Is the UK Government in contempt of Parliament over Brexit and when was the motion voted on?
MINISTERS will be forced to publish the Government's full legal advice on the Brexit deal after MPs found them in contempt of Parliament.
Here's what we know about the term and what it means for Theresa May's plans.
Is the Government in contempt of Parliament?
Speaker John Bercow told MPs on December 4 he believed "contempt" could have been committed by Theresa May's Government over Brexit legal advice.
Mr Bercow made the comments in response to demands from Labour, the DUP and four other opposition parties complaining the summary legal advice released on Monday did not comply with a Commons resolution agreed on November 13.
Ministers were told by Attorney General Geoffrey Cox that once the withdrawal agreement with the EU is signed, the UK will never escape the deal without breaking the law.
Mr Bercow said: "The letter that I received from the members mentioned at the start of this statement asks me to give precedence to a motion relating to privilege in relation to the failure of ministers to comply with the terms of the resolution of the House of the 13 November.
"I have considered the matter carefully and I am satisfied that there is an arguable case that a contempt has been committed."
What is contempt of Parliament?
Contempt of Parliament is defined as any action taken by either an MP, Lord or a stranger (a member of neither house) which obstructs or impedes either Parliament in the performance of its functions, or its Members or staff in the performance of their duties.
Examples of contempt include giving false evidence to a parliamentary committee, threatening a Member of Parliament, forgery of documents and attempting to bribe members.
The Commons has the power to order anyone who has committed contempt of Parliament to appear at the Bar of the House and to punish the offender.
If the offence has been committed by an MP, he or she may be suspended or expelled.
When was the motion's vote?
The contempt of Parliament vote occurred on December 4.
A motion tabled by Labour, the SNP, other opposition parties and the DUP, argued ministers were in contempt due to their failure to fully publish advice given to Cabinet by Attorney General Geoffrey Cox.
Theresa May lost a crucial Commons vote by 311 to 293 over her refusal to publish the full legal advice on her EU deal.
The vote was decided by a majority 18.
This made the Government the first to be found in contempt of Parliament in a constitutional stand-off.
Mrs May is on course for a heavy defeat in the Commons as opposition parties team up with Tory rebels and the DUP to vote down the Brexit deal.
Conceding defeat moments after the vote, Commons leader Andrea Leadsom agreed to publish the “final and full” legal advice that Mr Cox gave to the Cabinet as they deliberated the EU deal.
Theresa May opened the five-day debate in Parliament on Tuesday, December 4, which will end with the crunch vote on her withdrawal agreement on December 11.
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What happens now the Government has been found 'in contempt'?
Theresa May opened the five-day debate in Parliament on December 4 which will end with the crunch vote on her withdrawal agreement on December 11.
The debate is Mrs May's final chance to convince MPs they should perform a last-minute U-turn and save her career.
The contempt finding could mean the vote is postponed.
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