Plus: What would it take to get the Cabinet leavers to resign? Clarke’s Maastricht Treaty Customs Union moment. And: in defence of Robbie Gibb.
The Leader of the Opposition took the chance to do a bit of electioneering by praising Tony Blair’s achievements.
Not only are Leavers and Remainers drifting further apart, but the various Remain factions are now engaged in a furious blame game.
The supporters of the softer Brexit and pro-Remain options have helped to do each other in. And Boles has walked out on the Conservative Party (it seems).
The Grantham and Stamford MP leaves the Conservative benches, to a cry of “Nick, don’t go” from one of his colleagues.
The protesters were at length evicted from the Public Gallery, but no one really seemed to be in charge.
That’s variously for a customs union; for a custom arrangement plus the Single Market; for a second referendum, and for staying in the EU.
Those who voted in favour included Boles, Collins and Morgan. Those against, Atkins, Buckland and Green.
The list includes the three who resigned from the Government this evening – and Green, one of the Prime Minister’s oldest allies.
The proposal was rejected by 314 votes to 311. Boles, Gyimah, Spelman and Vaizey were among those to rebel. Plus Brine and Harrington.
Or as close to it as a site well-disposed to both can get in this fallen world. This is the story of a marriage gone horribly wrong.
He did consider standing as an independent next time round, but “there’s a leadership election coming up.”
“I am not willing to do what would be necessary to restore a reasonable working relationship with people whose values are so much at odds with my own.”
By longstanding convention the Speaker casts his vote for the status quo. But would he?
There’s little that Conservative MPs can do to stop the Speaker – they don’t have the votes to depose him.