Kent MPs have been reacting to the announcement that the Speaker of the Commons has ruled the government cannot table its Brexit deal to Parliament.

The news was the latest twist in the long-running and at times confusing saga about the Withdrawal Act setting out the terms of the UK’s departure from the EU.

With less than 11 days to go, the announcement has sparked a row as it places yet another question mark over the deadline of March 29th.

The Speaker told the Commons parliamentary conventions dating back to 1604 meant MPs could not be asked to vote on precisely the same subject twice.

Reacting the South Thanet MP Craig Mackinlay tweeted: "A high octane statement & decision by The Speaker @HouseofCommons to not allow government to bring the same #Meaningfulvote motion to the House after the 149 vote loss of last week.

"Must be a different proposition according to precedent going back to 1604. Interesting."

But a measure of the confusion around the ruling was reflected by Chatham and Aylesford MP Tracey Crouch who tweeted: "Well it is either a really good thing or a really bad thing... irrespective of whether you are Leave or Remain.

"Which is a long way of saying, no-one is, at this point, quite sure…"

The confusion came after it emerged Kent MPs could hold the key to the government's prospects of getting its Brexit deal over the line.

The Prime Minister is targeting 75 'waverers' who she is hoping to persuade to rally behind her plan - with a warning that if they do not, Brexit could be in limbo for anything up to two years.

Several MPs in the county are among the 75-strong group whose votes could prove critical.

And it seems the PM could have her work cut out at winning them round.

Here's who they are and our assessment of whether they can be persuaded to switch:

• South Thanet MP Craig Mackinlay: Underlined his hard core Brexit credentials as one of 22 MPs to sign a joint letter to the Daily Telegraph today saying the risks of leaving without a deal were overstated. After last week’s vote, he tweeted: "We've just given away our most powerful bargaining chip. #Pathetic". Would need to see some substantial changes to current deal to change his stance.
• Dover MP Charlie Elphicke: Says that if the deal does get endorsed, it should be on condition Theresa May agrees to stand down, adding: "What I am clear on is that if we are going to support it, there needs to be a change of negotiating team... I think we need to have a change of leadership, and a new face and a new team to take us forward to the future relationship."
• Folkestone and Hythe MP Damian Collins: Has consistently opposed the deal and says there should be no vote before a EU summit this week, saying: "I think it would be wrong for the Prime Minister to bring back the Brexit agreement to the House of Commons this week, before the European Council meeting, unless there are meaningful changes to it."
• Sevenoaks MP Sir Michael Fallon: Traditionally a party loyalist but has expressed reservations about the deal. PM likely to consider that he is among backbenchers who could be persuaded to switch.
• Gillingham MP Rehman Chishti: Voted against the deal last week, partly because of the removal of the no-deal option, saying: "I think it is completely wrong to take no- deal off the table which would undermine the Prime Minister's hand in negotiations." Another loyalist who may be persuaded to swing behind the government.
• Sittingbourne and Sheppey MP Gordon Henderson: A firm Brexiteer who believes that there are "dark forces" trying to frustrate the UK's departure from the EU. Could be persuaded if there are assurances over customs union and Northern Ireland backdrop.
• Gravesham MP Adam Holloway: A committed leaver and member of the ERG (European Research Group) led by Jacob Rees-Mogg. Has been very critical of the government about the deal and unlikely to be persuaded to switch
• Dartford MP Gareth Johnson: agonised about whether to relinquish his role as party whip to oppose deal. Eventually did so because he could no longer reconcile his role of trying to persuade MPs to back the deal when he "cannot, in all conscience, support the government's position".

• Before last week's series of votes, the Chatham and Aylesford MP and former sports minister Tracey Crouch switched to supporting the bill. She said she was doing so primarily to help defeat "remainer" MPs who wanted to block Brexit, saying: "It is not perfect but this Brexit is better than the very real risk of no Brexit at all. Even with this flawed deal we stay in the game and have the chance to fight again. Allowing those who oppose the will of the people to take control of the agenda would be a betrayal of 17.3 million people who would never trust any of us ever again."

Foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt hinted today a vote may not take place until the government is confident of victory.

• How is Brexit going to affect Kent? For all the latest news, views and analysis visit our dedicated page here.