HARDLINE Dorset MPs played their part in voting down the Brexit deal in the Commons.

Brexiteers Conor Burns, Michael Tomlinson, Sir Christopher Chope, Sir Robert Syms and Richard Drax were among the 432 members who rejected the Withdrawal Agreement after eight days of debate.

Dorset was leave territory in the 2016 referendum and that is reflected in the position of its MPs.

Tobias Ellwood backed Mrs May’s deal as did Simon Hoare.

New Forest’s two MPs were split, with Sir Desmond Swayne voting for the deal and Julian Lewis going against the Government.

Before the vote, business leaders gave a last-minute warning to MPs about the impact of a no-deal Brexit, saying the future of hundreds of thousands of jobs is in their hands.

Pro and anti EU campaigners put on a show of their own outside Parliament as global TV crews gathered for the vote.

Defence Minister and MP for Bournemouth East Mr Ellwood said at the weekend he would resign his ministerial job rather than back a “no deal” Brexit if Theresa May lost the vote. He said it was “potentially the biggest week in politics for a generation”.

Shortly after the vote, Brexit-supporting Christchurch MP, Sir Christopher, who held a public meeting on Brexit on Saturday, told the Daily Echo: “This is history in the making. The House of Commons has decided the Prime Minister’s deal is a bad deal by an overwhelming majority.

“It (the opposition to the deal) was well outside the margins of expectations. This tells me the Prime Minister needs to reach out to her backbenchers because there is still a majority who want to leave the European Union.”

Mr Burns, who represents Bournemouth West, did not support the deal after calling it the worst of all worlds.

He told the Daily Echo: "This was a very difficult decision. However, having listened to passionate views on both sides I concluded I simply could not support the Withdrawal Agreement as it stands.

"It would lock the UK into being a rule-taker from the EU, potentially forever.

"I will totally support the Government in the no confidence vote but I hope and expect the PM now to convince the EU that the so called backstop must have an end date.

"I know many people will be worried and uncertain but if the referendum is to have had any meaning we must leave in a way that gives us the opportunities of being outside the EU."

Reacting to the vote, Mr Hoare tweeted: “Disappointed but not surprised by the vote. Delivery of Brexit has to be in question and I welcome the approach Theresa May has taken. A new chapter begins. Now time for Parliament to deliver collectively.”

After the Government defeat, Mid Dorset and North Poole’s Mr Tomlinson said: “I voted against the deal with a heavy heart but with a clear head. This wasn’t the right deal for the country and not what was voted for in the referendum.

“My biggest concern is the backstop and that was the main reason for my vote. I wasn’t anticipating that margin to vote against.”

Poole MP Sir Robert tweeted: "Result of Commons vote on deal predictable. You would have had same result before Christmas. The key is to defuse the backstop, get the DUP on side and many of the Tory rebels would follow and support Government. It is obvious to many Tory MPs, why not to the Government?"