MPs voted for an amendment last night enabling them to take control of Commons business and stage a series of 'indicative' votes on the way forward for Brexit.

The government defeat saw 30 Conservative MPs defying the party whip to vote for Sir Oliver Letwin's motion, which passed 329 to 309. 

They included Wantage MP Ed Vaizey, who voted in both the aye and no last night. 

This is recognised as a formal abstention.

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Also voting for the amendment was Oxford West and Abingdon MP Layla Moran, a Liberal Democrat, and Oxford East's Labour representative Anneliese Dodds. 

The county's other three Conservative MPs - Witney member Robert Courts, John Howell for Henley and Banbury MP Victoria Prentis - all voted with the government against the motion.

Now MPs have seized control of the parliamentary agenda, what happens next?

At 2pm on Wednesday, normal proceedings in the House will stop and MPs will then consider a backbench motion setting out the future Commons business, including the arrangements for staging indicative votes on the various options but forward.

If more than one business motion is tabled, it will be up to the Speaker John Bercow to decide which one is selected.

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The architect of the amendment, Tory former minister Sir Oliver Letwin said he hoped to be able to work with both the Government and the Labour frontbenches in coming to an agreement on how it should actually work.

After a debate lasting up to an hour, the Commons will then start to consider the various propositions that are put forward.

How long will that take?

It’s not clear, although Sir Oliver suggested it could be quite a lengthy process covering several sitting days, as the House whittles down the various options to one which can command a Commons majority.

He proposed they begin on a 'plain vanilla basis' with MPs casting their votes on the various propositions on paper slips at the end of the first debate rather than going through the lobbies in a series of divisions which is the normal practice.

He said that should stop MPs trying to 'game' the outcome based on the sequence in which the votes are called.

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Once they they have established which of the proposals have 'significant' support, he said a way would have to be found – possibly through some form of preferential voting system.

Which options are likely to be considered?

At one end of the spectrum it could include a second referendum or revoking the Article 50 withdrawal process altogether.

At the other it could include a no-deal Brexit, leaving the EU on World Trade Organisation terms.

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In between, there could be proposals for a 'softer' Norway-style Brexit – sometimes called Common Market 2.0 – the customs union plan favoured by Labour, and a 'harder' Canada-style free trade deal.

How long have they got to sort this out?

The clock is ticking. Last week the EU gave Mrs May until April 12 to come forward with an alternative plan if she cannot finally get her twice-rejected Brexit deal through the Commons in a 'meaningful vote' this week.