The Business Secretary spoke to the Times after MPs rejected the Theresa May’s EU withdrawal deal by 392 votes to 242.
He said: “I am disappointed that the agreement was not supported.
“I believe it is essential that we leave in an orderly way with a deal. Parliament must now come together in the national interest, put differences aside and find common ground that will command the support of a majority in the House of Commons and bring the country together.”
His words echoed those of the Prime Minister who told MPs after they voted down her deal by 149 votes: “I continue to believe that by far the best outcome is the UK leaves the European Union in an orderly fashion with a deal.
“And that the deal we have negotiated is the best and indeed only deal available.”
The PM had made a last minute plea to MPs to back her deal after she had secured legal assurances on the Irish backstop from the EU.
But although she managed to convince about 40 Tory MPs to change their mind, it was not nearly enough to overturn the 230 vote defeat she suffered in January, throwing her Brexit strategy into fresh disarray.
