What Brexit motions are MPs voting on today?

Prime minister Theresa May could face new hurdles in her bid to get her Brexit deal over the line as MPs vote on her plans and a series of alternatives today.

The Conservative leader will be hoping to avoid an embarrassing defeat at the hands of her own MPs , with Brexiteers angered at being asked to vote to oppose a no-deal outcome.

May also faces the risk that MPs will back amendments demanding a delay to Brexit, a new deadline for her to make progress or the publication of government papers laying bare the costs of a no-deal scenario.

Here is what you need to know about today’s events:

What is the Theresa May plan MPs will vote on tonight?

The prime minister is asking MPs to rubber-stamp her current Brexit strategy, as well as giving them the chance to express their views by voting on a series of amendments later this afternoon.

The main motion from the government effectively re-affirms what Parliament had already agreed in a showdown on 29 January.

It supports the deal May has already agreed with Brussels, subject to the so-called ‘Brady amendment’ – that an alternative to the current plan for an Irish backstop must be negotiated with the EU.

The motion asks MPs to re-affirm their support for the “Spelman amendment,’ also agreed by MPs last month, which showed Parliament’s opposition to a no-deal Brexit.

Will May win the vote, and why is it controversial?

The government had hoped the wording of the motion would be relatively uncontroversial, as it largely confirms the position previously backed by a majority in Parliament.

But the European Research Group (ERG) of Conservative MPs led by Jacob Rees-Mogg have threatened to derail the plans, as they believe opposing a no-deal Brexit undermines Britain’s negotiating position.

They believe the EU will not give further concessions to the UK unless it is clear Britain is prepared to walk away from the talks and leave the bloc without an agreement.

But the government has refused to budge to guarantee their support, with trade secretary Liam Fox arguing this morning that voting down the government was the bigger threat to its negotiating hand with Brussels.

What amendments by MPs will Parliament vote on?

Speaker of the House of Commons John Bercow has chosen three possible amendments by MPs for Parliament to vote on, as well as the main motion by the government.

The first is a proposal by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, which gives the government a deadline of 27 February to secure a deal.

The second, by the Scottish National Party’s (SNP) Westminster leader Ian Blackford, demands that the government begin negotiating to delay Brexit by at least three months.

The third, by pro-European Conservative MP Anny Soubry, demands the publication of papers reportedly seen by the cabinet which lay out in stark terms the reality of a no-deal Brexit.

How important is tonight’s vote?

The vote tonight is not legally binding on the government, so Theresa May could technically ignore whatever MPs decide to vote for.

A vote that opposes a no-deal scenario would also not prevent it happening, as it remains the default option legally that Britain will leave the EU on 29 March whether or not a deal is agreed.

But a defeat would be a humiliation and the prime minister will face huge pressure to respect the result, so it gives MPs some power to influence the course of the Brexit negotiations.

A defeat could also threaten to undermine May’s claim to Brussels that she will have a majority in Parliament behind her if they allow changes on the vexed issue of the Irish backstop.

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