Researchers relieved as MPs vote to reject no-deal Brexit

Pleas from researchers to avoid a no-deal Brexit found an echo in parliament last night, as MPs narrowly voted against crashing out of the European Union.

In a series of dramatic votes on 13 March, parliament first approved an amendment ruling out no deal under any circumstances by 312 votes to 308, and then the no-deal motion itself by 321 to 278 votes. While the vote is not legally binding, it offers some reassurance to researchers, who face a catastrophic cutoff from EU money and collaboration if the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

This follows the vote on 12 March against prime minister Theresa May’s Brexit deal.