Brexit moved a step closer after MPs voted for the first time in favour of legislation to pave the way for British Prime Minister Theresa May to trigger the formal process of leaving the EU.
The European Union (Notification Of Withdrawal) Bill will allow Mrs May to invoke Article 50 of the EU treaties.
It was backed by 498 MPs to 114 at second reading in the House of Commons at its first stage.
But Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was unable to contain a revolt on his frontbench as two shadow cabinet ministers quit so they could defy his orders and vote against the bill.
Shadow environment secretary Rachael Maskell and shadow equalities minister Dawn Butler both defied a three-line whip so they could vote in line with their heavily Remain-backing constituencies.
Mr Corbyn will decide later on how to respond to an expected rebellion among junior frontbenchers over Article 50.
Following 17 hours of debate over two days, MPs will now await the publication tomorrow of the government's promised white paper setting out its strategy for withdrawal from the EU.
Downing Street said it would "reflect the government's plan for Brexit as the PM set out in her speech on our negotiating objectives".
The major Commons skirmishes on the bill are expected to take place next week during its committee stage, when the government is likely to face attempts to amend it from all sides.
A total of 47 Labour MPs defied Mr Corbyn's orders and voted against the bill.
Former chancellor Ken Clarke was the only Conservative to vote against the legislation.
The bill could complete the legislative process by 7 March.
Mrs May wants to begin exit negotiations with the EU by 31 March, starting two years of talks that will define Britain's economic and political future and test the unity of the EU's 27 remaining members.
Earlier, MPs rejected an attempt to throw out the bill, proposed by pro-EU Scottish nationalists.
The Scottish National Party's Europe spokesman Stephen Gethins described the vote in a statement as "a devastating act of sabotage on Scotland's economy".
A majority of voters in Scotland and Northern Ireland in last summer's referendum backed remaining in the EU, while voters in England and Wales supported Brexit.
This evening, Taoiseach Enda Kenny told his parliamentary party he would not be appointing a special Brexit minister, insisting that every member of Cabinet and every junior minister was focused on the issue.
He reiterated that there would be no return to checkpoints or the borders of the past.
