OXFORDSHIRE'S six MPs largely voted as expected last night - though one did rebel against their party. 

The prime minister's withdrawal agreement was soundly beaten by 230 votes, in the largest parliamentary defeat of modern times.

118 Conservative backbenchers voted against their own government - but only one of Oxfordshire's four Tories was among them.

That was Witney's Robert Courts, who had resigned a position at the Foreign Office over Brexit, and had said he would vote against the deal.

Explaining his decision, Mr Courts said: "I cannot in good conscience say that signing up to the Withdrawal Agreement, in its current form, is in our nation's best interests.

"I cannot emphasise enough: I do not criticise this deal on the basis that it is not perfect, nor is my objection based on ideological purity. I am a pragmatist and I want to see a deal and compromise as much as anybody.

"But I cannot agree to just anything. There does come a time when a compromise becomes a compromise too far, and which undermine fundamental principles such as those of national sovereignty and democratic accountability."

Yesterday, we asked you what should happen - the results of the poll are below, and reflect the fact that Oxford was in the top 20 areas for the highest remian vote in the 2016 referendum.

READ AGAIN: Oxfordshire's MPs on Brexit: five questions answered (or ignored)

John Howell, the Henley MP, had refused to tell the Oxford Mail whether he would be supporting the prime minister's deal, arousing suspicions that he might vote against the party whip, but in the end he did support the deal. 

Wantage's Ed Vaizey and Banbury's Victoria Prentis also voted with the government. 

Mrs Prentis said: "Tonight’s result is a victory for noone. It gets us no further and the deadlock continues. The PM continues to have my full support. We really must come together and work out a way forward as 29 March approaches."

Oxfordshire's other MP's, Labour's Oxford East MP Anneliese Dodds and Oxford West and Abingdon's Liberal Democrat Layla Moran, voted against the Government, as expected. 

READ AGAIN: What our MPs said before the vote

Ms Moran spoke at a rally for a 'People's Vote' outside parliament last night. 

She said: “Something has finally changed. The Government are on their knees, and the People’s Vote campaign is now striding forward. The people of Oxford West and Abingdon would never have stood for the clustershambles of a Brexit deal and I am proud to have helped vote it down.

“Staying in the EU means so much to our constituency. I hope this defeat brings relief that Brexit can be stopped to the EU citizens that deserve the right to live here, the hard-working people in the research, university, and car manufacturing sectors, and all my constituents who identify as European."

Speaking after the rally, Graham Jones, Chair of Oxford Region of the European Movement, said: "The nearly 700 members and supporters of the European Movement in Oxfordshire will welcome this momentous vote as the first step towards putting the issue back to the public.

"The ballot must include the option to Remain, not to turn back the clock but to heal and mend our country in the interests of both the 52 per cent and the 48 per cent.

"Parliament has begun to wrest back control from the executive and must ensure a delay to Article 50 to allow a People’s Vote that allows the question to be revisited in light of all that has transpired since June 2016."

The Government faces a motion of no confidence this evening. 

Meanwhile, Jonathan Beech, Abingdon-based Managing Director of Migrate UK, a law firm specialising solely in immigration law for organisations and individuals, has told Oxfordshire employers to take 'immediate action' to 'safeguard their skills'.

He said: “Whatever happens next, whether it’s a renegotiation, another referendum or even a call for a general election, the closer we get to March 29 then the greater likelihood of a stay of execution for EU nationals and of Article 50 being delayed.

“Employers struggling against a depleting workforce should take immediate action, to safeguard their skills. Where employers haven’t already done so, identify gaps in your current and future workforce and highlight whether they’ve got the means of remaining in the UK in the future, be this via a residence permit / card or settlement / permanent residency. 

“Companies with genuine skilled vacancies should consider applying for a sponsor licence so they have access to a wider pool of talent. In addition, every business must have the correct permitted documentation to employ EU workers no matter what the outcome will be between now and March.”