brexit, was passed to its next stage by an alliance of Opposition parties backed by Tory rebels by 312 to 311.

MPs then backed the Bill after a second reading by 315 votes to 310. Another vote was expected at about 10pm.

Tory MP Sir Bill Cash had attempted to derail it by arguing it broke a Commons rule that new laws which involve public spending can only be piloted by the Government.

Mr Bercow ruled, however that Sir Bill’s argument was invalid because ministers would have the say over any extra spending on EU fees incurred by delaying Brexit.

As rumours of the nail-biting finale spread over the indicative votes count, former Tory chief whip Patrick McLoughlin asked the Speaker why the result was being delayed.

In fact, Mr Bercow was holding urgent talks with the two chief whips of the major parties while MPs and officials checked and rechecked the division list.

Brexiteer Mark Francois joked: “So can we have a people’s vote and do it twice?”

The result was then read out to gasps of excitement as MPs wondered which way the Speaker would cast his vote.

Although the convention is clear that the Speaker only uses a casting vote to maintain the status quo, Mr Bercow is a reformer who recently declared: “If we only went by precedent, manifestly nothing would ever change."

But the Speaker told the House: “In accordance with precedent and of the principle that important decisions cannot be taken except by majority, I cast my principle with the Noes.

“That is the proper way in which to proceed.”

The last such tie was during the Maasstricht revolts in a motion put down by Labour on the social chapter, an issue that divided the Conservatives.

Speaker Betty Boothroyd used her vote for the Government side - and was justified the next day when it emerged there had been a miscount and the Government should have won by a majority of one.

Former Green Party leader Caroline Lucas MP later tweeted: "A tie on Benn amendment that would have given us right to finish compositing motions on Monday means Speaker has casting vote - & he votes against.

"So disappointing that we’ve lost what would have been crucial opportunity to find a majority for a deal contingent on a public vote."