MPs have voted to extend Brexit beyond 29 March by backing a government motion forced on Theresa May by the Commons.
The motion, which May was forced to agree to if her own Brexit plan was defeated again, as it was on Tuesday, decrees that the government will seek agreement with the EU for an extension to article 50 beyond that date. It was passed by 412 votes to 202.
188 Tories votes against the Government’s motion, only 112 Tory MPs supported it. The former Brexit Secretary voted with the government, while the current Brexit Secretary voted against the government
The motion says that if a Brexit plan is agreed by 20 March then this would be a brief, technical extension until 30 June – if not, it says, it would probably involve a longer period, and the UK taking part in upcoming European elections.
In response to Thursday’s vote, the European commission stressed that the UK would not automatically be granted an extension, saying the EU would have to consider its own interests.