Daily briefing: Rebels without a Clause 18

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“Ayes to the right: 305. Noes to the left: 301.” Watching MPs from the press gallery, we pricked up our ears. This was the government being defeated on a key Brexit vote, as the Commons had decided in favour of remaining in the European medicines regulatory framework. Next was New Clause 18, the big one: the UK would have to join a customs union unless able to strike a free trade deal with the EU by January 2019. Our hopes had been raised, but the amendment fell and to her great relief Theresa May just narrowly avoided a defeat that could have sparked a general election.

How did the Prime Minister do it? 12 Remainer Tories, one of whom described the threats being made by party whips as “horrible”, stuck to their guns and rebelled to vote in favour of both amendments. It was four Brexiteer Labour MPs – Frank Field, Kate Hoey, John Mann and Graham Stringer – plus currently suspended and therefore independent Kelvin Hopkins, who switched sides and gave May her majority on the crucial vote.

Labour activists and commentators from across the party were furious, with calls for the whip to be withdrawn multiplying on Twitter. Paul Mason led demands for deselection, as Hoey’s CLP Vauxhall passed a motion at its general committee meeting in favour of just that. “They should all be kicked out of the Labour Party,” said Owen Jones.

The four Labour MPs are a small band of Leavers out of sync with the rest of the party. As noted by Stephen Bush, they are ‘old Labour right’ Brexiteers rather than Lexiteers, and therefore different to other Leavers of the PLP such as Dennis Skinner and Ronnie Campbell. The latter are deeply Eurosceptic but have shown loyalty towards longtime ally Jeremy Corbyn.

Today will see the Labour leader confront May at PMQs for the last time before summer recess. There is plenty of material to go on: ministers quitting daily, accusations from her own MPs of being ‘in office but out of power’, Tory whips breaking an agreement with new mother Jo Swinson last night. The Prime Minister does have a tendency of asking her own questions at PMQs, and of raising antisemitism in the Labour Party (speaking of which, read this for the latest developments) to deflect from her own problems.

But this afternoon she will also face the Commons liaison committee, chaired by Tory Remainer Sarah Wollaston, who earlier this week said there was “no point” backing May’s Brexit plan any longer. Get the popcorn out and turn over to BBC Parliament.

Sienna @siennamarla

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