- Theresa May is battling to keep her warring government together on Brexit plans
- Tory Remainers rebelled to back the amendment but it was defeated 307 to 301
- PM capitulated to Tory Eurosceptics by accepting amendments to Customs Bill
- Tory rebels had snubbed a Government compromise brought at eleventh hour
Theresa May saw off a Tory Remainer rebellion in the Commons tonight after party bosses warned MPs that defeat would trigger another General Election.
Furious Tory Remainers rebelled to back an amendment to force the Prime Minister to try to keep the UK in a customs union with the European Union after Brexit.
But their revolt failed by just six votes after four Labour MPs switched sides to help get the PM over the line - seeing the rebellion fail by 307 votes to 301.
Tory Party whips piled the pressure on wavering backbenchers by warning them a defeat would trigger a confidence vote in Mrs May and another election.
The Tory Remainer revolt came just 24 hours after Mrs May caved in to hardline Tory Eurosceptics to back an amendment which critics says effectively kills off her compromise Brexit Chequers plan.
The Labour MPs who defied their party whips to vote with the Government were Frank Field, Kate Hoey, John Mann and Graham Stringer - all ardent Brexiteers.
Kelvin Hopkins, who was a Labour MP but is sitting as an independent as he is investigate for alleged sexual harassment, also backed the PM on the crunch vote.
The Trade Bill was later passed by 317 votes to 286.
But while the PM squeaked home on the customs amendment, she suffered a defeat on a separate amendment which calls for the UK to stay in the European medicines regulatory network, losing by 305 to 301.
Theresa May (pictured in Downing Street today) is looking down the barrel of another Brexit humiliation at the hands of her own MPs
Tory Remainers Nicky Morgan (pictured left in the Commons tonight) and Stephen Hammond (pictured right in the Commons tonight) brought forward an amendment to for the UK to try to seek a customs union with the EU if she cannot do a deal by January that guarantees frictionless trade, but it failed by six votes
An amendment being voted on in the Commons tonight would order ministers to seek a customs union with the EU if they have not got a free trade deal by January 21
Ministers had scrambled to try to buy off the potential rebels at the eleventh hour - offering to accept their amendment as long the wording was changed so it referred to a 'customs arrangement' rather than 'union'.
But the offer, made by International Trade Minister George Hollingbery at the despatch box, was rebuffed by Tory Remainer Stephen Hammond who brought forward the amendment.
The customs amendment tabled by Europhile Tories would order ministers to seek a continuation of the customs union with the EU if there is no deal by January 21.
Mrs May has always insisted Britain will not be in a customs union as it would prevent trade agreements with other countries.Speaking in the Commons debate, Tory Remainer Nicky Morgan - who backs the amendment - accused Brexit-backing MPs chose to try to 'scupper' the Prime Minister's Chequers agreement on Monday.
'Some of us tried to stop them, sadly we failed,' she said.
Ms Morgan said her proposal is 'eminently sensible' and would give Mrs May space for the negotiations.
She added: 'But it is very clear that in this House there is a majority for a customs union to safeguard business and jobs and the financial security of our constituents in the future.'
The latest clash comes after Mrs May suffered a major setback overnight when she was forced to swallow Brexiteer amendments to the Customs Bill that strike at the heart of her controversial Chequers plan.
Under the premier's blueprint, the UK will collect some taxes on behalf of the EU in order to prevent friction at the borders.
But last night Eurosceptics insisted the legislation must specify that Britain will only collect tariffs for Brussels if the bloc collects taxes for the UK - making it much less likely to be acceptable to the EU.
Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt and Health Secretary Matt Hancock were also at the meeting
Treasury Secretary Liz Truss was among the ministers arriving for Cabinet this morning
Trade Secretary Liam Fox, left, denied the government's plans were 'dead'. Aid Secretary Penny Mordaunt was at the Cabinet meeting this morning
Pro-EU Tories were so enraged at Mrs May's concessions last night that they staged an ambush with Labour that came within a whisker of defeating the government.
Defence minister Guto Bebb became the latest casualty of the Conservative civil war as he quit to join the protests against Eurosceptic influence.
And in another development today, the PM withdrew her attempt to send Parliament after facing a storm of criticism from ministers and MPs.
But her Cabinet ministers and Tory backbenchers had lashed the plan - branding it 'idiotic' and warning that it will go down like a lead balloon with voters.
The controversial motion was quietly withdrawn by the frontbench in the House of Commons tonight after the PM narrowly avoided a defeat on her Brexit plans.
As panic spreads over Mrs May's chances of survival, Tory bosses hit upon the idea of calling the summer recess early so MPs could escape the pressure cooker atmosphere of Westminster for the sunlounges.
But they U-turned after a slew of Labour and Tory MPs vowed to oppose the early finish.
Home Secretary Sajid Javid is understood to have raised the issue 'forcefully' at Cabinet this morning and urged a rethink.
Conservative former minister Sir Nicholas Soames - the grandson of Sir Winston Churchill - described the motion as 'idiotic', while other senior figures condemned it as 'wrong' and 'preposterous'.
Fellow Conservative Nick Boles said: 'There could hardly be a worse time for Parliament to vote to start recess early.
'The government is wrong to propose it and I urge MPs of all parties and convictions to oppose the motion later today.'
A senior Labour source said: 'With the NHS in crisis, the Tory's Brexit negotiations descending into farce and local councils on the brink, the last thing Theresa May should be trying to do is send her MPs on holiday early to try and escape them bringing her down.
'We'll be voting against her latest desperate move.'
A Downing Street spokesman said: 'The Government came forward with this proposal following discussion with other parties.
'We are considering all the representations which have been received.'
Senior government sources told MailOnline the episode was 'damaging' - but blamed Labour for initially agreeing to the plan before reneging.
Meanwhile, Conservatives have been stepped up their campaign by floating the idea of a second referendum, as the Brexit 'endgame' starts to take shape.
International Trade Secretary Liam Fox dismissed the idea of a national vote today, aasking if there would need to be 'best of three'.
'What if we have a referendum and it goes the other way? Do we have best of three?'
He also tried to play down the Tory turmoil, telling BBC Radio 4's Today programme that there was no problem with accepting the Brexiteer amendments.
'The wording of the amendment yesterday was very close to the wording in the Government's White Paper,' he said.
'It looked in fact as a bit of a cut and paste from the White Paper.'
Dr Fox said he wanted to see a 'people's Brexit', adding: 'We can't please everybody. 'We have to have a compromise position that enables the country to get an agreement with the European Union.
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