Tory rebel leader Dominic Grieve has been dubbed the Grand Old Duke of York after he caved in at the eleventh hour for a second time on his own Brexit Bill amendment.
All eyes were on a possible government defeat on an amendment calling for a meaningful vote on the final Brexit deal when the EU Withdrawal Bill returned to the House of Commons.
Mr Grieve was leading a band of about a dozen potential Tory rebels in demanding Theresa May give parliament power over the final deal, instead of a take-it-or-leave-it rubber stamp.
However, party whips were once again able to pick off half the rebel group, including Mr Grieve, to pluck the amendment from the jaws of defeat at the crucial moment, with only six rebels left standing.
Mr Grieve said: “Having finally obtained, I have to say with a little bit more difficulty than I would have wished, the obvious acknowledgement of the sovereignty of this place over the executive in black and white language I am prepared to accept the government’s difficulty and support it.”
Half the Tory rebel group continued to stand firm, with Anna Soubry, Heidi Allen, Ken Clarke, Phillip Lee, Antoinette Sandbach and Sarah Wollaston refusing to support the prime minister.
Theresa May eventually won the vote with a majority of 16 after demanding sick MPs come into work – and thanks to Labour rebels Frank Field, Kate Hoey, John Mann and Graham Stringer voting with the Conservatives.
Liberal Democrat Brexit spokesman Tom Brake condemned the “shady backroom deal” with Mr Grieve, whom he compared to a nursery rhyme character.
He said: “Just like the Grand Old Duke of York, Grieve has marched his troops to the top of the hill only to get cold feet and retreat with his tail between his legs.
“Despite the clear calamity that May and Davis are making of Brexit, the so-called Tory rebels have lost their bottle and caved in to yet another pathetic government compromise that isn’t worth the paper it is written on.
“Now more than ever, the people must be given the opportunity to make their voice heard. They must be given the final say on the deal, and an opportunity to Exit from Brexit.”
The bill is expected to become law within days.
