Why did Theresa May cancel the Brexit vote in Parliament?

THERESA May decided to postpone the parliament vote on her Brexit deal and it has lead to a vote of no confidence being called.

By why did she call of the vote? Here's what we know

Why did Theresa May cancel the vote?

The Sun first revealed the Government had secretly discussed pulling out of tomorrow’s crucial vote on the Brexit deal because the parliamentary arithmetic was stacked against the PM.

She would have lost by hundreds of votes, which would be extremely embarrassing for her and the Government.

Critics have said she should pulled out to avoid defeat.

If she had lost the vote, it is likely Tories would have tried and to oust her, but her delay of the vote has caused them to try anyway.

Former PM Tony Blair told Westminster journalists: “I don’t personally think it is very sensible just to plunge along and be defeated very heavily. What does that tell you?”

On December 10 the European Court of Justice ruled the UK could cancel Brexit without getting permission from other EU members.

What happened once the vote was cancelled?

May went back to Brussels and ask for more concessions to try and appease those who hate the deal, but there wasn't enough time for her to complete her European trip before a vote of no confidence was called.

Her stay in Dublin was cancelled and the fight for her position as PM, rather than her Brexit deal, got underway.

After a anonymous vote on the evening of December 12, May walked away victorious - albeit with a slimmer majority of Tory MPs backing her than expected.

What did the Tory party said about postponing the vote?

Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 Committee of Tory backbenchers, publicly urged the Prime Minister to put off the vote until the party row over the so-called Northern Ireland backstop could be resolved.

"I think the most important thing is to have clarity about how we might remove ourselves from a backstop if we were to enter into one in the future," Sir Graham said.

"If it can't then I certainly would welcome the vote being deferred until such time as we can answer that question."

But Sir Graham then had to announce there would be a vote of no confidence in the Prime Minister after he received the minimum of 48 letters from MPs.

What happens if May wins the vote of no confidence and then loses the vote on her Brexit deal?

Anything could happen if MPs decide to vote it down.

If the PM loses by hundreds of votes she could resign and spark a Tory leadership contest.

There couldn't be another vote of no confidence, as a Prime Minister who wins such a vote is immune to further challenges for the following 12 months.

Mrs May could also go back to Brussels and beg for more concessions to try and push through a vote in future.

Or Mrs May could choose to take her deal to the public to win support in another referendum - with Remain on the ballot paper, or a choice between her deal or no deal at all.

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