Tensions are rising across the United Kingdom between Leavers and Remainers as Prime Minister Theresa May sat down with opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn to try to reach a Brexit-deal with a chance to get an approval in the Commons. Meanwhile Parliament voted by a majority of one to force Mrs May to ask for a deadline extension from the European Union, which could lead to even more uncertainty surrounding Britain’s departure from the EU.

The cover pages of major British daily newspapers were dominated by the meeting between Prime Minister Theresa May and opposition Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn on Thursday. The two sat down yesterday afternoon to hammer out a deal acceptable for enough MPs to get a majority in the House of Commons. Though an agreement was not reached, the parties called the meeting “constructive” and set up a team of negotiators to prepare the sides for further talks today.

Downing Street said that the parties were “showing flexibility” and “a commitment to bring the current Brexit uncertainty to a close”. Mr Corbyn said that he expected Mrs May’s position to change more than it actually did and noted that the meeting was “useful, but inconclusive”.

It was, however, a different story that could have dominated the headlines, had it not happened in the middle of the night, when most publications had already gone to press. In a motion tabled for the third time, the House of Commons passed legislation by a majority of one (313-312) to force the prime minister to ask for an extension of the Brexit-deadline, which is currently set for 12 April. The motion also gives the House of Commons to decide the length of this delay. The legislation now has to be passed by Parliament’s upper chamber, but as the House of Lords is strongly opposed to a no-deal Brexit, the proposal is expected to be confirmed today and become a law.

Exactly what happens after that is a bit of a grey area. The legislation was essentially passed to prevent a no-deal Brexit, but the EU has indicated a number of times – and it is currently the European law – that it is only willing to extend the 12 April deadline to 22 May if the thrice-defeated Withdrawal Agreement is passed.

The negotiations between Mr Corbyn and Mrs May will continue today, but it remains to be seen whether the sides can come to some sort of an agreement before the prime minister must leave for the emergency EU summit next Wednesday and present a plan to move forward. If, however, the European Union does not agree to any kind of extension and a no-deal exit is no longer possible, the only option that seems to remain is that Britain revokes Article 50 and stops the Brexit process altogether.

Last night’s vote in the Commons was more or less split along party lines with most Conservative politicians and the Democratic Unionist Party voting against it, while members of the opposition parties backing it. Hardliner Brexit supporters among the Conservatives were irate that a debate of only four hours was allowed before the issue was put up for a vote. The process normally takes weeks, if not months.

“The Bill has been rammed through in barely four hours. That is not a considered debate; that is a constitutional outrage,” Conservative MP Mark Francois said. “There is a difference between a majority of 1.4 million [in the Brexit referendum] and one The public will not be impressed by this,” he added.

In response to this House Speaker John Bercow said that there was nothing disorderly about the proceedings. “I absolutely understand his point of view that this is not a procedure that should be followed, but it is not a disorderly procedure,” Mr Bercow said.

The Speaker had a busy Wednesday, needing to cast the deciding vote only hours earlier when Parliament was split evenly on a proposal for a third set of indicative votes, something that has not happened in 26 years. In such cases, the Speaker – who normally does not vote – has to decide the fate of the motion. “In accordance with precedent, and on the principle that important decisions should not be taken except by a majority, I cast my vote with the Noes, so the Noes have it,” Mr Bercow said, and as such, the motion was defeated by 311 to 310.

To make the matter even more interesting, the last time a vote was tied MPs cast their ballot on the Maastricht Treaty with the European Union.