A momentous day. As was expected, and had been predicted for many months, the Government lost the vote by over 200. A sense of anti-climax followed on a day full of drama. It began with an early morning run. Once in the Commons, I was tempted - following the late night last night - to tuck into a bacon buttie. Munching that and enjoying some hot, black coffee, I flicked through the news of the day. Obviously the news outlets were full of predictions on tonight's vote - a big defeat for the Government. Nothing new there. The Whips did their best - I was not bothered - to get MPs to rally to the PM's doomed cause, but to no avail, as we were all to discover later. The debate on the EU Withdrawal Bill was on its last day, with wind-up speeches expected at about 1830. The day seemed to drag, a day of private meetings behind closed doors to chat through what we thought and what we were hearing. The votes did come at 1900 as predicted and the Chamber was packed. The Speaker had called four amendments before the big vote, but they all fell except for my colleague John Baron's, which he pushed to a vote. He was soundly defeated, and then it was time for THE vote. As I said, defeat was expected, but perhaps not the scale - 230 votes. There was a gasp in the Chamber as the result was announced. The PM scrambled to her feet, promising to listen and, yes, to carry on. Corbyn, naturally, placed a motion calling for a vote of confidence in the Government tomorrow. I'd like to make it clear that the majority of those opposing the Government did so to stop Brexit. I and many colleagues did so because the deal on offer simply did not deliver and left us in a worse position than we would be were we to remain in the EU. That was unacceptable. Mrs May must now get back on her feet, return to Brussels for further talks to find further concessions, not least getting rid of the so-called 'backstop'. Failing that, we must leave the EU on WTO terms on 29 March. Then we can negotiate a deal from outside the EU, free of all this rancour and division, stirred so effectively by politicians and bureaucrats on both sides of the Channel. Left the House at about 2015, did two interviews with local TV and finally sank into a chair with a stiff drink, accompanied by my wife and son, at just before 2100. What a day!