Heidi Allen's rebel vote helps defeat government in Brexit vote

The MP for South Cambridgeshire was one of 12 Tories who went against the government.

In what is being called a ‘key vote’ in Brexit discussions, South Cambridgeshire MP Heidi Allen was one of the Tory rebels who voted for amendment 7, which gives MPs a final vote on the Brexit deal.

She was among 11 Tories who voted for the amendment, while there was one abstention. The amendment to the EU Withdrawal Bill was passed by 309 votes to 305.

It was the Prime Minister’s first defeat in the Commons.

At the weekend, Cambridge campaigners gathered in Market Hill and put up a stall to demand a final say on Brexit.

Paul Browne, chair of Cambridge Stays, said: “After all the bluster, talk of red lines, and ‘Go whistle’, the government has reached a deal with the EU by conceding to it on almost every key issue, but only after enduring the humiliation of being held to ransom by the DUP.

“Being a member of the European Union of 28 sovereign states is key to our strength and future success. As a leading member of the EU, the UK is a rule maker, outside it will be a rule taker – the only choice being whether to take those rules from the EU or Trump’s USA (complete with NHS privatisation).

“We cannot allow the future of the UK to be decided by a small group of Brexit extremists and the DUP.”

The EU withdrawal Bill is in the committee stage in the House of Commons, which is expected to conclude on December 20.