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MPs back Government's Brexit timetable

MPs have voted by a majority of 372 to back the Government's plan to trigger Article 50 to begin the Brexit process by the end of March 2017.

Announcing the vote in the House of Commons, Speaker John Bercow, said that 461 had voted in favour, while 89 had voted against it.

MPs also voted in favour of a Labour amendment calling on the Government to publish its Brexit plan before formal talks begin no later than the end of March 2017.

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Nicky Morgan: Brexit plan 'dragged out of Government'

Nicky Morgan speaks during the debate. Credit: House of Commons

Nicky Morgan has said the Government must get on with triggering Article 50, but criticised it for only agreeing to publish a plan on Brexit after the Prime Minister faced pressure from Labour MPs and those within her own party.

It is "not good enough that these things are dragged out of the Government by opposition day motions," the former education secretary said, adding that the Government must take "more of the initiative".

Ms Morgan added that it was "important that we do not close off options before we have to do so", and said EU nationals living in the UK should be given assurances that they can stay post-Brexit.

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