The Prime Minister falls 14 votes short – and says that the Bill will be paused while he speaks to EU leaders.
It’s a surprisingly large Government majority: 24 independents and 19 Labour MPs voted with the Government.
The Prime Minister made it as easy as he could for Labour MPs to support the Bill, and the Leader of the Opposition did not make it very hard.
There are now 15 independents, plus the Change UK factions and a smattering of pro-Brexit rebel Labour MPs.
The Government won by 11 votes, 298 to 309, in a setback for Letwin – though the result doesn’t guarantee No Deal any more than a vote the other way would barred it.
The amendment passed by 317 to 301 – and seven Labour MPs rebelled to back it.
The role of these MPs in pro-Leave seats abstaining on or voting against the Cooper amendment in defiance of the whip was crucial.
Supporting the deal would also prevent several other things – such as the possibibility of a truly socialist government taking over.