What next?

Civil service power ruling

House will not be fooled by this. The Government is in disarray.

“It’s clear, if the Prime Minister’s deal is rejected, it’s time for a general election. It’s time for a new government.”

Shadow Chancellor John Mcdonnell said of the possible vote of no confidence: “It’s coming soon.”

The PM is expected to make an immediate statement in the minutes following the vote if her deal falls.

Downing Street sources did not even rule out her quitting.

Last night, Mrs May warned no Brexit at all was the “more likely” outcome if her deal is axed. But that comes after she allocated more than £4billion for a dramatic escalation of no-deal planning.

Thousands of civil servants have been temporarily switched to Brexit planning while the usual business of government has ground to a halt.

Key policy proposals including on social care and immigration have been delayed. As she ploughed ahead with her plan, that many critics fear will leave us tied to the EU without any say in it, she has lost two Brexit Secretaries, David Davis and Dominic Raab. Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson also quit in protest, along with 13 ministers. She suffered another blow yesterday when Tory Gareth Johnson quit the Government so he could vote against her. As Remain and Leave protestors made their feelings known in Westminster yesterday, Mrs May begged rebel MPS to give her deal a second chance. She said: “No, it’s not perfect and yes it’s a compromise.

“But when the history books are written, people will look at the decision of the House and ask: ‘Did we deliver on the vote to leave the EU? Or did we let the British people down?”

The PM insisted Britain will leave the EU on March 29 but she refused to explicitly rule out pushing back Brexit Day or holding a second referendum.

It comes amid claims Brussels was preparing to offer a delay until at least July if her deal is quashed.

GMB union chief Tim Roache called for Article 50 to be extended.

He said: “It’s like trying to do your Christmas shopping at half past five on Christmas Eve, everyone will get a load of rubbish or you’ll getting nothing at all.”

The biggest previous parliamentary defeat took place in March 1979 when Labour PM Jim Callaghan lost a vote on firearms licensing fees by 89. THE Supreme Court has decided legal uncertainties on civil servant powers amid Stormont’s impasse should be dealt with in a case before Belfast High Court.

Justices said a challenge on a planned interconnector linking electricity networks in Northern Ireland and the Republic would provide a “clear factual matrix” for the issues to be aired.

The judgment comes after Attorney General

John Larkin referred a series of questions to the UK’S highest court seeking clarity on the ability of civil servants to make decisions usually taken by ministers.

Lord Kerr said: “In general, it is desirable legal questions be determined against the background of a clear factual matrix, rather than as theoretical or academic issues of law.”

DEFIANT Remainers outside of Parliament TODAY MPS have their meaningful vote on the PM’S deal from 7-9pm, plus amendments chosen today – many of which could change the course of Brexit.THERESA MAY’S PLAN B Straight after the result the PM is expected to make a statement setting out what she plans to do next, possibly asking MPS to vote on the deal again next week. She is hoping for extra concessions from the EU, which is waiting to see how badly tonight goes first.SLIGHTLY AMENDED DEAL Downing St could back an amendment from Tory MP Hugo Swires to let MPS decide whether or not to implement the Northern Ireland backstop (the plan to keep NI in the customs union if no EU-UK trade deal happens). It could gain May more votes but may not be enforceable.MPS TAKE CONTROL A senior panel of MPS, the liaison committee, could draft its own deal and put that to the vote. Tory Remainer Nick Boles may table this as an amendment, denying it is a “coup”. Chair Sarah Wollaston has not been consulted. CORBYN’S PLAN Labour’s front bench amendment aims to sink the plan, and they promise to “pursue every option” to avoid it or a no-deal Brexit. This could mean calling a no-confidence vote, possibly tonight. It could force a general election but looks unlikely to succeed.NO TO NO-DEAL Labour MP Hilary Benn’s amendment would reject both the PM’S plan and crashing out without a deal. Cross-party second referendum fans back this. The effects of its success are hard to predict.BREXIT DELAYED An SNP and Plaid Cymru amendment would pause article. All EU states need to agree to pause the process.SECOND REFERENDUM The Lib Dems have called on the Government to prepare for a “People’s Vote”. But the official People’s Vote campaign called the move “clearly unhelpful” as it would come too soon to have any realistic hope of success. The amendment does not have crossparty support which suggests it may not be picked by the Speaker. FAILED TILT Boris Johnson

LEAVE Rallying drivers