Government Watch - 2

How can any vote on "the deal" be meaningful if it happens only after we have left the EU? It would be utterly meaningless.

Did those who voted to "take back control" want control to be in the hands of parliament (as it always has been) or in the hands of a government voted in by a minority and representing vested interests, not the British people?

I think the government is confident

Grieve has turned out to be a star in this latest fracas. He has sense.

Yes yes!!

Tory defeated.

Democracy rules ok

4 votes!! The Tory Remainers have redeemed themselves.

309 to 304

The country rules ok

About twelve Tory rebels and the Labour Brexiteers voted against the Government.
Dominic Grieve is the hero of the hour.

Difficult for May now as she can’t guarantee anything off her own back to Brussels until she’s spoken to parliament, and rightly so.

And Davis - impossible, as he never knows what he is talking about anyway.

12 Tory rebels - Faisal has listed them.

I would like to send them my heartfelt thanks.

Anna Soubry tweeted “ I put the interests of everyone in the U.K. this evening and voted for A7”

Sarah Wollaston “this is not about a government defeat, but a parliamentary victory”

Faisal Islam tweeted “for anyone who watches parliament regularly, they will be aware of a subtle change , e.g. John Mann impeccable leave credentials has come out for the Norway option.”

Is this the first time MPs are debating Brexit properly in the Commons? Good debate for once.
I see Stephen Hammond has since been sacked (as Vice Chair of the Conservative party) for rebelling though.

“this is not about a government defeat, but a parliamentary victory”

Absolutely, we have one queen, we don't need a pretender.

The European Parliament's chief Brexit co-ordinator Guy Verhofstadt tweeted: "British Parliament takes back control. European and British Parliament together will decide on the final agreement. Interests of the citizens will prevail over narrow party politics. A good day for democracy."