Government claims vote for Letwin's indicative votes plan sets 'dangerous precedent'

The Guardian news is reporting that the government has issued this response to the defeat on Letwin.

A spokesman for the Brexit department said:

It is disappointing to see this amendment pass, as the government made a clear commitment to provide a process to find a majority in parliament for a way forward this week.

This amendment instead upends the balance between our democratic institutions and sets a dangerous, unpredictable precedent for the future.

While it is now up to parliament to set out next steps in respect of this amendment, the government will continue to call for realism – any options considered must be deliverable in negotiations with the EU. Parliament should take account of how long these negotiations would take, and if they’d require a longer extension which would mean holding European parliamentary elections.

• Brexit voting underway: Letwin Amendment Yes 329 vs No 302