Lamont amongst Tory rebels to topple Withdrawal Agreement

And amongst them was Borders member John Lamont.

But Scottish Secretary David Mundell, who represents the Tweeddale area, did side with the Prime Minister.

Brexiteers and Remainers from the Conservative party joined together, 118 in total, to oppose the Withdrawal Agreement in what was the biggest Tory rebellion in modern times.

There were just 196 Tories who remained loyal to support the deal, which was rejected by 432 votes to 202, majority 230.

Mr Lamont told us: "The scale of this defeat will have surprised many people, but it sends a very clear message to the European Union that the deal as it stands is unacceptable to the UK.

"The Prime Minister will now work with other parliamentarians and other parties to come up with alternative proposals over the next few days, this is absolutely the right course of action.

"It is my priority to get this agreement changed so that we can deliver on Brexit and avoid a no-deal scenario. In particular, we need to significantly alter or get rid of the insurance policy for if a trade agreement is not delivered, the so called Northern Ireland backstop.

“I have always said that notwithstanding my opposition to the Withdrawal Agreement, I fully support the Prime Minister and her Government. I will without hesitation support the Government in the no confidence vote. The Prime Minister is doing an almost impossible job with public duty at the forefront of her mind.

“I expect the Labour party to lose the vote of no confidence and that this should be an end to their political manoeuvring. To keep trying to collapse the Government would be damaging at a time when people want their politicians to work together so that the country can move on.”

Labour limited its rebellion to three as Ian Austin (Dudley North), Sir Kevin Barron (Rother Valley) and John Mann (Bassetlaw) supported the deal while 248 of the official Opposition's MPs voted against.

Independent MPs Frank Field (Birkenhead), Lady Sylvia Hermon (North Down) and Stephen Lloyd (Eastbourne) were the only others to vote in favour of the deal.

The crushing defeat came after a marathon eight-day debate in the Commons, which saw the Government's chief legal adviser warn MPs that they faced a choice between order and chaos over the Brexit deal.

Attorney General Geoffrey Cox said MPs risk being viewed as "children in the playground" if they create legal uncertainty by rejecting the deal, adding: "We are playing with people's lives."

Mr Cox attempted to put the squeeze on wavering colleagues with a typically theatrical speech as the marathon eight-day debate on the Brexit deal entered its final hours.

But his efforts failed to sway opinion and limit the losses.

Prime Minister Mrs May now faces a no-confidence vote in her Government today, which was tabled by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.

It was clear during the final day of debate that Mrs May was struggling to attract support, with Tory Julian Lewis (New Forest East) speaking for some 20 seconds to outline his objections.

He said: "Because Brexit should mean Brexit and no deal is better than this bad deal, I shall vote no, no and no."

Tory former minister Andrew Murrison aid he would support the Government, adding: "I genuinely feel that we may not have Brexit at all."

But another Tory former minister, Sir Hugo Swire, added: "I just cannot reconcile myself as an MP in this House, that I can vote this evening to effectively commit this country into a backstop from which it has no unilateral right to withdraw.

"So it is with a heavy heart that I shall not be supporting the Government this evening because I believe there is still a deal, a fair deal to be done with the EU."

Neither Labour nor the SNP moved their Brexit deal amendments, both of which sought to reject the deal, and instead focused on the final vote.

Tory former minister Sir Edward Leigh also opted against moving his amendment, which sought to ensure the Irish border backstop was temporary.

But Tory backbencher John Baron (Basildon and Billericay) did move his amendment, which sought to give the UK the right to terminate the Irish border backstop without the agreement of the EU, and saw it defeated by 600 votes to 24 - majority 576.

After the vote on the deal, Mrs May said: "The House has spoken and the Government will listen. It is clear that the House does not support this deal but tonight's vote tells us what it does support.

"Nothing about how or even if it intends to honour the decision in a referendum Parliament decided to hold."

Mrs May said if she wins the confidence vote then the next step would be to hold cross-party meetings with the DUP and "senior Parliamentarians from across the House" to identify "what would be required to secure the backing of the House".

The PM told MPs that the Government would "make a statement about the way forward and table an amendable motion" by Monday January 21.

For Labour, Mr Corbyn said: "The result of tonight's vote is the greatest defeat for a Government since the 1920s in this House. This is a catastrophic defeat for this Government."