MPs have defeated the Government on an amendment which could thwart efforts by the next prime minister to force through a no-deal Brexit.

The Commons backed the move by 315 votes to 274, majority 41, which could stop the next PM suspending Parliament in order to allow the UK to crash out of the EU.

Both Warrington's Labour MPs Helen Jones and Faisal Rashid backed the amendment this afternoon, Thursday.

Mr Rashid, MP for Warrington South, said earlier this week that he would vote remain in a second referendum on leaving the EU.

READ MORE > MP on why he is now backing remain

Margot James resigned as minister for digital after voting against the Government and was among 17 Tories who rebelled by backing the amendment.

Chancellor Philip Hammond, Justice Secretary David Gauke, Business Secretary Greg Clark and International Development Secretary Rory Stewart did not take part in the vote.

Theresa May was said to be 'disappointed' that several ministers failed to support the Government.

A Downing Street spokesman said: "The Prime Minister is obviously disappointed that a number of ministers failed to vote in this afternoon's division and issued a warning to the MPs over whether their roles will still be available under her successor.

"No doubt her successor will take this into account when forming their government."

Tory leadership contender Jeremy Hunt said he thought he was given permission to miss the vote, but was mistaken.

He tweeted: "I missed votes today because I thought I was slipped and it turns out I was not. Apologies to my colleagues & Whip. My position is that parliament should NOT restrict the hands of an incoming govt in this way & I remain opposed to how parl voted."

His rival Boris Johnson voted against the move to block prorogation.

The vote came after the Lords strongly backed a bid to block Parliament being suspended in order to facilitate a no-deal exit by a margin of 103 votes on Wednesday.

The change to the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation) Bill will require progress reports on restoring devolved government in Northern Ireland to be debated regularly in Parliament, effectively preventing it being prorogued.