British Prime Minister Theresa May has suffered a major defeat in the House Commons over Brexit.

MPs supported a Tory rebel amendment that will give parliament the final say on any exit agreement from the European Union.

It came despite Theresa May's claims that such a vote would damage the chances of a 'smooth and orderly' Brexit.

In the end, her minority government lost by four votes - with the amendment passed by 309 to 305.

The loss came despite last minute concessions from Mrs May's Brexit secretary David Davis, and minister Dominic Raab.

Stephen Hammond, one of the Conservative politicians who voted against the government, lost his position as vice chairman of his party as a result of the vote.

Tonight I put country and constituency before party and voted with my principles to give Parliament a meaningful vote.

— Stephen Hammond MP (@S_Hammond) December 13, 2017

Mrs May's government is currently propped up by its confidence and supply arrangement with Northern Ireland’s DUP.

The major vote in the House of Commons came just hours before Mrs May heads to a summit in Brussels on Thursday - where it is expected that EU leaders will approve the start of 'phase two' of Brexit talks on trade.

European leaders have agreed that 'sufficient progress' has finally been made, following the deal that was agreed last week on the issues of the Irish border, the UK's 'divorce bill' and EU citizens' rights.

UK Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the vote in the House of Commons was a "humiliating loss of authority for the Government on the eve of the European Council meeting".

Additional reporting by IRN