DEVIZES MP Claire Perry’s support for Theresa May stood firm on Tuesday evening as the Prime Minister’s terms of Britain’s exit from the EU were rejected by 230 votes.

Mrs Perry, who voted Remain in the EU referendum, on Monday re-tweeted Mrs May’s comment of: ‘”The British people are ready for us to move beyond division and come together.”

She said yesterday: “I was of course disappointed by the result last night. Whilst I recognise the concerns of my colleagues around the complex issue of the backstop in Northern Ireland, I still believe that leaving with a deal provides the best way forward to fulfil our duty to deliver the Referendum result whilst also protecting jobs and the economy, and I will be supporting the Prime Minister in securing a deal that we can all coalesce around.

“I will continue to back the Government because I believe that this is the best way forward to ensure we leave in an orderly way with a good deal, and ensure that the UK has the decent, moderate government it needs to build a country that works for everyone.”

Devizes for EU were celebrating after Tuesday night’s vote. Organiser Kate Freeman said yesterday: “It was a crushing defeat for the Government’s Brexit Deal.

“Labour is unlikely to win the No Confidence Vote, but a very weakened Prime Minister has been left an impossible task of negotiating with other parties a smorgasbord of tweaks to a Withdrawal Agreement that the EU has categorically stated cannot be changed.

“We are pleased that our MP continues to set her face against a No Deal but we do not agree with Ms Perry’s suggestion that there is no majority in this constituency for a People’s Vote.

“Where is the evidence? Recent research suggests that opinion is shifting and Devizes would now back Remain.”

Ms Freeman thought the time had come for Government to extend the Article 50 process to settle the matter with another referendum based on what we now know.

She said: “People do not want to be dictated to by a divided parliament. The country needs certainty and people need to express their preference on Brexit in the most democratic way.”

The Conservative MP for North Wiltshire James Gray voted against the Prime Minister’s EU deal on Tuesday night.

He said afterwards he had expected the defeat to happen and reiterated he is against the compromises Theresa May had made in her negotiations.

“A second referendum would be a waste of time,” he said, “it would be a pointless exercise and would be divisive and also be indecisive.”

However, the Brexiteer said he would vote against the opposition’s vote of no confidence in the Government and felt there would not be a General Election. He also said that he plans to stand for Parliament again when the next election is called.

Michelle Donelan is supporting the Government and is set to vote against the no confidence tabled by Jeremy Corbyn.

Speaking from Parliament, she said: “The atmosphere is very positive here.

"The Prime Minister and Government will win the confidence vote and it its now about moving forward and making sure that we can now get the deal through the house.

"A general election is the last thing we need this and won’t help progress matters.

"There are deep divisions across all parties but this is not a party political matter, this is about honouring the result of the referendum.”