During discussions on the timetable motion for the five-day debate on the Brexit deal yesterday, the Government suffered a defeat when an amendment tabled by anti-Brexit former Attorney General Dominic Grieve was passed by 321 to 299 – a majority of 22. The Grieve amendment will allow future Commons motions after a Government defeat on its deal to be amendable, which its supporters say will enhance Parliament’s role in the Brexit process and give MPs more of a say over what happens next. Rather than merely noting what the Government says, Grieve said MPs should be able to make amendments to any motion laid down by the Government in order to try and influence events. What was interesting about the voting on the Grieve amendment was that 25 Tory MPs rebelled against the Government to vote for it, including some who are usually hyper-loyal to the Government like Damian Green, Sir Michael Fallon and Sir Nicholas Soames. The word circulating around Parliament last night was that the Government Whips’ Office had given licence to the rebels – even encouraged them to vote the way they did – in order to put the frighteners on Brexiteers opposed to May’s deal: the logic being that it demonstrated that the numbers are there to oppose a no-deal Brexit, which means that opposing May’s deal heightens the possibility of no Brexit at all. Certainly there are Remainers holding out hope that the passing of this amendment is a means by which they will be able to fatally scupper Brexit altogether. Two former Government whips I put this to last night agreed that such tactics were eminently plausible. However, Brexiteers continue to point out that any motions amended under the Grieve procedure would not be legally binding or change the law of the land. After all, the exit date of 29th March 2019 is set in stone – written into the European Union (Withdrawal) Act in black and white – and it would require new primary legislation to overturn that rather than a mere motion expressing a point of view. As David Davis’s former Chief of Staff Stewart Jackson wrote here on BrexitCentral recently, Parliament cannot simply block ‘No Deal’ as it is the default option. This position was also reiterated in terms by the Leader of the House of Commons, Andrea Leadsom, on Radio 4’s Today programme this morning. The position was also stated very clearly by Sir David Natzler, the Clerk of the House of Commons, in evidence to the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Select Committee on 23rd October when he said “a mere resolution cannot change the law. The only way we can change the law is by law”. He was then asked by the Committee Chair, Sir Bernard Jenkin: “Is there any motion that the House can bring forward and approve that could compel the Government to legislate in some way? I am thinking in particular of section 24 of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act, which would require a Minister of the Crown to lay a regulation to delay the date. Is there any way in which a Humble Address could compel a Minister to do that?” Sir David’s replied: “No.” HOW MPs VOTED ON THE AMENDMENT 320 MPs are recorded as voting for the amendment (322 if you include the two tellers), including 25 Conservative rebels, 239 Labour MPs, 34 SNP MPs and 12 Lib Dem MPs, along with MPs from Plaid Cymru, the Green Party and 5 Independents (one of whom also voted in the other lobby). The result was announced as 321 MPs voting for it, which suggests the tellers miscounted by one. Meanwhile, 299 MPs voted against the amendment (301 including two tellers), including 282 Conservatives, 4 Labour rebels, 9 DUP MPs and 4 Independents (one of whom also voted in the other lobby). Aside from the Speaker and his three deputies, who by convention do not vote – and the 7 Sinn Fein MPs who have not taken their seats – 17 MPs did not participate in the division. N.B. Independent MP Kelvin Hopkins is listed as having voted in each lobby – effectively a deliberate abstention where his votes cancel each other out. Below are the full lists of which MPs voted for the amendment, those who did not vote at all (although NB it is impossible to know whether they deliberately abstained, were away from Westminster on parliamentary business elsewhere or were ill etc.) and of course the full list of those who voted against the amendment. THE 322 MPs RECORDED AS BACKING THE AMENDMENT Conservative Heidi Allen Guto Bebb Richard Benyon Nick Boles Kenneth Clarke Jonathan Djanogly Michael Fallon George Freeman Richard Graham Damian Green Justine Greening Dominic Grieve Oliver Heald Jo Johnson Phillip Lee Jeremy Lefroy Oliver Letwin Nicky Morgan Bob Neill Antoinette Sandbach Nicholas Soames Anna Soubry John Stevenson Edward Vaizey Sarah Wollaston Green Caroline Lucas Independent Sylvia Hermon Kelvin Hopkins (voted in both lobbies) Ivan Lewis Jared O’Mara John Woodcock Labour Diane Abbott Debbie Abrahams Rushanara Ali Rosena Allin-Khan Mike Amesbury Tonia Antoniazzi Jonathan Ashworth Ian Austin Adrian Bailey Kevin Barron Margaret Beckett Hilary Benn Luciana Berger Clive Betts Roberta Blackman-Woods Paul Blomfield Tracy Brabin Ben Bradshaw Kevin Brennan Lyn Brown Nick Brown Chris Bryant Karen Buck Richard Burden Richard Burgon Dawn Butler Liam Byrne Ruth Cadbury Alan Campbell Dan Carden Sarah Champion Jenny Chapman Bambos Charalambous Ann Clwyd Vernon Coaker Ann Coffey Julie Cooper Rosie Cooper Yvette Cooper Jeremy Corbyn Neil Coyle David Crausby Mary Creagh Stella Creasy Jon Cruddas John Cryer Judith Cummings Alex Cunningham Jim Cunningham Janet Daby Nic Dakin Wayne David Geraint Davies Marsha De Cordova Gloria de Piero Thangam Debbonaire Emma Dent Coad Tan Dhesi Annaliese Dodds Stephen Doughty (Teller) Peter Dowd David Drew Jack Dromey Rosie Duffield Angela Eagle Maria Eagle Clive Efford Julie Elliott Louise Ellman Chris Elmore Bill Esterson Christopher Evans Paul Farrelly Jim Fitzpatrick Colleen Fletcher Caroline Flint Yvonne Fovargue Vicky Foxcroft James Frith Gill Furniss Hugh Gaffney Mike Gapes Barry Gardiner Ruth George Preet Gill Mary Glindon Roger Godsiff Helen Goodman Kate Green Lilian Greenwood Margaret Greenwood Nia Griffith John Grogan Andrew Gwynne Louise Haigh Fabian Hamilton David Hanson Emma Hardy Harriet Harman Carolyn Harris Helen Hayes Sue Hayman John Healey Mark Hendrick Stephen Hepburn Mike Hill Meg Hillier Margaret Hodge Sharon Hodgson Kate Hollern George Howarth Rupa Huq Imran Hussain Dan Jarvis Diana Johnson Darren Jones Gerald Jones Graham Jones Helen Jones Kevan Jones Sarah Jones Susan Elan Jones Michael Kane Barbara Keeley Elizabeth Kendall Afzal Khan Gerard Killen Stephen Kinnock Peter Kyle Lesley Laird David Lammy Ian Lavery Karen Lee Christopher Leslie Emma Lewell-Buck Clive Lewis Tony Lloyd Rebecca Long-Bailey Ian Lucas Justin Madders Shabana Mahmood Seema Malhotra John Mann Gordon Marsden Sandy Martin Rachael Maskell Chris Matheson Steve McCabe Kerry McCarthy Siobhain McDonagh Andy McDonald John McDonnell Pat McFadden Conor McGinn Alison McGovern Liz McInnes Catherine McKinnell Jim McMahon Anna McMorrin Ian Mearns Ed Miliband Jessica Morden Stephen Morgan Grahame Morris Ian Murray Lisa Nandy Alex Norris Fiona Onasanya Melanie Onn Chi Onwurah Kate Osamor Albert Owen Stephanie Peacock Teresa Pearce Matthew Pennycook Toby Perkins Jess Phillips Bridget Phillipson (Teller) Jo Platt Luke Pollard Stephen Pound Lucy Powell Yasmin Qureshi Faisal Rashid Angela Rayner Steve Reed Christina Rees Ellie Reeves Rachel Reeves Emma Reynolds Jonathan Reynolds Marie Rimmer Matt Rodda Danielle Rowley Chris Ruane Lloyd Russell-Moyle Joan Ryan Naz Shah Virendra Sharma Barry Sheerman Paula Sherriff Gavin Shuker Tulip Siddiq Andy Slaughter Ruth Smeeth Angela Smith Eleanor Smith Jeff Smith Nick Smith Owen Smith Karin Smyth Gareth Snell Alex Sobel Keir Starmer Jo Stevens Wes Streeting Paul Sweeney Mark Tami Gareth Thomas Nick Thomas-Symonds Emily Thornberry Stephen Timms Jon Trickett Anna Turley Karl Turner Stephen Twigg Liz Twist Chuka Umunna Keith Vaz Valerie Vaz Thelma Walker Tom Watson Catherine West Matt Western Alan Whitehead Martin Whitfield Paul Williams Chris Williamson Phil Wilson Mohammad Yasin Daniel Zeichner Liberal Democrat Tom Brake Vince Cable Alistair Carmichael Ed Davey Tim Farron Wera Hobhouse Christine Jardine Norman Lamb Stephen Lloyd Layla Moran Jamie Stone Jo Swinson Plaid Cymru Jonathan Edwards Ben Lake Liz Saville Roberts Hywel Williams SNP Hannah Bardell Mhairi Black Ian Blackford Kirsty Blackman Deidre Brock Alan Brown Lisa Cameron Doug Chapman Joanna Cherry Ronnie Cowan Angela Crawley Martyn Day Martin Docherty-Hughes Marion Fellows Stephen Gethins Patricia Gibson Patrick Grady Peter Grant Drew Hendry Stewart Hosie Chris Law David Linden Angus MacNeil Stewart McDonald Stuart McDonald John McNally Carol Monaghan Gavin Newlands Brendan O’Hara Tommy Sheppard Chris Stephens Alison Thewliss Philippa Whitford Pete Wishart THE 17 MPs WHO DID NOT VOTE ON THE AMENDMENT* Conservative Stephen Crabb Stephen McPartland Andrew Mitchell Priti Patel Andrew Stephenson DUP Jeffrey Donaldson Labour Paul Flynn Holly Lynch Khalid Mahmood Madeleine Moon Laura Pidcock Geoffrey Robinson Cat Smith Laura Smith John Spellar Derek Twigg SNP Neil Gray *Not including the Speaker, John Bercow, and his three deputies (Lindsay Hoyle, Eleanor Laing and Rosie Winterton) who, by convention, do not vote in Commons divisions and the Sinn Fein MPs who have not taken their seats. NB: Absence from the division may be for a number of reasons, such as being ill, on maternity leave or on parliamentary business elsewhere, as well as a deliberate abstention. THE 301 MPs WHO OPPOSED THE AMENDMENT Conservative Nigel Adams Bim Afolami Adam Afriyie Peter Aldous Lucy Allan David Amess Stuart Andrew Edward Argar Victoria Atkins Richard Bacon Kemi Badenoch Steve Baker Harriett Baldwin Steve Barclay John Baron Henry Bellingham Paul Beresford Jake Berry Bob Blackman Crispin Blunt Peter Bone Peter Bottomley Andrew Bowie Ben Bradley Karen Bradley Graham Brady Suella Braverman Jack Brereton Andrew Bridgen Steve Brine James Brokenshire Fiona Bruce Robert Buckland Alex Burghart Conor Burns Alistair Burt Alun Cairns James Cartlidge William Cash Maria Caulfield Alex Chalk Rehman Chishti Christopher Chope Jo Churchill Greg Clark Colin Clark Simon Clarke James Cleverly Geoffrey Clifton-Brown Thérèse Coffey Damian Collins Alberto Costa Robert Courts Geoffrey Cox Tracey Crouch Chris Davies David Davies Glyn Davies Mims Davies Philip Davies David Davis Caroline Dinenage Leo Docherty Michelle Donelan Nadine Dorries Steve Double Oliver Dowden Jackie Doyle-Price Richard Drax James Duddridge David Duguid Alan Duncan Iain Duncan Smith Philip Dunne Michael Ellis Tobias Ellwood George Eustice Nigel Evans David Evennett Michael Fabricant Mark Field Vicky Ford Kevin Foster Liam Fox Mark Francois Lucy Frazer Mike Freer Marcus Fysh Roger Gale Mark Garnier David Gauke Nusrat Ghani Nick Gibb Cheryl Gillan John Glen Zac Goldsmith Robert Goodwill Michael Gove Luke Graham Bill Grant Helen Grant James Gray Chris Grayling Chris Green Sam Gyimah Kirstene Hair Robert Halfon Luke Hall Philip Hammond Stephen Hammond Matt Hancock Greg Hands Mark Harper Richard Harrington Rebecca Harris Trudy Harrison Simon Hart John Hayes James Heappey Chris Heaton-Harris Peter Heaton-Jones Gordon Henderson Nick Herbert Damian Hinds Simon Hoare George Hollingbery Kevin Hollinrake Philip Hollobone Adam Holloway John Howell Nigel Huddleston Eddie Hughes Jeremy Hunt Nick Hurd Alister Jack Margot James Sajid Javid Ranil Jayawardena Bernard Jenkin Andrea Jenkyns Robert Jenrick Boris Johnson Caroline Johnson Gareth Johnson Andrew Jones David Jones Marcus Jones Daniel Kawczynski Gillian Keegan Seema Kennedy Stephen Kerr Julian Knight Sir Greg Knight Kwasi Kwarteng John Lamont Mark Lancaster Pauline Latham Andrea Leadsom Edward Leigh Andrew Lewer Brandon Lewis Julian Lewis Ian Liddell-Grainger David Lidington Julia Lopez Jack Lopresti Jonathan Lord Tim Loughton Craig Mackinlay Rachel Maclean Anne Main Alan Mak Kit Malthouse Scott Mann Paul Masterson Theresa May Paul Maynard Patrick McLoughlin Esther McVey Mark Menzies Johnny Mercer Huw Merriman Stephen Metcalfe Maria Miller Amanda Milling Nigel Mills Anne Milton Damien Moore Penny Mordaunt Anne Marie Morris David Morris James Morris Wendy Morton (Teller) David Mundell Sheryll Murray Andrew Murrison Sarah Newton Caroline Nokes Jesse Norman Neil O’Brien Matthew Offord Guy Opperman Neil Parish Owen Paterson Mark Pawsey Mike Penning John Penrose Andrew Percy Claire Perry Chris Philp Christopher Pincher Daniel Poulter Rebecca Pow Victoria Prentis Mark Prisk Mark Pritchard Tom Pursglove Jeremy Quin Will Quince Dominic Raab John Redwood Jacob Rees-Mogg Laurence Robertson Mary Robinson Andrew Rosindell Douglas Ross Lee Rowley Amber Rudd David Rutley Paul Scully Bob Seely Andrew Selous Grant Shapps Alok Sharma Alec Shelbrooke Keith Simpson Chris Skidmore Chloe Smith Henry Smith Julian Smith Royston Smith Caroline Spelman Mark Spencer Bob Stewart Iain Stewart (Teller) Rory Stewart Gary Streeter Mel Stride Graham Stuart Julian Sturdy Rishi Sunak Desmond Swayne Hugo Swire Robert Syms Derek Thomas Ross Thomson Maggie Throup Kelly Tolhurst Justin Tomlinson Michael Tomlinson Craig Tracey David Tredinnick Anne-Marie Trevelyan Elizabeth Truss Thomas Tugendhat Shailesh Vara Martin Vickers Theresa Villiers Charles Walker Robin Walker Ben Wallace David Warburton Matt Warman Giles Watling Helen Whately Heather Wheeler Craig Whittaker John Whittingdale Bill Wiggin Gavin Williamson Mike Wood William Wragg Jeremy Wright Nadhim Zahawi DUP Gregory Campbell Nigel Dodds Paul Girvan Emma Little Pengelly Ian Paisley Gavin Robinson Jim Shannon David Simpson Sammy Wilson Independent Charlie Elphicke Frank Field Andrew Griffiths Kelvin Hopkins (voted in both lobbies) Labour Ronnie Campbell Kate Hoey Dennis Skinner Graham Stringer