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THERESA MAY’s government dodged the possibility of an early general election after MPs voted to reject Labour’s motion of no confidence by a majority of 19.
A total of 325 MPs voted for the government compared to 306 that voted against it.
This came a day after Ms May’s Brexit deal was voted down by the largest number of MPs in British history. The Withdrawal Agreement with the EU was defeated by 230 votes on Tuesday night. Only 202 MPs voted for the deal while 432 MPs rejected it.
During a debate before the vote of no confidence, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn pointed out that Ms May’s government was the first in British history to have ever been beaten by more than 200 votes.
MPs – including the 177 Tories that voted in favour of a no confidence vote in Ms May’s leadership in December – have a duty to the people of this country to vote against the government, he also said.
After her government survived the vote of no confidence, which was expected, Ms May invited the leaders of opposition parties from that evening to meet with her individually to discuss a way forward on Brexit.
She told MPs that the government would continue to work to increase “prosperity, guarantee our security and to strengthen our union”.
She said: “I do not take this responsibility lightly and my Government will continue its work to increase our prosperity, guarantee our security and to strengthen our union.
"We will also continue to work to deliver 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.”
Mr Corbyn, raising a point of order after the vote, 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 prospect of the catastrophe of a no-deal Brexit from the EU and all the chaos that would come as a result of that.”
There were 314 Conservative MPs who voted against the no confidence motion, according to the division list.
They were joined by all 10 DUP MPs and Independent Lady Sylvia Hermon.
There were 251 Labour MPs who voted for the motion.
They were joined by 35 SNP, 11 Liberal Democrats, four Plaid Cymru, Green Party MP Caroline Lucas, and Independent MPs Frank Field, Kelvin Hopkins, Stephen Lloyd and Jared O’Mara.
