SOMERSET MPs were divided over Theresa May's Brexit deal in this evening's crunch vote in Parliament.

Rebecca Pow, Taunton Deane MP, backed the Prime Minister's deal, along with Wells MP James Heappey.

But Bridgwater and West Somerset MP Ian Liddell-Grainger rebelled, as did Yeovil MP Marcus Fysh, voting against the deal.

The Prime Minister's Brexit strategy was dealt a devastating blow after the House of Commons rejected her EU Withdrawal Agreement by an overwhelming majority for the second time. s

MPs voted by 391 to 242 against the deal, despite the Prime Minister's assurance that new agreements reached with Jean-Claude Juncker in Strasbourg would ensure the UK cannot be trapped in the controversial backstop arrangement indefinitely.

Although the 149 margin was reduced from the record 230-vote defeat of the first "meaningful vote" in January, Mrs May was left far adrift from a majority with just 17 days to go to the scheduled date of Brexit on March 29.

Some 75 Conservative MPs rebelled to vote against the deal, while just three Labour MPs and four independents joined the 235 Tories who backed it.

European Commission president Mr Juncker had already warned that if MPs turned down the package agreed in Strasbourg on Monday, there would be "no third chance" to renegotiate.

In line with a promise set out by Mrs May last month, MPs are now due to vote on Wednesday on whether they are willing for the UK to leave the EU without a deal on March 29.

Mrs May announced that she will grant Conservative MPs a free vote on a motion stating that "this House declines to approve leaving the European Union without a Withdrawal Agreement and a framework on the future relationship on March 29 2019 and notes that leaving without a deal remains the default in UK and EU law unless this House and the EU ratify an agreement".

If MPs reject no-deal as most Westminster observers expect, a third vote will follow on Thursday on whether to authorise Mrs May to request an extension of the two-year Article 50 negotiation process.

A Labour Party spokesman said: "Allowing a free vote on no deal shows Theresa May has given up any pretence of leading the country. Once again, she's putting her party's interests ahead of the public interest."

Struggling with a croaky voice, Mrs May said that she still believed that leaving with a deal was the best option for Britain and that "the deal we've negotiated is the best and indeed the only deal available."

She added: "Let me be clear. Voting against leaving without a deal and for an extension does not solve the problems we face.

"The EU will want to know what use we mean to make of such an extension and this House will have to answer that question. Does it wish to revoke Article 50? Does it want to hold a second referendum? Or does it want to leave with a deal, but not this deal?

"These are unenviable choices. Thanks to the decision that the House has made this evening, they are choices that must now be faced."

An extension requires the unanimous agreement of all 27 remaining member states, and Mr Juncker has warned that it cannot stretch beyond May 23 unless the UK takes part in the European Parliament elections starting on that date.

Following the vote, a spokesman for European Council president Donald Tusk said: "On the EU side we have done all that is possible to reach an agreement. Given the additional assurances provided by the EU in December, January and yesterday, it is difficult to see what more we can do. If there is a solution to the current impasse it can only be found in London."

The spokesman said that the EU stood by the Withdrawal Agreement reached in November.

But he added: "With only 17 days left to March 29, today's vote has significantly increased the likelihood of a no-deal Brexit. We will continue our no-deal preparations and ensure that we will be ready if such a scenario arises.

"Should there be a UK reasoned request for an extension, the EU27 will consider it and decide by unanimity. The EU27 will expect a credible justification for a possible extension and its duration. The smooth functioning of the EU institutions will need to be ensured."