Commons passes Labour motion that will force government to publish secret Brexit legal advice

The Commons has passed a Labour motion to force the government to publish the secret legal advice ministers have received on Brexit.

The arcane device, known as a "humble address", was passed without a full vote after the government, facing a certain defeat, ordered its MPs to abstain.

The DUP and Tory Eurosceptics had vowed to abstain on the Labour motion, leaving the government with no chance of successfully voting it down.

The Commons debate came shortly before it was announced that a Brexit deal had been agreed by UK and EU negotiating teams in Brussels.

Downing Street said the Cabinet would meet on Wednesday to discuss the proposed agreement, with ministers being called in one-by-one before then to look over the details.

Theresa May will need to persuade Brexiteer ministers such as Liam Fox, Michael Gove and Penny Mordaunt to back the deal, while also keeping the likes of Jeremy Hunt and Sajid Javid onside.

Several members of the Cabinet have previously voiced concerns over the plan, and particularly whether the UK will be able to quit the proposed customs backstop if it comes into effect.

As it happened...