MORE than 200 MPs rejected Theresa May's Brexit deal in the House of Commons last night.

The vote of 432 noes to 202 ayes, the largest government defeat on the floor of the House of Commons in modern political history, led some to wonder if the Prime Minister was feeling sheepish.

The vote also split south Essex MPs.

Voting against deal were Sir Amess MP for Southend West, James Duddridge MP for Rochford and Southend East, Mark Francois MP for Wickford and Rayleigh, Stephen Metcalfe MP for for South Basildon and East Thurrock and John Baron MP for Basildon and Billericay.

Meanwhile Rebecca Harris MP for Castle Point and Jackie Doyle-Price MP for Thurrock voted for deal last night.

They are all expected to back the Prime Minister today.

The 230-vote margin of defeat was by far the worst suffered by any Government in a meaningful division since at least the First World War and in normal circumstances would be enough to force a Prime Minister from office.

But Mrs May made clear she intends to stay on, setting out plans for talks with senior parliamentarians from parties across the Commons in the hope of finding "genuinely negotiable" solutions which she can take to Brussels.

Jeremy Corbyn said the "catastrophic" defeat represented an "absolutely decisive" verdict by MPs on Mrs May's handling of Brexit.

He announced he has tabled a motion of no confidence in the Government, which will go to a Commons vote on Wednesday which could force an early general election if it wins the support of more than 50% of MPs.

Mrs May - who said she expected to survive Wednesday's vote - has until January 21 to set out a Plan B, with the clock ticking on the scheduled date of Brexit in just 73 days' time on March 29.