MPs will get deal-or-no-deal vote on Brexit before agreement goes to European Parliament

MPs and peers will be able to vote on whether to accept a final Brexit deal or walk away from the agreement prior to it going before the European Parliament.

But they will not be able to shape the terms of the deal or send the Prime Minister back to Brussels to get more concessions.

The move - a verbal assurance and not a clause that will be written into the European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill - was welcomed by shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer.

But a number of MPs said that a "take-it-or-leave-it" vote was not "meaningful" and offered no real choice.

And they were aware that refusing to back a final deal struck by Theresa May would leave the UK turning to WTO rules on tariffs.

Former shadow chancellor Chris Leslie put forward an amendment requiring Parliamentary approval for any deal to be written into the bill.

The Labour backbencher's clause was defeated by 326 votes to 293, a majority of 33, but seven Tory MPs voted against the Government - Ken Clarke, Bob Neill, Andrew Tyrie, Claire Perry, Anna Soubry, Antoinette Sandbach and Heidi Allen.

Six Labour MPs voted with the Government.

But as the Conservatives' working majority is just 16, if the Tory rebellion grows this could cause headaches for Downing Street further down the line in the Brexit process.

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An SNP clause stating that if Parliament voted against the Government's deal the UK would stay in the EU on "existing terms" was defeated 336-88.

Sky sources understand that a group of Tory rebels led by former attorney general Dominic Grieve wrote a note for Downing Street to consider ahead of Tuesday morning's Cabinet meeting.

In it they threatened to vote in favour of Mr Leslie's cross-party amendment on a final deal vote - unless the Prime Minister could give reassurance to MPs that they would have their say on the EU exit agreement.

Mrs May is expected by the end of next month to trigger Article 50, when official negotiations can then begin with Brussels over leaving the EU. The talks are due to last two years.

She has promised to walk away from the EU with nothing, rather than accept a poor offer.

Meanwhile in Scotland, MSPs have voted 90-34 against UK legislation to take Britain out of the EU.

The Supreme Court has already ruled the British Government does not have to consult the devolved administrations before it starts the formal Brexit process.