Humiliated Theresa May is heading to Brussels today for a crucial summit with EU leaders after Tory rebel MPs handed her a undignified defeat by voting to let parliament have a say on the final Brexit deal before it's agreed.
Eleven Conservative MPs last night voted to give the Commons a 'meaningful' vote over any Brexit agreement with the EU, despite government pleas to let ministers retain control.
The rebel MPs were jubilant with former education secretary Nicky Morgan boasting: 'Tonight Parliament took control of the EU Withdrawal process'. MEPs also gloated about the bloody nose suffered by Mrs May.
The government was defeated by a margin of four votes, losing 309 to 305 and Labour MPs joined the rebels in cheering and applauding as the extraordinary result was announced last night.
But pro-Brexit Conservative MPs condemned their colleague's actions arguing that it undermines the prime minister's negotiating position with Brussels.
Nadine Dorries, Conservative MP for Mid-Bedfordshire, hit back and said: 'The Tory rebels have put a spring in Labour's step, given them a taste of winning.
'They have guaranteed the party a weekend of bad press, undermined the PM and devalued her impact in Brussels.
'They should be deselected and never allowed to stand as a Tory MP, ever again.'
To compound her difficulties, Mrs May faces another crucial vote in the Commons next week over fixing the Brexit date in law of March 29, 2019.
And on Wednesday, Mrs May left Westminster and was on the red carpet at the Sun's 'Military Awards' minutes after the humiliating defeat. Today she will head to Brussels for a European Council meeting.
Rebel ringleader Dominic Grieve rejected as 'too late' a desperate last minute concession made by ministers just moments before the crunch vote at 7pm.
Mr Grieve's amendment demands ministers pass a full law enshrining the exit deal before the Government is allowed start implementing it.
It puts huge new pressure on the Brexit timetable approaching exit day on March 29, 2019.
Rebels hope it will allow Parliament to reject anything they consider a bad deal for Britain in time for further negotiation.
Last night, Government sources tried to play down the significance of the vote and hinted they could try to overturn it at a later stage.
But a furious Mrs May quickly sacked former minister Stephen Hammond from his role as Tory vice-chairman after he sided with the rebels.
Former Education Secretary Nicky Morgan posted a message after the vote and said: 'Parliament took control of the EU Withdrawal process'
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