SOMERSET MPs are forming decisions ahead of a crunch Brexit vote this evening in Parliament.
This morning, Prime Minister Theresa May chaired a cabinet meeting in which her last-minute Brexit agreement with the EU was backed by ministers.
However, fresh legal advice from Attorney General Geoffrey Cox says that while the agreements "reduce the risk" the UK could be trapped indefinitely in the backstop, they do not remove it altogether.
Mr Cox's legal advice deals a significant blow to the Prime Minister's hopes of securing MPs' backing for her EU Withdrawal Agreement in the second "meaningful vote" on the deal in the House of Commons on Tuesday evening.
Shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer said Mr Cox had confirmed that "no significant changes" had been secured in two months of negotiations and the Government's strategy was "in tatters".
Mr Cox's advice was issued the morning after Mrs May's dash to Strasbourg to finalise a deal with European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker which she said would deliver "legally-binding" reassurances for MPs to ensure the Irish backstop cannot be permanent.
On a day of high drama in Westminster, the Cabinet gave its backing to the agreement at its weekly meeting chaired by the Prime Minister at 10 Downing Street.
Mrs May said passing the vote would allow the country to move on to a brighter future, while the alternative was uncertainty with no guarantee of what happens next.
She concluded the meeting by telling ministerial colleagues: "Today is the day. Let's get this done."
Somerset MPs have been tweeting about their voting intentions.
James Heappey, who represents the Wells constituency - which included Burnham-on-Sea and Highbridge - tweeted in support of former diplomat Christopher Meyer, who backs the deal.
Mr Heappey said: "Vote for the deal. Don’t take No Deal off the table. Don’t vote for delay. Today’s the day to get this done."
Rebecca Pow, Taunton Deane MP, also tweeted her intention to support the deal.
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