Theresa May's government survives no-confidence vote after Brexit defeat

By Sheena McKenzie and Lauren Said-Moorhouse, CNN

Updated 6:06 p.m. ET, January 16, 2019
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7:22 a.m. ET, January 15, 2019

Germany denies Sun report Merkel gave May fresh assurances

From Erin McLaughlin in Brussels

The German government has denied a report in British newspaper The Sun that Chancellor Angela Merkel told British PM Theresa May the EU could still offer concessions if her deal is rejected.

"The content of the telephone conversation between the Chancellor and the Prime Minister is misrepresented by 'The Sun,' a government spokesperson told CNN.

"The Chancellor has given no assurances beyond those that were discussed in the European Council in December, and what is set out in the letter from Jean-Claude Juncker and Donald Tusk."

6:58 a.m. ET, January 15, 2019

A loss for the history books?

From Sheena McKenzie in London

Theresa May is widely is widely expected to lose this evening's vote -- but just how big a loss it will be is anyone's guess, with some predicting she could face the largest Commons defeat of any UK prime minister.

According to Politico, the biggest defeat for any British government was Labour's 166-vote loss back in 1924.

This morning, British newspapers are putting the numbers much higher:

  • The Times says it could be 180.
  • The Daily Mail also says it could be "approaching 200."
  • The Guardian says more than 200.
  • The Telegraph puts the figure at almost 230.

6:50 a.m. ET, January 15, 2019

'If it goes wrong, there could be further talks,' says German minister

From Sheena McKenzie in London

The EU could hold new talks with the UK if May's deal is rejected tonight -- but don't expect major changes -- according to Germany's foreign minister.

Heiko Maas told reporters at the European Parliament that "the agreement stands, as it is," Reuters reported. "I doubt very much that the agreement can be fundamentally reopened."

But he added: “If it goes wrong tonight, there could be further talks.”

6:26 a.m. ET, January 15, 2019

Vote is 'complete betrayal' of referendum, says Nigel Farage

From Sheena McKenzie and Emily Dixon in London

Leave campaigner and former UKIP leader, Nigel Farage.
Leave campaigner and former UKIP leader, Nigel Farage.

One of the UK's most high-profile Euroskeptics, Nigel Farage, said the British public "didn't vote for a series of deals -- they voted to Leave."

Speaking on the BBC's Jeremy Vine Show on Tuesday morning, Farage added:

What you are seeing in parliament is a complete betrayal of the greatest democratic exercise in the history of our nation."

He added that the country had two ways of exiting the bloc: "One was a withdrawal agreement; the other was on WTO terms, and that is what 500 MPs voted for."

6:23 a.m. ET, January 15, 2019

'The deal will be defeated... but not forever' says one supporter

From Rob Picheta in London

Lawmakers have started arriving at Parliament, and CNN's Rob Picheta has been bracing the winter chill to ask some of them how they'll be voting this evening.

Conservative MP Simon Hart voted Remain, but says he'll be backing May's deal tonight, adding that those who reject it will "only have themselves to blame if we end up with no Brexit at all."

"I think the deal will be defeated tonight, not necessarily forever," he said.

"There may be an opportunity for people to express their anger this evening and then to get behind some version of the deal between now and the deadline."

6:14 a.m. ET, January 15, 2019

DUP vows to vote against 'toxic backstop'

From Sheena McKenzie in London

It's the confirmation we knew was coming, but nonetheless it deals a blow to May's beleaguered deal.

Arlene Foster, leader of Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and supposed ally of the Conservatives, says her party will be voting against the deal and its "toxic backstop."

The controversial backstop -- an insurance policy to prevent a hard border in Ireland -- has been a thorn in the side of May's deal.

Despite the PM seeking written assurances from the EU that in the unlikely event the backstop was invoked it would be for "the shortest possible period," that does not appear to have been enough to placate MPs.

The Conservatives rely on the support of the DUP for their working majority in Britain's 650-seat Parliament, and every vote is crucial for May's deal to succeed.

5:43 a.m. ET, January 15, 2019

'Winter is coming' unless vote is passed, warns Michael Gove

From Sheena McKenzie and Emily Dixon in London

"There is a straightforward way to avoid no deal –- to vote for the prime minister’s deal," said Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
"There is a straightforward way to avoid no deal –- to vote for the prime minister’s deal," said Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

If the drama of Brexit decision day wasn't enough, Conservative MP Michael Gove has started quoting Game of Thrones in a bid to get lawmakers to back May's deal.

I think if we don’t vote for the deal tonight, in the words of Jon Snow, winter is coming," Gove, a leading Brexit campaigner, told the BBC's Today program.

"To anyone who like me voted to Leave: imagine if on the 23rd of June in 2016 you’d been told you could have this deal. You would have bitten anyone’s hand off in order to secure this outcome," Gove added.

"This deal is stage one –- we can improve this process. Because in stage two, as we negotiate the final stages of our trade and other relationships with the European Union, we can choose and we are in a stronger position," he said.

5:22 a.m. ET, January 15, 2019

One lawmaker delayed the birth of her child for Tuesday's vote

From CNN's Tara John in London

If you wanted an indication of just how seriously lawmakers are taking today's historic vote, look no further than Labour MP Tulip Siddiq, who has delayed the birth of her second child to attend the proceedings.

Tulip Siddiq, an opposition Labour MP for the London constituency of Hampstead and Kilburn.
Tulip Siddiq, an opposition Labour MP for the London constituency of Hampstead and Kilburn.

Siddiq postponed the date of her cesarean section by two days, her office confirmed to CNN. Siddiq's husband, Christian Percy, will push her through the House of Commons lobby in a wheelchair.

After developing gestational diabetes, Siddiq was advised by medical professionals to deliver the baby either on Monday or Tuesday. She asked if she could move the date back to Thursday, and her doctors then agreed.

"If my son enters the world even one day later than the doctors advised, but it's a world with a better chance of a strong relationship between Britain and Europe, then that's worth fighting for," the 36-year-old told the Evening Standard.

5:03 a.m. ET, January 15, 2019

Labour MP withdraws no-deal amendment

From Sheena McKenzie and Arnaud Siad in London

Ahead of the vote, lawmakers are being given a last chance to table amendments to the deal -- ranging from minor tweaks to major upheavals of the Brexit blueprint.

It's then up to the House speaker, John Bercow, to select the ones he thinks all members of Parliament should vote on.

The amendment with perhaps the biggest potential to derail proceedings was proposed by Labour MP Hilary Benn, which rejected both the PM's deal and a no-deal Brexit.

But just hours before the vote, Benn pulled his amendment, saying that the House of Commons "will soon have the opportunity to make it clear that it rejects no-deal."

The MP for Leeds Central and the chair of the cross-party Exiting the European Union Committee tweeted: