The presence of four Labour Leavers helped the UK to avoid a customs union – but their absence on a more minor amendment produced a Government defeat.
The Opposition Chief Whip is reported to have “physically intimidated” MPs, but was “ignored” nonetheless.
The former rebel-in-chief says he is reassured by “the obvious acknowledgement of the sovereignty of this place…in black and white.”
Seventy-five MPs disobeyed Corbyn to back the EEA, joined by three Conservatives. And six more Labour frontbenchers resigned.
Meanwhile, five Labour MPs rebelled in the opposite direction.
Plus: We’ll never know the truth about the rebels’ motives. If you have fewer MPs, you must also have fewer Ministers. And: doesn’t Steve Baker have a fine head of hair?
Some would-be rebels switched sides at the last minute, while at least three others abstained.
Alex Chalk and Tania Mathias were the only MPs to vote against the Government on the Lords’ amendment.
The Conservative rebel, AKA Douglas Hogg, argued that a unilateral guarantee would grant the Government the moral high ground.
And Labour is torn between between exploiting those perils and being seen to cooperate with the Government on the EU.
Given the slow pace of change in Brussels, the vote could still go ahead on Tuesday.
Andrew Percy sounds confident that there will be sufficient Tory rebels to defeat the Government.
The number of rebels has risen; it is concentrated among post-2005 intake Tories, and in seats that are either marginal or were until recently.
Of the 37 Conservatives MPs who rebelled, only eight entered the Commons either this year or in 2010.
“As we face the General Election in 2015, I believe it is right for me to offer you my full and enthusiastic support”.