MPs have thwarted a move by Labour to bring down the government after its crushing defeat over its Brexit bill.

They voted against a motion filed by party leader Jeremy Corbyn by 325 votes to 306 - giving her a majority of 19.

It follows the dramatic result last night when MPs comprehensively rejected Theresa May’s Brexit bill.

Mr Corbyn had said the motion of no confidence was aimed at highlighting what he described as "the sheer incompetence" of the government.

Had it succeeded, a general election would have been triggered.

Speaking immediately after the result of the vote was announced, Mrs May told MPs: "We will continue to work on the solemn promise we made to the people of this country to deliver on the result of the referendum and leave the European Union.

"I believe this duty is shared by every member of this house and we have a responsibility to identify a way forward that can secure the backing of the house.

"To that end I propose a series of meetings with senior parliamentarians and representatives of the government over the coming days.

"And 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.

"And I've said we will return to the house on Monday to table an amendable motion and to make a statement about the way forward.

"The house has put its confidence in this government, I stand ready to work with any member of this house to deliver on Brexit and ensure that this house retains the confidence of the British people."

Responding, Mr Corbyn said: "Last night the house rejected the government's deal emphatically.

"A week ago the house voted to condemn the idea of a no-deal Brexit.

"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."

Earlier opening the debate, Mr Corbyn said: "The prime minister has consistently claimed that her deal, which has been decisively rejected, was good for Britain workers and business… she should have nothing to fear by going to the people," he said.

He said the Prime Minister had "lost control" and suffered an "historic and humiliating defeat".

But Theresa May hit back, saying that a general election would "deepen divisions when we need unity, it would bring chaos when we need certainty."

Nine Conservative MPs from Kent were among the 432 who opposed their own government in yesterday’s vote.

Earlier, Theresa May received supportive questions from Kent MPs ahead of the debate.

The Prime Minister said the perception of politicians will sink if they fail to deliver Brexit.

She was answering a question by the Maidstone and Weald MP Helen Grant at Prime Minister’s Questions, she said public faith in politicians was at risk.

The MP asked: “Does the Prime Minister agree with me that if we fail to deliver Brexit, the public perception of MPs will be at an all-time low?”

The PM replied: “I absolutely agree...this is so important. I believe that if we fail to deliver what the public instructed us to deliver in the referendum, the views of people in this House, of politicians and Parliament will be at an all time low; they will have lost faith in politicians across this whole Parliament. We need to deliver Brexit.”

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.

Meanwhile, business chiefs have repeated concerns about the prolonged uncertainty over the deal.

Kent’s only Labour MP, Canterbury’s Rosie Duffield, said: "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.