THERESA May’s Tory Government is hanging by a thread as she faces a vote of no confidence in Parliament today.

After a crushing defeat on her Brexit deal, Labour immediately tabled a motion of no confidence.

The opposition parties need 12 Tories to vote with them to oust the Prime Minister and then a period of uncertainty would ensue which would likely lead to a General election.

The Democratic Unionist Party, which has a “confidence and supply” agreement with the Tories has already said it’s ten MPs will vote with the government meaning it would then need a dozen Tory rebels to bring down their own government.

Labour said this was their agreed party policy and strategy all along, that once the deal has been rejected in a Meaningful Vote then a no confidence motion would be tabled to try and bring about a General Election.

Mrs May lost the vote by a majority of 230 with 432 voting against and only 202 backing the Prime Minister.

It is the biggest defeat of a government in parliament in modern political history eclipsing the defeat of Ramsay Macdonald in the 1920s when he lost by 161.

Glasgow Labour North East Labour MP Paul Sweeney said it is now for MPs to decide.

He said: “This is a zombie government artificially kept alive by the Fixed Term Parliament Act.

“This is the best chance we have got to get rid of this government.”

Asked if Labour was certain it had the numbers to bring down the government, Mr Sweeney said: “We need to wait and see if the Tories close ranks.”

Given the closeness of some seats there will be many who are nervous about their majorities and do not want to fight an election.

Mrs May said she will reach out across parliament to reach agreement on achieving deal that will be acceptable.

She has three days to come back to Westminster with an alternative plan, if she survives the motion of no confidence.

The SNP’s 35 MPs will back the Labour motion of no confidence but wanted the people to have the opportunity to vote again on Brexit.

Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister said: “The SNP supports the tabled vote of no confidence in the Government – but regardless of who leads the government, the reality is that a second EU referendum, with the option of remain on the ballot paper, is now the only credible option to avoid untold damage to the economy and the prospects of future generations.”

She added“After two and a half years of Westminster chaos, Scotland must not be ignored any longer. Our place in Europe must be protected.

“It has been crystal clear for months that the Prime Minister’s approach was heading for a crushing defeat. Instead of facing up to that fact, she wasted valuable time with her postponement of the meaningful vote in December.

“What must happen now is clear. Firstly, and most urgently, the clock must be stopped on the Article 50 process.”

Chris Stephens, Glasgow South West SNP MP, said: “What has happened is historically massive defeat for the UK Government.

“It is clear parliament is in deadlock. We need a General Election or if not a second referendum. It is clear now that Article 50 has to be revoked.”

David Linden Glasgow East SNP MP said parliament was “taking back control.”

He said the people in my constituency won’t tolerate a no deal Brexit and Parliament made that absolutely clear. So it is up to the Prime Minister to listen to Parliament

The 118 Tories who voted against the Prime Minister on the Brexit deal included some former cabinet ministers and big names.

Boris Johnson and Jacob Rees-Mogg, who orchestrated the bid to oust Mrs May as Tory leader last year were among those voting against.

Two former Brexit secretaries David Davis and Dominic Raab, as well as prominent Remain campaigners Anna Soubry and Dominic Grieve also voted the deal down.

The question now is whether the Tory Brexit rebels back the Prime Minister and give her the opportunity to return to the EU and negotiate a new deal.

Boris Johnson, leave campaigner and strong critic of Mrs May said this gives her a mandate to renegotiate.

If the other Tory rebels in the ERG European Research group feel the same then she is likely to survive the no confidence motion.