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MPs pass amendment pledging to replace Irish backstop with ‘alternative arrangements’ Follow all the day’s political developments – live How each MP voted – interactive Theresa May was handed a two-week deadline to resuscitate her Brexit deal last night after she caved to Tory Eurosceptics and pledged to go back to Brussels to demand changes to the Irish backstop. With just 59 days to go until exit day, MPs narrowly passed a government-backed amendment, tabled by the senior Conservative Graham Brady, promising to replace the Irish backstop with unspecified “alternative arrangements”. Continue reading... from The Guardian http://bit.ly/2t2EY97

MPs have voted on a series of Brexit amendments challenging the government’s withdrawal deal. The Brady motion requires Theresa May to renegotiate the backstop; the Cooper amendment would have let parliament have a greater say. Find out how every MP voted on each motion Follow all the day’s political developments – live The list of amendments in full Continue reading... from The Guardian http://bit.ly/2RTlQJn

Pro-Tory titles spinning the outcome as a great success for the PM, but others warn the EU won’t be budged Follow all the day’s political developments – live The papers are split on their treatment of the latest make or break day of Brexit drama in parliament with Conservative-supporting titles trumpeting the Commons deal as a success for Theresa May. But the Guardian, FT and Mirror emphasise the problem May faces in negotiations with the EU, which has said that the Irish backstop is part of the withdrawal agreement and cannot be undone. Continue reading... from The Guardian http://bit.ly/2WuIFS9

When the prime minister returns from Brussels, she has concerns to deal with Follow all the day’s political developments – live When Theresa May addressed the 1922 Committee of Tory backbenchers on Monday night, she was still undecided whether to throw the government’s weight behind an amendment that effectively demolished her own negotiated deal. Downing Street had been caught unawares by the reaction of the core group of hard Brexiters who had decided the amendment by Sir Graham Brady, seeking “alternative arrangements” to the Irish backstop, was too woolly. Continue reading... from The Guardian http://bit.ly/2S9ovxZ

The Brady amendment passed. But ultimately the problem is not the deal, or the backstop, or Brussels: it is Brexit itself British politics now follows the tortured pattern of addiction. Inside the addict’s head the most important thing is getting to the next Brexit fix, scoring the best deal. But from the outside, to our European friends and family, it is obvious that the problem is the compulsive pursuit of a product that does us only harm. On Tuesday night Theresa May thought she had scored: a slender majority in parliament voted for an imaginary agreement in Brussels, stripped of the hated “backstop”. Tory Eurosceptic ultras and the DUP pledged conditional allegiance to the prime minister if she delivers “alternative arrangements” for a seamless border on Northern Ireland. But no one has any idea what those might be and the EU has already ruled out a renegotiation on terms that might satisfy the hardliners. The transient buzz of Tory unity will yield to the chilly comedown of Brexit

Aberdeen and Cambridge suffer sharpest falls since 2016 Brexit vote House prices have grown fastest since the UK voted to leave the EU in cities in the Midlands, the north of England, Wales and Scotland, according to the property website Zoopla. Birmingham (up 16%), Manchester and Leicester (both up 15%) have seen the fastest growth since the June 2016 referendum, followed by Edinburgh and Nottingham (14%), Leeds and Cardiff (12%), and Liverpool and Sheffield (11%). Continue reading... from The Guardian http://bit.ly/2RTrBH3

PM claims Commons mandate but faces rebuff from Brussels … big gas find made in North Sea … and why are early risers happier than night owls? Good morning, I’m Warren Murray – here’s some news to quickly wolf down with your jam on toast . Continue reading... from The Guardian http://bit.ly/2DHND6J