The four rebel Labour MPs who rescued Theresa May's government
The votes of four rebel Labour MPs helped Theresa May narrowly avoid a humiliating defeat over Brexit in the Commons on Tuesday night, seeing off an amendment that could have seen the UK remain in the customs union.
During a tense session in Westminster, the Prime Minister thwarted the Tory rebellion by 307 votes to 301, helped by four Labour Brexiteers who cast their ballots against their own party.
The move by the opposition MPs prevented a humiliation for Mrs May that was seen as having the potential to trigger a vote of no confidence in Mrs May that could have ended stint in No 10.
These are the Labour rebels who helped avert the defeat.
Frank Field
The MP for Birkenhead is a committed Brexiteer who campaigned for the UK to leave the EU during the referendum build-up.
He has held his seat since 1979.
Kate Hoey
The backbencher is one of a small tranche of Labour MPs who favour a hard Brexit approach.
She has previously warned that Labour risks ‘reviving UKIP’ by softening its stance and campaigning to keep the UK in the single market.
John Mann
John Mann has been MP for Bassetlaw since 2001.
He has rebelled against the Labour Whip a number of times on the issue of Brexit.
Graham Stringer
The Blackley and Broughton MP broke ranks to vote against the customs union amendment.
The move has been met with fury by a number of Labour supporters, who have accused Mr Stringer and his fellow rebels of ‘propping up’ Theresa May.
Tory MP Nadine Dorries said last night that the Labour rebels’ actions had prevented another general election.
She claimed that, if Mrs May had lost, her leadership would have been toppled and an election would have followed.
If Labour rebels hadn’t stepped in tonight, our own 12 Remain rebels would have lost us that vote, 3rd reading wld have been pulled, a confidence vote called tomorrow if that lost, a general election vote #Packofcards That’s how dangerous a game the Con remainers are playing.
— Nadine Dorries (@NadineDorries) July 17, 2018
After avoiding the damaging defeat, the PM now faces a potentially difficult session of Prime Minister’s Questions and an appearance in front of the Liaison Committee of senior MPs on Wednesday.
Mrs May will also try to rally her deeply divided Parliamentary party as she addresses a meeting of the 1922 Committee of backbenchers.