MPs take unprecedented control of Brexit process

London, March 26 (IANS) MPs have voted to take control of Commons business in an unprecedented move to try to find a majority for any Brexit option.

The government was defeated by 329 votes to 302 on the cross-party amendment, a majority of 27. It means MPs will get a series of votes on Wednesday to find out what kind of Brexit they will support.

British Prime Minister Theresa May has said there is no guarantee she will abide by their decision, the BBC reported.

But Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn, who had backed the amendment tabled by Conservative Sir Oliver Letwin, said the government "must take the process seriously".

He added: "The government has failed and this House must, and I believe will, succeed."

He said MPs would want to find a consensus on the way forward, including a possible "confirmatory vote" on the PM's deal by the public -- something May told MPs earlier she did not want because Remain would be on the ballot paper.

May had earlier tried to head off a defeat by offering MPs a series of votes on Brexit alternatives, organised by the government.

She said allowing MPs to take over the Commons agenda would have set an "unwelcome precedent".

But supporters of Sir Oliver Letwin's amendment said they did not trust the government to give MPs a say on the full range of Brexit options.

Thirty Tory MPs voted against the government, including three ministers -- Richard Harrington, Alistair Burt and Steve Brine -- who have now resigned from their ministerial posts.