Article 50: SNP and Labour rebels fail to stop MPs passing Brexit Bill.

MPs pass legislation by 498 votes to 114 allowing Prime Minister to decide when to begin process of leaving the EU

Proposals to allow Theresa May to start formal Brexit talks have passed their first Commons test following overwhelming support from MPs.

The European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill was given a second reading by 498 votes to 114 – a majority of 384.

The legislation allows the Prime Minister to decide when to trigger Article 50 and therefore begin the twoyear process of negotiation on Britain’s withdrawal from the EU.

The Scottish National Party and the Liberal Democrat leadership opposed the Bill, while 47 Labour MPs and Tory ex-Chancellor Ken Clarke rebelled.

An SNP-led wrecking amendment which attempted to stop the Bill from progressing was earlier defeated by 336 votes to 100, a majority of 236.

SNP Europe spokesman Stephen Gethins MP said: “This is a devastating act of sabotage on Scotland’s economy and our very social fabric. Scotland voted overwhelmingly to remain part of the EU and it is easy to see why given the jobs, investment and industries that rely so heavily on our EU membership.”

It was a difficult night for Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn who was unable to contain a revolt on his frontbench as two shadow cabinet ministers quit so they could defy his orders and vote against the Bill.

Shadow environment secretary and York Central MP Rachael Maskell and shadow equalities minister and Brent Central MP Dawn Butler both defied a three-line whip so they could vote in line with their heavily Remain-backing constituencies.

Mr Corbyn will decide later on how to respond to an expected rebellion among junior frontbenchers over Article 50.

Shadow home secretary Diane Abbott, a close ally of Mr Corbyn, did not vote. A Labour source said she was “taken ill” and left Parliament at about 5pm.

The vote came after a marathon 17 hours of debate over two days. MPs will now await the publication today of the Government’s promised white paper setting out its strategy for withdrawal from the EU.

Downing Street said it would “reflect the Government’s plan for Brexit as the PM set out in her speech on our negotiating objectives”.

The major Commons skirmishes on the Bill are expected to take place next week during its committee stage, when the Government is likely to face attempts to amend it from all sides.

Ministers were forced to bring forward the proposed legislation after the Supreme Court ruled that Parliament’s approval is needed before the Brexit withdrawal process can begin.

The Government wants this to start before the end of March.

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, a leading Leave campaigner, called the Commons vote result “absolutely momentous”.

Speaking on Facebook, he added: “We may be leaving the EU treaties. We are not leaving Europe.”

The UK would “forge a new identity” and make “an amazingly positive contribution” to Europe, he said.

Former Chancellor George Osborne claimed negotiations will be a “trade off, as all divorces are, between access and money” as the UK seeks to reduce its financial commitments to the bloc, adding they could be “rather bitter” as he committed himself to the battle ahead.

His remarks came after Labour former leader Ed Miliband warned Mrs May against feeling an inevitable consequence of leaving the EU is being “driven into the arms” of US president Donald Trump.

Mr Miliband said: “I can go along with the Prime Minister that Brexit means Brexit but I cannot go along with the idea that Brexit means Trump.”

Among the Labour MPs who said they would vote against the Bill, Chris Bryant (Rhondda) said: “Today I’m afraid I am voting and speaking on behalf of a minority of my constituents.”

He warned the Government’s Brexit plans would do “untold damage” to his constituents and make the UK “poorer” and “weaker”.

But he acknowledged voting against the majority view of his constituents could cost him his job.

He said: “In the end there is no point in any single one of us being a member of this House if we don’t have things that we believe in and that we are prepared to fight for and, if necessary, lay down our job for.”