MPs have failed to agree a single proposal to break the Brexit deadlock despite seizing control of parliament to stage votes to chart a way through the chaos.
The first round of historic indicative votes on eight alternatives to Theresa May’s troubled deal failed to produce a majority for anything at all.
The results threw parliament into further chaos after the prime minister’s decision to quit once Brexit is delivered failed to decisively swing momentum behind her deal.
Not a single option in indicative votes even got more aye - or yes - votes than noes, although a customs union and second referendum proved the most popular.
The architect of the process - Tory Sir Oliver Letwin - said the results were “a great disappointment” but insisted the cross-party group which hatched the plan predicted that nothing would get a majority in the first round of votes.
Sir Oliver suggested the most popular options will now go to a run-off vote on Monday unless the prime minister deal passes before then.
But he faced shouts of “resign” in the Commons chamber and there is now a risk that the entire process could be derailed if MPs decide on the day to block more indicative votes.
May was sat in her usual place on the government frontbench as Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay said MPs should now back the PM’s deal “in the national interest”.
He said: “The results of the process this House has gone through today strengthens our view that the deal the government has negotiated is the best option.
“If you believe in delivering on the referendum result by leaving the EU with a deal, then it’s necessary to back the withdrawal agreement - if we do not do that, then there are no guarantees about where this process will end.
“It’s for that reason that I call on all members from across this House in the national interest to back the prime minister’s deal.”
Sir Oliver said: “It is, of course, a very great disappointment that the House has not chosen to find a majority for any proposition. However those of us who put this proposal forward as a way of proceeding predicted that we would not this evening reach a majority, and indeed for that very reason put forward a business of the House motion designed to allow the House to reconsider these matters on Monday.”
The results in full
Speaker John Bercow announced the results as follows for the indicative votes procedure:
Motion B) No deal - defeated by 400 votes to 160, majority 240.
Motion D) Common market 2.0 - defeated by 283 votes to 188, majority 95.
Motion H) Efta and EEA - defeated by 377 votes to 65, majority 312.
Motion J) Customs union - defeated by 272 votes to 264, majority eight.
Motion K) Labour’s alternative plan - defeated by 307 votes to 237, majority 70.
Motion L) Revocation to avoid no-deal - defeated by 293 votes to 184, majority 109.
Motion M) Confirmatory public vote - defeated by 295 voted to 268, majority 27.
Motion O) Contingent preferential arrangements - defeated by 422 votes to 139, majority 283.