MPs delivered a first tie in a Commons vote since 1993 as a proposal to allow a third round of indicative votes on Brexit alternatives was rejected.

They voted by 310 to 310 on Labour MP Hilary Benn's amendment, with Speaker John Bercow casting his vote, in line with precedent, with the noes.

This meant Mr Benn's amendment was defeated by 311 votes to 310, majority one.

Mr Benn's amendment was connected to a motion outlining the timetable for the latest backbench takeover of the Commons agenda.

His proposal sought further Brexit indicative votes on Monday April 8.

Explaining his decision Mr Bercow said: "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.

"The noes have it, by casting vote 311 to 310, that is the proper way in which to proceed."

Conservative former minister Sir Patrick McLoughlin raised a point of order asking for him to explain when the last time this happened, to which the Speaker said: "In my recollection, and I've been saying this to audiences across the country so I hope it's right, is that the last occasion on which the Speaker had to exercise a casting vote was in 1993."

He said that was "pertaining to the Maastricht Treaty Bill", and his predecessor in the chair Baroness Betty Boothroyd cast her vote "in the way that she did against that amendment".

He added: "And the rationale... for the exercise of the casting vote that is that, as I've said, that it is not for the chair to create a majority that doesn't otherwise exist."

Independent Group member Mike Gapes (Ilford South), who took part in the 1993 vote, said the day after the vote "it was discovered that in fact the Government had won the vote by a majority of one and therefore the Speaker had complied with what would have happened anyway".

He said: "Can we be certain that this time it's accurate and if subsequently it appears that there has been an inaccuracy, will we be able to revisit this exact motion in future?"

Mr Bercow replied: "Insofar as there was some uncertainty about the vote, the uncertainty was whether it was 310 each or whether in fact, in the view of one Government whip, not advanced with great certainty, but it was his belief that it might be the case that in fact the Government had secured 311 votes, so I don't think there is any suggestion that the decision has worked against (Mr Benn)."

In the event that there were an error he added: "Let's cross that bridge if we come to it, but I am not anticipating that we'll do so. There is no need to create a row on top of all other rows where there is none."

The division list for the tied vote showed 14 Conservative MPs rebelled to support the amendment alongside 228 Labour MPs, 35 SNP, 17 Independents, four Plaid Cymru, 11 Liberal Democrats and Green Party MP Caroline Lucas.

The list added nine Labour MPs rebelled to vote against the amendment alongside 289 Conservatives, 10 DUP and two Independents.

MPs later approved the motion to allow them to take control of the Commons agenda to debate Labour MP Yvette Cooper's European Union (Withdrawal) (No 5) Bill by 312 votes to 311, majority one.

They will consider on Wednesday all stages of Ms Cooper's Bill, which requires Prime Minister Theresa May to table a motion seeking MPs' approval for an extension to the Article 50 process beyond April 12 to a date of her choosing.

Ms Cooper, speaking at second reading, said her Bill was still needed because although the PM has signalled she wants to extend Article 50 "there is no clear process of how those decisions will be taken", adding her Bill "adds some clarity".

But Tory Sir Bill Cash, chairman of the European Scrutiny Committee, said the Bill would amount to "supplication to the EU", which he said would be a "profound humiliation for the British people".

He added: "As I and others have made clear over the years, it will be decided by Germany, in the council of ministers, and the European Council.

"I say this is a German Europe, it is run by Germany and that is the bottom line, and that will happen in relation to this decision as well."

Shadow Brexit minister Paul Blomfield offered Labour's support while Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay outlined the Government's opposition, saying: "It's constitutionally irregular."

The Bill received a second reading by 315 votes to 310, majority five.

Debate is ongoing on amendments to the Bill, although the start of this was delayed by a lack of paper copies of the list of proposals to be considered.