Bercow rules out third round of Rebel-controlled votes on Brexit alternatives after vote is TIED in the Commons for the first time in decades

• John Bercow broke a tie in the House of Commons tonight on a procedural vote
• MPs voted 310-310 on holding more votes on Brexit alternatives on Monday 
• Speaker ruled against the proposal as he used his casting vote for the first time
• No Speaker has broken a tie in the Commons since 1993 – and that was cancelled 

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John Bercow broke a tie to rule against holding a third round of Brexit alternative votes on Monday tonight.  

MPs were tied for the first time in decades after they voted 310-310 on whether to stage a third day of indicative votes on Monday night. 

Labour’s Hilary Benn had tried to amend the rules of the House to stage more votes on alternatives to Mrs May’s Brexit deal – in defiance of Tory rebel Oliver Letwin, who has masterminded the way backbench MPs seized control from the Government.

Mr Bercow said he had to use his casting vote – for the first time in his nine years as Speaker – against the move. 

Mr Bercow’s decision is helpful to the Government which may need Monday’s time in the Commons to debate and vote on a new Brexit plan.

It effectively ends rebel control of the Commons following today’s proceedings as Mr Letwin had opted against booking any more days. 

Explaining why he broke the tie against the amendment, Mr Bercow said: ‘The rationale .. for the exercising of the casting vote is .. that it is not for the chair to create a majority that doesn’t otherwise exist.’

The main vote on whether today’s rebel control of the Commons can go ahead was won 312-311 – suggesting the Commons is on a knife edge for when draft laws which seek to block a No Deal next week are voted on later tonight. 

John Bercow broke a tie to rule against holding a third round of Brexit alternative votes on Monday tonight

It is the first time since 1993 a Speaker has broken a tie in the Commons. On that occasion, the result was later changed after a recount.

The last successful tie breaker was cast in 1980 on a vote on whether to allow TV cameras into the Commons for the first time. 

The extraordinary scenes came after a bad tempered debate on whether Rebel MPs should be allowed to try to ram through laws to try and block No Deal. 

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Labour MP Yvette Cooper has published draft laws that would oblige the Government to seek a long delay to Brexit next week if there is not a deal by April 10. 

Veteran Brexiteer Sir Bill Cash complained the idea was ‘unconstitutional’ today and urged the Commons Speaker to block it.

But Mr Bercow told him pushing through laws in a single day was ‘not particularly unusual’ in itself, pointing out the Government does so in an emergency.

The Speaker has repeatedly been accused of helping Remainers to frustrate Brexit and has threatened to block any further votes on Mrs May’s Brexit deal. 

Veteran Brexiteer Sir Bill Cash complained the idea was ‘unconstitutional’ today and urged the Commons Speaker to block it

Of tonight’s legislation, the Leader of the House of Commons Andrea Leadsom said: ‘The Government regrets the position that Parliament is in today. Not only does it challenge again our constitutional conventions, but it offers Parliament hardly any time to consider, let alone to debate, the legislation before us.

‘The people of the UK rightly expect our democracy to be upheld at all times and for our democratic institutions to take their responsibilities seriously.

‘The Prime Minister also set out the Government’s next steps to leave the EU in a way which can command support from a majority of parliamentarians, in that context, I question why the legislation before the House today is necessary.’

She added: ‘The Government has consistently said that we do not support the unprecedented removal of Government control of the order paper, no matter the circumstances.’ 

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