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Live updates on the no-confidence vote in the government after the Brexit deal defeat

The government faces a vote of no confidence today after MPs delivered a crushing defeat to the Prime Minister's proposals for how Britain can leave the EU.

Theresa May's Brexit deal was rejected by 230 votes in the House of Commons last night, with 432 MPs, including nine of her Tory colleagues from Kent, voting against the withdrawal agreement.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn immediately tabled a vote of no confidence in the government after the defeat, which will be debated by MPs throughout the day.

Follow our live updates below for reaction to the defeat of the Brexit deal and the latest on the no-confidence motion.

Prime Minister Theresa May. Picture: Daniel Leal-Olivas/PA Wire
Prime Minister Theresa May. Picture: Daniel Leal-Olivas/PA Wire

Here's how the day's events unfolded:

7.59pm

7.50pm

Key comments from Corbyn after the vote: "Before there can be any positive discussions about the way forward the government must remove clearly, once and for all, the catastrophe of a no-deal Brexit and all of the chaos that would come as a result of that."

7.45pm

Key comments from May after the vote: "I would like to invite the leaders of the parliamentary parties to meet individually and I would like to start these meetings tonight.

"The government approaches these meetings in a constructive spirit and I urge others to do the same.

"But we must find solutions that are negotiable and command sufficient support in this house."

7.23pm

7.20pm

The Prime Minister says she was to meet opposition parties individually to discuss the way forward

7.15pm

Prime Minister Theresa May survives vote of no confidence by 325 votes to 306 - a majority of 19

7.02pm

MPs are now voting on the confidence motion.

6.50pm

Now Michael Gove is winding up for the Conservatives - jokes that Tom Watson omitted to make any reference to his own leader. Lots of rhubarb-rhubard-ing from backbenches. Gove was once told by Theresa May to go and learn how to be loyal - seems he has.

6.45pm

Labour deputy leader Tom Watson winding up debate - says government is at a crucial point. Criticises PM for treating Parliament with disdain. Says PM will forever be known as "the nothing must change" PM.

6.10pm

Seems there won't be quite the high octane drama of last night's vote - largely to the fact that Theresa May will get the support of the DUP and MPs in the hardline Brexit group the ERG - to which South Thanet MP Craig Mackinlay belongs to, as does Gravesham MP Adam Holloway.

5.16pm

The Port of Dover insists it is prepared for Brexit.

A statement it is due to release along with two main ferry companies that use it as a base for cross-Channel services has been seen by Sky News.

It says although the site is all-set, managers still want the government to offer more help to industries that rely on moving goods between the UK and Europe.

3.55pm

Dover MP Charlie Elphicke has become an unlikely trending figure on Twitter - for his contribution to Prime Minister’s Questions.

The MP has come in for some ribbing on the social media site after a friendly planted question to Theresa May.

He said he had joined the party because it created “more jobs, lower taxes and a stronger economy - and greater investment in public services, before going on to invite the Prime Minister to agree with him that “Conservative governments had delivered time and time again for the British people” and that the biggest threat to that was the Labour leader.

The friendly question has been drawing derision on social media, with the Kent MP being spoofed for his question.

2.35pm

Here is a roundup of what has been said leading up to the no-confidence vote in the government.

2.31pm

Canterbury MP Rosie Duffield, Kent's only Labour member, on why she's support the vote of no confidence in the Prime Minister.

2.25pm

The debate on the no confidence vote announced by Jeremy Corbyn last night is underway. A vote is expected at 7pm.

2.02pm

Maidstone and the Weald MP Helen Grant asked about confidence in parliament at Prime Minister's Questions today.

1.30pm

Here's what people in Kent think after last night's Brexit vote.

12.01pm

How does a vote of no confidence work? Our political editor Paul Francis outlines what happens below.

"The Fixed-term Parliaments Act keeps governments to five-year terms - partly to prevent prime ministers deciding when to to call an election.

"However, it is open to MPs to table a no-confidence motion.

"What will happen today?

"MPs will debate Labour’s motion from after Prime Minister’s Questions until 7pm when there will be a vote.

"If the motion is backed by a majority, there will not be an immediate call for an election.

"The government has 14 days to regain the confidence of Parliament or another government could be formed.

"If that does not happen, then an election would be triggered.

"Parliament would be dissolved and a date set for an election."

11.56am

Here is what Maidstone and the Weald MP Helen Grant had to say about the result of last night's vote. She backed the Prime Minister's deal.

“I am disappointed by the result," she said. "So many people have told me they want the country to move forwards, but instead, Parliament is stuck.

"I voted for the withdrawal agreement because I believe we should leave the EU on March 29 with a deal.

"After the vote, people on both sides of the argument were celebrating – those who want a second referendum which they believe would go ‘Remain’ and people who want a no-deal Brexit. The fact is, there’s no way both of those things can happen.

"It is much easier to be against things than for them, but that doesn’t get us anywhere.

"Now I want to see MPs across Parliament come together and rally around a workable Brexit deal, so that we can get on with it. This is the responsibility of every MP for their constituency and their country.”

Maidstone & the Weald MP Helen Grant
Maidstone & the Weald MP Helen Grant

10.19am

Kent's only Labour MP Rosie Duffield, who represents Canterbury, confirms she will vote no confidence in the government.

She said: "Yesterday I voted against Theresa May's deal. The result was conclusive and in fact, a bigger defeat than many people expected.

"The message from parliament is clear: this deal doesn't deliver on so many levels.

"I cannot, and will not, vote for any deal that will make my constituents worse off, cause travel delays and mean that our hospitals, fruit farms and care homes struggle to find the skilled employees they need.

"I will vote no confidence in Theresa May's government again today and indeed in any future votes of no confidence brought before the house over the next few weeks.

"It is my opinion that the people of this country should now have the final say on our Brexit choices and I remain committed, as is well known, to a People's Vote, with an option to remain."

Canterbury MP Rosie Duffield
Canterbury MP Rosie Duffield

9.45am

North Thanet MP Sir Roger Gale, who backed the Prime Minister's proposed withdrawal agreement, said despite the drama, "nothing has changed" following the government's defeat last night.

He said: "Brussels has made it clear they're not going to grant any concessions. They might be able to do something around the edges of the Irish backstop, but that's all.

"I think it brings us closer to either no deal or no Brexit. It's not clear which way that's going to go.

"I don't believe that no deal is safe. I think it would be extremely devastating, the damage that will be done to people's jobs - we are talking about the companies that employ people so they can put a roof over their children's heads.

"I don't think what some of my colleagues have done is responsible. The agreement we voted on last night was workable. And at the moment, the law states that we leave on March 29.

"I will support the Prime Minister [in the no confidence vote]. I want a deal."

Sir Roger Gale
Sir Roger Gale

9.15am

Ashford MP Damian Green, a key ally of the Prime Minister, said Parliament has to "take back control of the agenda".

Speaking on the Today programme on BBC Radio 4, he said: "What does parliament want - that seems to me to be the central question.

"There is no point in trying to negotiate with you when Europe, not unreasonably, is asking are you going to be able to do this deal?

"It is worth having a conversation with Jeremy Corbyn with no expectation that he'll come up with anything constructive."

Ashford MP Damian Green
Ashford MP Damian Green

Mr Green ruled out staying in the customs union saying it felt rather like not leaving the EU.

But he said there may come a point when all possibilities were put before MPs "so we get a broad outline of a deal that would get parliamentary approval".

"When you have got that you can negotiate sensibly," he said.

"If parliament comes up with no majority then I think it will have failed."

"Crashing out with no deal would be out of the country and the economy and bad for my part of Kent."

9.02am

Folkestone and Hythe MP Damian Collins, who voted against the Brexit deal, said he will support the government in the no confidence motion later.

However, he adds that ministers need to "listen to the clear message of the House of Commons last night".

8.27am

Eurotunnel has called on political leaders to clarify how borders and controls between the EU and UK will work after Brexit as soon as possible.

"Only the establishment of clear rules will allow businesses to continue to invest, to create jobs and to preserve the vital human, social and cultural exchanges that benefit both the UK and the EU," the company said in a statement to investors this morning.

Some 26% of trade between the UK and the EU passes through the Channel Tunnel, running from Folkestone to Coquelles in France, supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs.

Bosses continued: "We have adapted our infrastructure so that, with or without a deal, traffic flow through the tunnel will be maintained.

"Eurotunnel is currently working to ensure that new post-Brexit border controls will have no significant impact on tunnel traffic."

Eurotunnel operates the Channel Tunnel from Folkestone to Coquelles
Eurotunnel operates the Channel Tunnel from Folkestone to Coquelles

7.52am

The Brexit vote fiasco is causing "growing anger" among businesses, according to the chief executive of Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce.

Jo James pulled no punches as she said: "There are no more words to describe the frustration, impatience, and growing anger amongst business after two and a half years on a high-stakes political rollercoaster ride that shows no sign of stopping."

7.49am

To see how the Brexit vote unfolded, catch up with our live blog from yesterday, supported from our team at KMTV in Westminster.

7.45am

There were seven Kent MPs who voted in favour of the Prime Minister's Brexit deal and 10 who voted against.

All of them voted how they had said they would in the run up to last night's defeat.

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