PRIME Minister Theresa May’s Brexit deal was decisively voted down by MPs by 230 votes.

Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans was one of the backbench Tory rebels who defied the government whips.

He and dozens of Conservative colleagues joined Labour, the Democratic Unionist Party and the nationalists to inflict the biggest defeat of a government in Parliamentary history.

Mr Evans was joined in the opposition voting lobbies by Blackburn MP Kate Hollern and her Labour colleagues for Hyndburn and Burnley, Graham Jones and Julie Cooper.

Pendle MP and Conservative whip Andrew Stephenson joined Northern Powerhouse Minister and Rossendale and Darwen MP Jake Berry in voting in favour of the controversial Brexit deal Mrs May had negotiated with the European Union.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn immediately tabled a vote of no confidence in the government to be debated tomorrow and could trigger a General Election if passed.

Mr Evans said: “I’m voting against this deal as it creates a backstop which could could result in the UK being held in the clasp of the EU for years to come. The backstop is a concession too far.”

Mrs Hollern said: “We were presented with a botched and seriously flawed proposal. I could not vote for a blindfold Brexit that puts at risks business, living standards and the jobs of the people of Blackburn. There needs top be a renegotiation as the Conservatives have failed.”

Mr Jones said: “The Prime Minister’s vacuous deal would have undermined the integrity of our country. If ultimately Parliament cannot decide then the people should decide.”

Mr Berry said: “This is the only deal which will ensure we lave the EU at the end of March. The London political elite want to stop Brexit and are using every trick in the political book to do so. It’s time to deliver the Brexit the people voted for.”

Mr Stephenson said: “I supported the Prime Minister’s deal. which protects jobs and delivers on the promises made in the referendum. Opposing the deal was a leap into the unknown and risks Brexit.”

Mrs Cooper said: “The deal before Parliament was a hastily cobbled together. It was a vague plan that gives no certainty whatsoever on the key issues. It had no arrangements for trade, no protections for jobs or workers, no plan for regulating the movement of people and no plan end to UK payments to the EU. This is undoubtedly the worst of all worlds.

“The first priority will be for Parliament to come together to prevent a disastrous no deal. It is time for Mrs May to resign. I and my Labour colleagues will be pressing for a General Election.”

Mrs May promised that if she wins tomorrow’s vote she would make a statement on Brexit on Monday. The DUP said they would support Mrs May on the confidence vote.