DORSET MPs were almost united in a key Brexit vote last night despite their divided views on the type of deal the United Kingdom should attempt to secure from the European Union.

Politicians filled the chamber in Westminster to have their say on a series of amendments relating to the Government’s withdrawal agreement.

The key outcome of the evening was the approval of Conservative MP Sir Graham Brady’s motion.

This now requires the Government to look to replace the Northern Ireland backstop with “an alternative arrangement to avoid a hard border” on the island of Ireland.

The amendment passed with a majority of 16 – 317 votes for and 301 against. Conor Burns, Tobias Ellwood, Michael Tomlinson, Sir Robert Syms, Simon Hoare and Richard Drax voted in favour, while Sir Christopher Chope abstained.

Bournemouth West MP and Brexiteer Conor Burns, who voted against the Prime Minister's proposed deal earlier this month, said: "My reasoning for voting for the Brady amendment is that I think overall the withdrawal agreement the Prime Minister has come up with is not very good, but the biggest single flaw I see in it is the backstop, which could mean we are caught in regulatory alignment forever with the EU with no ability to withdraw from it. "When the Prime Minister said she was prepared to accept the Brady amendment and try to go back to Brussels to change the backstop, I thought it would be frankly irresponsible, in those circumstance, not to give her that opportunity, if we could get a majority in Parliament, for which I am delighted we did."

Mid Dorset and North Poole MP Mr Tomlinson told the Daily Echo: “I voted for the Brady amendment to give the Prime Minister the opportunity to go back to Brussels and sort out the Northern Ireland backstop.

“I am pleased she now has the opportunity to do just that and I hope and expect the EU to take this seriously and open up the negotiations.

“My concerns around the backstop remain and there will need to be significant changes. Let me give one example on the backstop. It must be possible for us to get out of it. We cannot run the risk of being trapped.

“There is a struggle within Parliament and there are those who want to stop Brexit and reverse the result of the referendum.

“I will continue to argue to ensure that we leave successfully and there will be plenty of further opportunities to debate Brexit in the days ahead.”

Mr Hoare, who represents North Dorset, added: "The Commons has made clear it wants to leave the EU with a deal and I think that is the right position to be in, so we will be forensically focused on delivering the referendum result in a pragmatic and common sense way. I think that is what the majority of the country supports too."

Christchurch MP Sir Christopher said he abstained on the amendment because of his wider issues with the Prime Minister’s proposed withdrawal agreement and political declaration.

He told the Daily Echo: “The Brady amendment gave support to the withdrawal agreement bar the backstop.

“My objections stretch well beyond the Northern Ireland backstop. £39billion is being paid without anything in return.

“The parliamentary declaration could lead to a customs union and freedom of movement.”

Sir Christopher said Theresa May had previously stated no deal is better than a bad deal.

He added: “The Prime Minister said all along nothing was agreed until everything is agreed.

“I could not bring myself to vote with people in the other lobby because they are intent on preventing Brexit.

“The Prime Minister said the withdrawal agreement could not be negotiated, but now she said it can be and the amendments are for it to be renegotiated.

“When people voted in the referendum it was to leave or remain. There was nothing about leaving with a particular deal.”

“There is no necessity to have a deal but ideally it would be better.”