MPs back Article 50 timetable as Brexit court case ends

MPs have voted in favour of the Government's timetable to trigger the formal process for leaving the European Union by March 2017, as long as the Prime Minister reveals her plan for Brexit.

The symbolic motion, which is not legally binding, was approved by 448 votes to 75 - a majority of 373.

Faced with a revolt by up to 40 Conservative MPs, Prime Minister Theresa May on Tuesday bowed to pressure and backed a Labour motion which said she should publish a plan before triggering Article 50.

In return, most of the rebels and Labour backed a compromise Government amendment to support Mrs May's pledge to invoke Article 50 to start Brexit before 31 March 2017.

MPs held two votes, with the first to add the Government amendment to the original Labour motion approved by 461 votes to 89, majority 372.

This was opposed by 23 Labour MPs and one Conservative in the form of Mr Clarke.

Mr Clarke was the sole Conservative to vote against the motion.

Labour rebels included Ben Bradshaw, David Lammy and former shadow chancellor Chris Leslie.

The Government's amendment was backed by some 150 Labour MPs.

Iain Duncan Smith, who campaigned extensively for Brexit, told Sky News that Labour's motion has created a "historic moment" in Parliament.

After the first vote, the former Tory leader said: "This is the first time ever that a majority of parliamentarians have actually voted to leave the European Union."

Shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer told Sky News that the Brexit plan needs to include answers to key questions such as whether the Government is aiming to be in the customs union, and what its position on the single market is.

"We need Parliament to be able to do its job in terms of scrutiny," the Labour MP said.

Sir Keir denied that Labour is out to frustrate the process of leaving the European Union - and said such allegations were "unhelpful".

The vote followed a day of debate in which Brexit Secretary David Davis promised MPs that the Government will set out its "strategic plans" before triggering the formal process to withdraw the UK from the EU, but said it will not reveal anything which might "jeopardise our negotiating position".

Mr Davis faced calls from Opposition MPs and some Conservative backbenchers for the plan to be detailed enough to be subject to rigorous scrutiny in the Commons before the planned launch of negotiations under Article 50.

During the debate, Mr Clarke said Mrs May's promise to reveal her plan was "extremely vague", and called for it to be set out in detail in a white paper for publication before Article 50 is invoked.

But Mr Davis insisted the Government must retain "room for manoeuvre" to respond with "a high degree of agility and speed" to developments in extremely complex negotiations expected to last up to two years.

The debate came as the Government was embroiled in day three of its Brexit battle at the Supreme Court.