Furious MPs blasted the uncertainty – saying the “wretched soap opera of Brexit continues” as the country heads “back to square one”.

And Cabinet ministers were summoned for a crisis meeting at No10 to work out how to move forward.

But without a clear alternative on the table, the latest defeat opens the door to a range of wildly different outcomes – from a cliff-edge No Deal to a second referendum which could cancel Brexit entirely.

Tonight MPs will vote on whether Britain should quit the EU without a deal in 17 days’ time.

But they are expected to oppose the idea – and will instead back a delay to Brexit in a further vote likely to take place on Thursday.

He said: “This entire episode is becoming a shambles that reflects appallingly on this current House of Commons. There are now no good options.”

Ex-minister Stephen Crabb added: “A coalition of the principled, the tribal, the ideologues, opportunists and conspiracy theorists have again blocked Brexit.”