As Tuesday's debate began, most of the Labour Party's 256 MPs planned to vote against May's deal and around 100 of the Conservative Party's 317 MPs said they would rebel against their leader. Dozens of MPs from minor parties said they will oppose her, meaning she was staring down the barrel of a gun.

The Independent newspaper predicted it would be one of the heaviest defeats on record.

But May refused to throw in the towel and called on Britain's elected politicians, especially those in her own party, to back her Brexit deal or risk "letting the British people down".

She said it was the only deal on the table, and claimed its rejection would condemn the UK to leave the EU without a deal, or fail to leave at all.